Editor's note: October 1 marks the International Day of Older Persons. In this episode of "Come Together" series, CGTN observes the changing lifestyles of Chinese senior citizens and the potential inspiration for their counterparts worldwide.

"One, two, three, four, five, six. Ready… Go!" Ding Chaoyuan, 74, instructed her students at a music class.

Graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, Ding has been offering electronic organ class free of charge at a community center in Haidian District, Beijing, for over 10 years.

"I'm retired now, but I don't want to stay idle at home. Luckily, our residential committee has organized community classes, so I can contribute with whatever I'm good at," Ding told CGTN.

"When you play the keyboard, you move all your fingers. It can promote blood circulation and prevent Alzheimer's and blood clots. That's our goal," she smiled.

Opportunities to enjoy life and to learn are shared wishes of the elderly. But receiving proper elderly care is the essential prerequisite for a happy old age.

Traditionally, home-based care has been the first choice of most elderly Chinese. However, as aging problems aggravate and the fertility rate declines, more and more senior people have become empty nesters, posing challenges to home-based elderly care.

"We are used to all the facilities at home, and they make my life much easier. But what happens when I reach my 80s? I would still want to stay at home, and I hope the community will offer some assistance. This could be a good option for elderly care," Ding said.

China has accelerated the development of a home-based, community-backed elderly care system in recent years. To put it simply, it refers to the community providing venues for recreational activities, healthcare and catering to the elderly. This enables them to stay at home while also benefiting from convenient, low-cost, socialized and professional care services nearby.

"China has now established an elderly care system, which is based on needs of individual families, backed by communities, and supplemented by social institutions, combining medical treatment with elderly care," said Chen Yuzhuo, chairman of the Elderly Service Industry Committee China-Asia Economic Development Association.

Elderly care is not only a problem for China, it has now become a common challenge for many countries worldwide. According to World Population Prospect 2019, one-sixth of the world population will be over 65 years old by 2050, a huge increase compared to one-eleventh in 2019. In addition, population aged 80 or above will double from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million.

China has been an aging society since 1999. With rapid development and a huge population base, China's elderly population hit 250 million in 2018.

Kenji Akita from Japan has studied elderly care for decades. In his eyes, China's solution to elderly care would have profound consequences globally. "The figure 250 million elderly people equal to nearly twice the population of Japan. If China could solve the problem of elderly care, it will set an example for the global community," Akita told CGTN.

To a larger extent, China is also exploring a feasible plan for the entire world. For instance, on the basis of home-based, community-backed elderly care system, China has tried to combine individual, family, community and social institutions together. In the future, China's community services will pay special attention to those who are elderly or disabled as well as those who live alone or lost their only child. What's more, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a guideline on promoting elderly care service consumption, proposing that all communities in China be equipped with elderly-care facilities by 2022.

"While I'm still in good health, I can participate in community activities. When my mobility is reduced, the community can look after me and I can still enjoy my days," said 72-year-old Ding Zheyuan, a student in Ding's class.

Everyone will get old, but the shared pursuit of living happily, aging healthily and gracefully will stay the same.