Liu Yang, a member of the CPPCC Shanxi Committee, proposed his suggestions regarding an aging population and services for senior residents in Shanxi.

Recent years have seen rapid growth in the numbers of elderly residents in Shanxi. The proportion of people aged 60 and above had reached 14.45 percent and those over 65 accounted for 9.1 percent of the population by the end of 2015. The growing population of elderly people combined with a patchy provision of social services has caused problems for residents in the province.

"The priority is to step up construction of rest homes for senior citizens and promote staff training for those who serve retired people. Some grassroots medical institutions can be turned into rest homes, providing medical care and assistance," said Liu.

He also pointed out that medical care intended for the elderly should be improved. The government has to balance the subsidies for medical insurance in urban and rural areas to ensure that local residents, especially the elderly, enjoy the same medical services.

"The management and use of funds for senior residents should be supervised and regulated to avoid abuse," he stressed.

Liu Yang, a provincial CPPCC member, is interviewed during the fifth session of the 11th Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Taiyuan. [Photo/sxgov.cn]