Shortage of carers for Beijing’s elderly residents
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Nursing homes and care agencies in Beijing report a chronic shortage of staff due to stress and low wages, authorities said Thursday.
The capital’s elderly care industry is staffed by more than 11,000 registered workers, at least 20,000 fewer than what's actually needed, according to the head of the civil affairs bureau, Li Wanjun, at a session of the 14th Beijing Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee.
Li said that caring for the elderly is a high stress job, with an annual payment of 30,000 yuan (around 4,400 US dollars) to 40,000 yuan.
Staff turnover in the sector is also comparatively high at 40 percent.
As estimated, people over their 60s will account for a quarter of China's population by 2030. /VCG Photo
As estimated, people over their 60s will account for a quarter of China's population by 2030. /VCG Photo
Around 70 percent of carers in Beijing are migrant workers with a poor education background, he said.
Still, there is also a shortage of suitable facilities. Beijing only has around 4,000 centers providing home-based care for the aged.
The city’s deputy mayor, Wang Ning, said Beijing aims to attract more carers by increasing payment and improving professional training.
Around 230 million people are aged over 60 in China, making up 16.7 percent of the population.
The government has predicted that the senior citizens will account for one quarter of the population by 2030.