Shandong county customizes approach to elderly care

At a small community canteen in the village of Houjiaguanzhuang, tucked away in the mountainous county of Yiyuan in Shandong province, a group of elderly residents gather for their lunchtime meal.

On the menu is braised cabbage with pork and vermicelli, stir-fried shredded potato, millet porridge and steamed buns, all served by red-vested volunteers for the bargain price of just 1 yuan (14 cents).

Many older adults in China live alone and may face difficulty with preparing meals, daily care and health services.

The canteen is one of some 230 "Yiyuanhong" livelihood complexes that have been set up in many remote villages and towns in Yiyuan county to serve its elderly residents.

Yiyuan's large aging population and rugged mountain geography make it a prime example of the challenges facing the nation.

Of the county's 515,000 residents, 26 percent are 60 or above, higher than the national average. In rural areas, 85,000 elderly residents make up 33.7 percent of the rural population.

Launched in 2021, the Yiyuanhong model for elderly care seeks to address the needs of its aging population through a grassroots network of care centers and targeted services.

Enjoying her lunch, 87-year-old Hou Xianhua said having meals prepared for her daily has relieved a burden for her.

"Everything's cooked soft and lightly seasoned, they know our teeth aren't as strong as they used to be," Hou said.

"When I was young, working hard in the fields, I never imagined I'd see days like this," she added.

The canteen serves 70 to 80 seniors from the village daily.

Zhuang Benzhen, Houjiaguanzhuang Party secretary, said an integrated funding model has made the Yiyuanhong model possible.

"The county, the town and the village each contribute to subsidize the meals, keeping the costs to the elderly very low," he said.

For Houjiaguanzhuang, its portion of the funding comes from its 33 hectares of apple orchards.

Many of the elderly villagers, unable to work their farmland, have transferred their land-use rights to a cooperative run by the village Party that now manages the land.

"At the orchard, we've planted new tree varieties that have higher yields," said Zhuang, adding that the profits from the orchard cover most of the care center's operating costs.

Houjiaguanzhuang is one of 446 villages in Yiyuan, a rugged county with over 99 percent hilly terrain. Its main industry is agriculture, specializing in apples, peaches and cherries.

The Yiyuanhong model focuses on "farming for farmers and caring for the elderly", Zhuang said, noting that the county has turned the dual challenges of elderly care and farmland abandonment into an opportunity.

Yiyuan's 230 livelihood complexes and 168 food assistance stations are helping to improve both the county's senior care and sustainable land use.