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Residents of this retirement home in Beijing enjoy a peaceful life.
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Zhao Lijun, director of Beijing 1st Social Welfare Home,said, "Our current occupancy is full. And there are still over 1,000 on the waiting the list."
1,000 are waiting, but only 50 beds become vacant a year. The home has almost doubled its beds from the previous 300, but can't keep up with increasing demand.
Senior citizens are making up an increasing proportion in China. A fourth of the population is now over 60. As more of them chose to live in a retirement home, it's putting tremendous pressure on resources.
Conditions are extremely critical in Tianjin, where over 16% of the people are elderly.
A senior citizen said, "We registered on the waiting list at the beginning of 2006. After two years, we can finally move into the home."
Local governments are looking for ways to meet the increasing demand. In Shanghai, where a fifth of residents are 60 and over, the budget for welfare accommodation has been increased.
Shanghai Social Welfare official Zhang Shuping said, "Altogether there are about 70,000 beds in retirement homes in Shanghai. We are planning to add 300,000 beds by 2010."
Meeting the needs of the elderly has to come in line with the completion of the country's social welfare system.
And as their lifestyle changes, China's seniors are hoping it will be secure and rewarding.
(CCTV October 8, 2008)
