He Baoxiang, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, led a team to Shanghai from June 16 to 20, to conduct a democratic oversight inspection on social adaptation efforts for the elderly. 

The team made field visits to neighborhoods, public facilities, eldercare service centers and elderly households, where they held discussions with representatives from relevant government departments, community organizations, enterprises and families to gain firsthand insights and gather opinions and suggestions.

The team noted that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Shanghai has enhanced policies for elderly-friendly adaptations, focusing on improving subsidy mechanisms, optimizing service provision, raising public awareness, and standardizing service management. The city has made continuous progress in enhancing community-based eldercare systems, exploring innovative models tailored to local needs and strengths, and creating replicable and scalable experiences.

The team emphasized that building a senior-friendly society is a key measure to address population aging, as well as an initiative that is not only critical to people's livelihoods but also a reflection of social progress and civilization. They called for a comprehensive assessment of the progress made under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and efforts to lay a solid foundation for the high-quality formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

The team called for adopting a problem-oriented approach to deepen institutional innovation and address the practical concerns of senior people through targeted age-friendly renovations. They also advocated promoting the development of innovative aging-adaptive products and services, including the application of "5G + AI" in eldercare scenarios. 

Further suggestions the team made included establishing an integrated eldercare talent system that combines training, certification, and employment to ensure a stable and skilled workforce. They also stressed the importance of fostering a culture of respect and care for the elderly, raising public awareness, and creating a more supportive living environment for the group.