The data from daily life, including health index, could be collected and uploaded through wearable devices to the cloud platform. And the family members, living afar, receive the date simultaneously. Meanwhile, the hospitals collect the relevant data as well and offer the timely medical service.
In 2013, the State Council issued several suggestions on accelerating aged care service industry and asked the local governments to support enterprises in applying Internet and other new technologies to the industry.
"The high-tech applications would ease the burden the children," Gao said.
Unbalanced distribution of resource
The Happiness Senior Citizens Care Center provides 300 single and double rooms, with the monthly price from 3,800 to 6,000 yuan, as well as different kinds of nursing levels. The center has been almost full now.
The other state-run or private nursing homes in China's big cities also see the similar occupancy rate. "Some old people even have to wait for several months in order to live in the reputable state-run nursing homes in Beijing," Gao Lanzhi said.
However, a newly released report on China's nursing homes showed that the vacancy rate was 48 percent.
This is mainly due to the low occupancy rate of the nursing homes in rural areas, said Wu Yushao, the director of China Research Center on Aging.
With young people from the rural areas moving to the big cities for working, some of their parents were also taken by them outside. Hu Tongwei said, "They hope to give the parents better nursing service in big cities."
China now has more than 5.50 million nursing beds for old people. Around 26 beds are served per thousand old people for average. The Ministry of Civil Affairs promised to accelerate the development of the old-age care services nationwide and increase the number of nursing bed per thousand old people to 30 by the end of this year.
Wu Yushao suggested that there should be a screening system to ensure that those most in need are admitted to nursing homes.
"Without the evaluation of the physical and economic conditions, some healthy and rich old people at lower age occupy the nursing resources," Wu said. "Those without self-care ability and in financial difficulty are kept outside."
Professionals shortage
The aged care service industry in China also faces the awkward situation of lacking professionals.
Before living in the Happiness Senior Citizens Care Center, Gao Lanzhi visited and evaluated several other nursing homes including state-run and private ones.
When she found some nursing staffs lost patience in dealing with the daily affairs of the old people, Gao hesitated about going to the nursing homes.
"Old people care need professional nursing staffs most, rather than expensive facilities" Gao said.
"They should listen to our complaints, offer timely medical service, and know how to make our diet balanced," Gao suggested.
There are 24 nursing staffs at the Happiness Senior Citizens Care Center, ranging from 30 to 50 years old.
"Most of them are middle-aged women having relevant working experience," Hu Tongwei said, "but without professional aged care training."
It is quite common for the nursing homes around China.
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has set up the national professional standard for the aged care staffs. There are over one million people engaged in nursing service industry for old people all over the country. But only less than 40,000 of them meet the standard.
With the booming aged care service industry, Gao who worked for the continuing education before retirement suggested it's high time for governments to strengthen the training of nursing home workers.
