In the heart of Beijing's Guangming Mountain Senior Nursing Home, 24-year-old Ma Shuang is making a meaningful impact on the lives of elderly residents like 81-year-old Mrs. Han. As an elderly ability evaluator, Ma conducts thorough assessments four times a year to ensure that each resident maintains a high quality of life.
\"Can you dress yourself?\" \"Are you able to go to the bathroom on your own?\" These are some of the questions Ma asks during her 30-minute evaluations, which also include interviews, physical tests, and medical report analyses. Her goal is to understand each resident's daily living abilities, mental state, sensory and communication functions, and social participation to create personalized care plans.
\"The evaluation is much more than just filling out forms,\" Ma explains. \"It's about engaging with the elderly, understanding their needs, and building trust so they feel comfortable sharing their struggles.\" This compassionate approach is vital in China's rapidly aging society, where the population aged 60 and above reached nearly 297 million in 2023, accounting for 21.1% of the total population.
The role of elderly ability evaluators like Ma is increasingly important as China faces the challenges of an aging population. Recognized as an official profession in 2020 by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, these evaluators ensure that elderly citizens receive the support they need while maintaining their dignity and independence.
Cities such as Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and Shanghai have already implemented standardized evaluation processes. Liaoning Province, with one of the highest elderly populations, has established three provincial-level demonstration training bases, completing over 80,000 evaluations so far.
Ma reflects on her work's impact, saying, \"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.\"
To address the growing demand for qualified professionals, more universities and vocational schools in China are now offering programs in elderly care, healthcare management, and gerontology. By 2023, over 770 higher education institutions were providing related programs, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
As China continues to develop its elderly care system, the dedication of evaluators like Ma ensures that the elderly population can enjoy their later years with the dignity, independence, and care they deserve. 🌟👵👴
