When 63-year-old Li arrived at the Hospital of Stomatology attached to Sichuan University at noon last Wednesday after several transfers, he was disappointed to find that the hospital only allows online registration.

The senior man, after hours of failed attempts, complained: "You cannot shut the door upon me just because I'm old."

The hospital later replied through its social media account that the on-site registration channel has remained closed for COVID-19 containment, and there are green channels open for the elderly, and receptions were available for those who have difficulties with smartphones. However, after being reported by Sichuan Daily, Li's story has triggered wide discussions on social media, with many putting forward the question: Is the digitizing society of China showing enough tolerance towards the senior citizens?

China is entering an aging society, and Li's story is only an epitome of the whole picture.

On Friday, Li Banghua, an official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said at a press conference that the aging population (people aged above 60) is expected to exceed 300 million in the next five years, meaning the country moves one step further into an aging society. The elderly care sector will face new challenges in the next few years.

Li said that the aging population's curve would build up gradually during the next five-10 years, leaving the society with a precious window of opportunities to get prepared.

The working plan for the elderly care industry was in the compilation, and the ministry has just completed research work, which is now under discussion and examination by relevant departments, Li added.

What preparations have been made?

With its aging population growing bigger, China is also going digitalized and intelligent.

In the first half of 2020, when health QR code is necessary for entry of nearly all the public areas in China, news about aged people's dilemmas in the application-dominated world surged.

Li Banghua said that the Ministry of Civil Affairs has been working out the solution to their intelligent dilemmas.

The communities, volunteers, and nursing institutions were encouraged to help the silver haired to get familiar with the smart devices and online service information, said Li, adding that training lessons should also be offered if necessary.

Meanwhile, the ministry asked all sectors in the society to reserve their manual and face-to-face services in favor of the group. The ministry has also been cooperating with relevant organizations to make smart devices more adaptable for the elderly as well, to meet their needs in traveling, seeking medical help, or making online reservations.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development (2016-2020), China has been stepping up its supporting policies to prepare for the aging society. The government has improved the institutional framework for elderly care, said Li.

As of 2019, more than 14.4 million aged people had received the subsistence allowances for urban and rural recipients, at least 3.86 million living in dire poverty received special help, and over 35 million got different types of pensions.

The government has offered multiple supplies in the elderly care sector as well. Social forces have been encouraged to invest in the industry. According to Li, the central government has invested 5 billion yuan ($750 million) in piloting home- and community-based care for the aged people. To date, by June 2020, China had 220,000 nursing institutions, with over 7.9 million beds, among which 50 percent are private.

Besides, China has attached greater importance to the legal protection for its senior citizens. According to Li, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has come up with several regulations to improve supervision in nursing homes and institutions.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the ministry will focus on improving the weak links in the elderly care service industry to meet the 2035 gold senior-care system of the country and enable all the aged population to be taken good care of.