Minhang launches training in elderly care
Minhang District has launched an elderly care training and management program, with hospital training for nursing staff and different levels of tests. Trained staff will provide different levels of service and receive payment accordingly, district government officials said on Thursday.
Renji Hospital’s south branch is the guiding facility, under which six neighborhood health centers will be training centers.
China has around 241 million elderly people, with around 50 million needing nursing care or rehabilitation services, but only around 300,000 licensed nursing staff.
According to international practice, there should be one nursing staff member for every three elderly people.
Hang Wenquan, director of Minhang District’s health commission, said there are some 465,000 elderly people in the district. Minhang has 64 nursing homes for the elderly with 1,604 nursing staff, 55.8 percent of whom are licensed.
Hang said professional training is being offered to nursing staff to improve services and elderly residents’ quality of life.
“We want all nursing staff in homes for the elderly to participate in the program to receive training and become licensed. It will also improve the incomes of nursing staff."
Dr Li Jin, vice president of Renji Hospital's south branch introduces the program.
A nurse teaches a nursing staff on elderly patient care.
