Ever since China opened up to the world in 1980's, the Shanghai Municipal Government, led by the Communist Party of China and the State Council, makes great effort to build the city into an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center. With the cooperation and hardwork of Shanghai people, the city is progressing to its goal as a global metropolitan. The new team of leaders of the Shanghai government took office in February 2003. "The power of the government is entrusted by the people; the interest of people is above all," as Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng promise in his inaugural. Guided by the Shanghai Party Committee, the city's new leadership vows to strictly perform its official duties; to make significant progress in self-improvement, and to intensify the shift of its role from administrative to public service. The Shanghai government will build itself into a service government that would share with the people all their happiness and troubles; a solid responsible government that is efficient, honest and diligent; a law-abiding government that respects legal system and rules strictly and impartially.

More Senior Citizens Will Be Taken Care of At Their Homes

11/23/2004

Most district communities in Shanghai will have their own service centers to help senior citizens spend the rest of their life at home and to provide other services. Services will be provided to all senior citizens, including those with difficulties and special contributions. Senior citizens with difficulties or special contributions will be able to receive service coupon as subsidiaries. This was reported from the Promotion Meeting on Providing More Services to Senior Citizens at Home held on June 10.

Surveys show that most senior citizens prefer to spend the rest of their life at home. Only 2% to 3% of senior citizens indicate that they are willing to spend the rest of their life in senior citizen homes. To meet such a demand, while making efforts to make institutions for senior citizens, Shanghai is working hard on providing service to senior citizens who live at home. Last November, 11 trial service centers were launched in the new districts of Pu Dong and Yang Pu. By the end of last month, service centers to help senior citizens spend the rest of their life at home and to provide other services have been established in 27 district communities (counties) in the two districts, benefiting more than ten thousand senior citizens.

To provide service to more senior citizens, there will be more such service centers being established in Shanghai. Day care service institutions that cover all senior citizens in the city will be established. Service centers at three levels as well as centers that provide other services will be established and improved. More government allowance will also be given by the government as service subsidiary to senior citizens with difficulties and special citizens. Service will be expanded from calling for help, delivering meal, shopping and other daily services to buying medicine, accompanying senior citizens to hospitals and help to take care of senior citizens on bed, with mental problems, disabled senior people and those with terminal diseases. Also, such services as chatting and consulting will be provided. Service items and forms can be decided according to the requirement and habits of senior citizens themselves.

It was also reported that helping senior citizens to spend the rest of their lives at home also helped to create job opportunities. Surplus labor force will work as service providers after certain training. It was expected that by the end of this year, there would be ten thousand senior citizen care-takers.
The Shanghai government 2006