Local seniors benefited from long-term care scheme

A pilot long-term care scheme has served local seniors about 2 million times since it was introduced in January, according to a report released yesterday by the standing committee of the Shanghai People’s Congress. About 126,000 local seniors applied for the scheme during the first six months, the report added.

The program is intended to provide quality health care to more elderly people in their homes. Care is delivered by a variety of providers, including specialists in home health care.

For the whole year, the program's goal is to deliver benefits to 3 million elderly people. Those aged 60 and above and are recipients of health care insurance can participate in the program. Subsidies are available to participants with financial difficulties.

The long-term care insurance program is likely to be added into Shanghai’s social insurance system, which now covers elderly care, health care, unemployment, work injury and maternity, according to industry insiders.

Long-term care insurance is designed to cover long-term services and supports including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings like nursing home, a community organization or other facilities.

By the end of 2016, Shanghai had nearly 4.6 million registered residents aged 60 or above, representing about 30 percent of the city's registered population. By 2020, the number of people over 60 is expected to exceed 5.4 million.