China's emerging economic center Shanghai is facing a serious
challenge of aging population.
The city now has 2.45 million retirees, making up 15 percent of the
population, which is close to the level of developed countries.
Latest figures provided by the municipal bureau of statistics show
that people above the age of 65 now account for 11.5 percent of the
city's population, compared to the national average of seven
percent.
There are 1.67 million families with members above the age of 60.
Of these elderly people 31.8 percent live by themselves, and 13
percent are single.
The bureau predicts that the city's aging population will peak
around 2010, which could have a serious impact on its economic and
social development.
To
address the challenge, the city has been updating its pension
system, which now covers not only 2.37 million urban retirees, but
also 1.23 million elderly farmers.
It
has also set up four special hospitals and 47 clinics for the
elderly. Nearly 30,000 beds are now available at the more than 400
old people's homes across the city.
Shanghai Vice-Mayor Feng Guoqin announced recently that the city
will allocate 80 percent of the funds raised from the issue of
charity lotteries to the construction of more homes and other
facilities for the elderly.
By
2005, there will be 50,000 beds available at homes for the elderly,
while fitness and entertainment facilities will be available in
almost all the communities, Feng says.
(Xinhua News
Agency November 12, 2001