Elderly Care Policy in China: Its Evolutionary Path and Implications on Governance

Over the years, the Chinese elderly care policy has undergone significant changes, leading to the systematic development of a comprehensive elderly care service system. This study explores the pivotal policies formulated by central policy-making bodies and examines the historical and current state of the elderly care system in China. The findings demonstrate a consistent alignment between the system’s evolutionary trajectory, the practical expectations of the population, and the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) objective of fostering a unified and balanced society. The study also highlights inherent issues concerning governance mechanisms and role-position within the system. Notably, we highlight the successful protection of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic as an exemplary care of care service provision and draw lessons from international experience.