The 2021 Jiangsu International Senior Care Services Expo opened at the Nanjing International Exhibition Centre on October 9.  

The three-day event focuses on the display of intelligent technologies, products and supplies, and personnel trainings for the senior care. 

Ankangtong, a professional elderly care service provider established in 1998, showcased its integrated services that make use of smart technologies. It also highlighted a showroom to demonstrate home modification for senior-friendly living at the event.   

Zhang Jie, Vice President and General Manager of Ankangtong Jiangsu, said the company has undertaken government-sponsored renovation projects for elderly care in over 30 counties, districts and cities, which benefit more than 10,000 households.  

The retrofitting offers customized solutions in light of different scenarios. For example, elderly people in cities prefer to use smart communication devices, while aged people in rural areas are more in need of multifunctional bathrooms and accessible road built close to their homes.  

Data showed there are 14,000 special beds in operation for home-based elderly care in eight cities that have subordinate districts, namely Nanjing, Wuxi, Xuzhou, Suzhou, Nantong, Huai'an, Zhenjiang and Taizhou. Senior people, especially those who are at an advanced age or unable to look after themselves, find such special-purpose beds as well as the door-to-door service make life much easier.  

Zheng Pei, deputy general manager of Ankangtong Jiangsu, said the elderly care market is really big but senior people are reluctant to spend their own money for home renovation.   

On the government side, the provincial government has pledged to complete home remodeling for 30,000 families amid efforts to boost home-based elderly care. The cost of this initiative, one of the top priorities to improve people’s livelihood this year, was mainly funded by the government.  

Suzhou and Changzhou cities are experimenting with new programs to make a home elder-friendly. This requires the efforts on many fronts, such as the government subsidy, individual spending, public donation and companies ready to remodel home with less margin.