Deepening the reform and development of elderly care services is an urgent requirement for implementing the national strategy of actively responding to population aging, which is related to the well-being of the people and social harmony and stability. Since the 14th Five Year Plan, a profound transformation that benefits billions of elderly people has been steadily advancing, from institutional innovation to service implementation, from resource expansion to structural optimization, enabling them to have a happy and fulfilling old age. Optimizing the supply pattern and improving the service system. At noon, the Xishan Love Canteen in Xiashi Street, Haining City, Zhejiang Province, was filled with fragrant food. 67 year old Grandma Liu told reporters that she and her spouse often eat here, which is convenient and cheap, with one meat and one vegetable costing 9 yuan. There are over 22000 elderly people aged 60 and above in Xiashi Street, accounting for about 30% of the total population in the jurisdiction. In order to solve the problem of dining difficulties for elderly people and empty nesters, the Love Canteen will officially operate in April 2023, with an annual meal assistance service of 119600 people. Grandma Liu's life changes are a microcosm of the rapid development of home-based community elderly care services in China. In recent years, about 86000 elderly meal assistance services have been built nationwide. Based on government coordination, various regions have focused on leveraging market mechanisms and explored models such as "social catering+commissioned services" and "central kitchen+professional delivery" according to local conditions, continuously improving the level of elderly meal assistance services. By the end of 2024, the elderly population aged 60 and above in China will exceed 310 million, accounting for 22% of the total population. Most elderly people tend to enjoy a happy old age in familiar and convenient environments nearby. It is particularly important to develop home-based community elderly care services and take multiple measures to guide professional and high-quality resources to gather around, around, and beside the elderly. Since the 14th Five Year Plan, a series of policies have been issued to support the development of home-based community institutional elderly care services, including the release of planning land and facility construction support policies, as well as the introduction of multiple national and industry standards. Elderly meal and bath assistance, family elderly care beds, aging friendly renovations, and "property+elderly care" services are more convenient and accessible. According to the "2024 National Development Bulletin on Aging", as of the end of last year, there were 406000 various types of elderly care institutions and facilities in China, with a total of 7.993 million elderly care beds, including 366000 community elderly care service institutions and facilities and 2.915 million beds... The spatial layout of elderly care service facilities is gradually improving, and the service system continues to be optimized. In early August, Ding Shuji, an elderly person living in Liaoyuan Road Street, Qingdao City, Shandong Province, received the first moderate to severe disability elderly care service consumption subsidy coupon in Qingdao City under the guidance of staff, which can be used to offset 40% of the personal out of pocket elderly care service consumption amount within the subsidy project. In July of this year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued a notice to provide elderly care service consumption subsidies to moderately or above disabled elderly people nationwide. How to effectively address the rigid elderly care service needs of elderly people with moderate to severe disabilities is a "must answer question" for elderly care services. In order to improve the quality of life of disabled elderly people and reduce the burden of family care, China has launched a pilot long-term care insurance system since 2016. As of the end of last year, the number of insured people in the country exceeded 180 million; The proportion of nursing beds in elderly care institutions nationwide is 65.7%, and the target tasks of the 14th Five Year Plan have been completed ahead of schedule; During the 14th Five Year Plan period, a total of 2.24 million households of elderly people with special difficulties will receive support for aging adaptation. The guarantee of essential factors will be more sufficient, and the scale of care supply will continue to expand. Compared to the centralized resources and mature market of urban elderly care services, rural elderly care is the focus and difficulty of China's elderly care service work. The 2025 government work report proposes to promote the development of rural elderly care services; The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council have issued opinions, clearly proposing to improve the three-level elderly care service network in counties and villages, carry out innovative pilot projects for the elderly care service system in counties, and encourage the development of village level mutual aid elderly care services... The central government has allocated 296 million yuan to support 59 regions to carry out innovative pilot projects for the elderly care service system in counties, and promote the overall level of rural elderly care services through point to area efforts; Support families of elderly people with special difficulties, disabilities, and disabilities in rural areas to implement age appropriate renovations; Various regions are integrating and utilizing village level activity centers, idle school buildings, and rural courtyards to build mutual aid elderly care points. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, China's rural elderly care service facilities have significantly improved, and the three-level elderly care service network covering counties, villages, and gradually improved. Increasing support to enable the elderly to have a sense of security, well-being, and happiness is essential. The elderly are the wealth of society, not a burden. ”Yuan Xin, vice president of the Chinese Population Society and professor of the School of Economics of Nankai University, said that, especially for the young elderly, they have relatively healthy physique, have received more good education, and have accumulated rich and valuable life experience, knowledge and skills, and resources. Supporting elderly people who are willing to continue to shine, improving the relevant policy system, and enhancing their social participation ability are necessary to support them in realizing their self-worth, enjoying a happy old age, and actively responding to the aging population. Regular and long-term implementation of elderly volunteer services. The National Committee on Aging has issued and implemented the Guiding Opinions on Deepening the "Silver Age Action" in the New Era, and launched inter provincial targeted assistance. Since 2003, over 7 million elderly volunteers have participated in the "Silver Age Action" nationwide, carrying out more than 4000 assistance projects and benefiting over 400 million people. The vast number of elderly volunteers contribute to the revitalization of rural areas, the promotion of science and education, and a healthy China. The quality of elderly cultural and sports education services continues to improve. By the end of 2024, the national elderly education public service platform has gathered 441000 course resources and provided learning support services to a total of 170 million people; Introduce policy documents to promote elderly reading work, encourage the provision of free or discounted cable TV viewing services for the elderly, improve the aging level of tourism service facilities... The supply of education and cultural and sports services for the elderly will be more efficient, and the quality of participation in social activities will be further improved. Led by degree construction and driven by reform and innovation, the elderly care service system with Chinese characteristics is becoming more mature, hundreds of millions of elderly people will live happier, and the background of Chinese path to modernization will be warmer. (New Society)