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Tapping into New Professions: Elderly ability evaluators ensure quality of life in old age

CGTN

Medical staff assess the abilities of elderly residents at a nursing center in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province, October 10, 2024. /CFP
Medical staff assess the abilities of elderly residents at a nursing center in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province, October 10, 2024. /CFP

Medical staff assess the abilities of elderly residents at a nursing center in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province, October 10, 2024. /CFP

Editor's note: CGTN presents "New Trends," which explores new trends among Chinese people as well as their underlying causes. We focus on the impacts of China's reform and opening up, emphasizing the modernization strategies outlined by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. This era of transformation, driven by new productive forces, is reshaping Chinese people's lifestyles and daily experiences, blending tradition with innovation to redefine how they live and work.

"Can you dress yourself?" 

"Are you able to go to the bathroom on your own?"  

Mrs Han, 81, is being asked these questions by Ma Shuang, a 24-year-old elderly ability evaluator, and nurse Li Dongmei as part of a crucial evaluation process at the Guangming Mountain Senior Nursing Home on the outskirts of Beijing.

The assessment is conducted four times each year, in order to monitor the well-being and functional abilities of the elderly at the nursing home.

Ma, who majored in Senior Citizen Services and Management, became an elderly ability evaluator at the nursing home after graduation. Her work involves conducting assessments of elderly residents, typically taking 30 minutes per evaluation.

Through a combination of interviews, physical testing and analysis of medical reports, Ma and her team assess nursing home residents' abilities in four major areas: daily living activities, mental state, sensory and communication functions, and social participation. The goal is to categorize the individuals' ability levels and provide a tailored care plan.

"The evaluation is much more than just filling out forms," Ma said. "It's about engaging with the elderly, understanding their needs and creating a sense of trust so they feel comfortable sharing their struggles."

Ma's role is pivotal in China's rapidly aging society, where the elderly population is growing at an unprecedented rate.

China's population aged 60 and above reached nearly 297 million in 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the total, according to an official report jointly released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and China National Committee on Ageing in October. The report also stated that the number of people aged 65 and above reached 216.76 million, accounting for 15.4 percent of the total population.

The aging trend is accelerating, and by mid-century, the country will experience the challenges of an aging society more profoundly. This demographic shift has prompted the government to take significant steps to develop a more comprehensive and efficient elderly care system.

In 2020, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recognized elderly ability evaluator as an official profession. Ma is one of the newest members of this emerging role.

By implementing a standardized evaluation process, elderly ability evaluators are tasked with providing more precise and personalized services to the elderly, ensuring they receive the support they need while maintaining dignity and autonomy.

Systems to evaluate the abilities of the elderly are gradually being adopted nationwide. In cities like Beijing, Shijiazhuang and Shanghai, local governments have already set up standardized processes for elderly ability evaluations.

Northeast China's Liaoning Province, which has one of the highest elderly populations in China, took the lead in establishing three provincial-level demonstration training bases for the assessment of the ability of the elderly in July. Su Min, an official from Liaoning Provincial Civil Affairs Department, said that so far, over 80,000 elderly evaluations have been completed.

As Ma looked back on her experiences, she reflected on the profound impact her work has on the elderly. "I'm not just helping to assess their abilities; I'm giving them a voice. For many elderly people, these assessments help them understand their own needs and offer suggestions on how to improve their daily lives."

The role of elderly ability evaluators is more than just a technical job; it is an act of compassion and a vital piece of the puzzle in addressing the challenges posed by China's aging population.

With the aging demographic set to increase rapidly in the coming decades, professionals like Ma will be key to ensuring that elderly citizens live their later years with dignity, independence, and the care they deserve. 

To address the shortage of qualified professionals in this field, more universities and vocational schools in China have started offering programs in elderly care, healthcare management and gerontology.

By 2023, more than 770 higher education institutions in China were offering related programs, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

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