High-Quality Implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan: Elderly Assistance Enhances Public Well-being in Shanxi

Civil affairs directly impact people’s lives and public trust. In the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Shanxi’s civil affairs system focused on addressing urgent needs and pressing concerns by advancinginclusive, basic, and safety-net public services, achieving key targets and significantly improving public welfare.

Zeng Qingyong, Deputy Director General of Shanxi Provincial Civil AffairsDepartment, stated: “By the end of 2024, Shanxi’s population aged 60 and above reached 7.79 million, with 5.42 million aged 65 and over, marking the province’s transition to a moderately aging society.”

Recognizing that societal well-being is reflected in the happiness of its elderly, Shanxi has prioritized elderly care development. The provincial government has included the “Community-based Elderly Care Happiness Project” in livelihood tasks for sixyears, building a home- and community-based elderly care system supported by market and professional services.

Zeng added: “There are currently 1,291 elderly care institutions and 9,721 day-care facilities—up 29% and 22% since 2020—and 4,477 senior meal service points, bringing care services closer to residents.”

To improve elderly protection and foster an age-friendly environment, Shanxi launched the Basic Elderly Care Service Catalogue, shifting from minimum guarantees to broader inclusive care.

Li Jianhong, Director General of the Shanxi Provincial Civil Affairs Department, said: “We’re implementing subsidies for home modifications for older adults and hosting aging industry expos to boost ‘silver economy’ consumption.”

To strengthen the social safety net, Shanxi has established dynamic adjustments for assistance standards, expanding aid coverage and flexibility.

Qu Limei, Deputy General Director of the Shanxi Provincial Civil Affairs Department, noted: “Support for orphans and unguarded children has steadily increased, with monthly subsidies now at 2,110 yuan for centralized care and 1,405 yuan for dispersed care, ensuring basic living standards for vulnerable youth.”

Additionally, Shanxi actively promotes social organization involvement, now totaling nearly 20,000 groups. These organizations engage in rural revitalization and public welfare, enhancing their role in safeguarding basic livelihoods.