Recognizing rapidly ageing population is one key concern faced by cities and the challenge it would present to healthcare system, this book looks at ageing in China’s population as well as the delivery and financing of long-term care (LTC) in China. The book compares key features of long-term care insurance (LTCI) schemes in 15 pilot cities and evaluates the sustainability of various financing models adopted by the cities in the LTCI schemes. The book uses an interpretive case study approach to give an in-depth look into the LTC models in three pilot cities – Qingdao, Nantong, and Shanghai. The three cities represent three different models of financing and delivering LTC. To assess how effective the LTC models in these three cities are, the book uses five criteria, including utilization of medical resources, cost, equity, quality of care and sustainability. Also, the authors discuss how the financing and delivery of LTC can be improved in China, the impact of the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on older adults in need of LTC in the country and the implications of China’s LTCI reform for other countries. The book will be a useful reference to scholars and policy-makers who look at urban ageing and healthcare costs and delivery.

China is aging at an unprecedented rate. Improvements in life expectancy and the consequences of the decades-old family planning policy have led to a rapid increase in the elderly population. According to the United Nations World Population Prospects, the proportion of older people age 65 and over will increase by about one-fourth by 2030, and the elderly will account for about one quarter of the total population by 2050. Population aging will not only pose challenges for elder care but also have an impact on the economy and all aspects of society (World Bank, 2016a). The government is aware of the need to develop an efficient and sustainable approach to aged care. To this end, the General Office of the State Council issued the 12th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Aged Care Services in China and the Development Plan for a System of Social Services for the Aged (2011-2015). It is now in the process of formulating the 13th Five-Year National Plan on Aging, which will further elaborate and finalize the reform roadmap for 2016 to 2020. The Plan is expected to be finalized and launched by June 2016. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) helped draft these plans and is now leading the development of policy measures for the provision of social services for the elderly. This volume has been prepared to support the translation of the broad ideas on aged care provision expressed in the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans and other government plans into reality and to help the government tackle the challenges described above. It strives to identify a policy framework that fits the Chinese context and can be put in place gradually. Specifically, it aims to provide an up-to-date understanding of the evolving aged care landscape in China; review international experiences in long-term care provision, financing, and quality assurance and assess their relevance to China’s current situation; discuss implications of current developments and trends for the future of aged care in China; and propose policy options based on available evidence and best practices.

A few clear factors are associated with living longer and healthier — such as higher levels of physical activity, good sleep patterns and proper nutrition. However, despite all the advances that have been made to increase the general population's physical activity, improve their sleep patterns, and boost their nutritional habits, there is still a lot to be done. This Research Topic aims to address the topic of healthy ageing and will consider manuscripts focused on the effects of improving these factors in all ages, from childhood to old age. We are mainly interested in questions of broader interventions at the individual (home settings), group (school, work, and gerontology settings), and societal level (community/based settings). We also welcome papers investigating the short- and long-term effects of environmental factors on physical changes in children, working and old age populations and their development. Correlational and survey studies examining the issues mentioned above are welcome.

About long-term care for chronically ill and disabled persons and the elderly.

This volume draws upon one of the first comprehensive studies on the regional variations of services for aging persons in China to provide an empirical and theoretical understanding of the impact of China's rapidly growing aging population on the country's socioeconomic, cultural, and political systems. In three parts, the manuscript combines case-oriented comparative methods with variable-oriented statistical and GIS analyses to examine the spatial patterns and relationships between supply and demand of affordable and accessible services for aging persons in China. Part one gives a historical review of population aging in China, including the development of services for aging persons and government policies and programs geared towards elders. Part two provides an analysis of spatial variations of supply and demand for services including food, housing, health, and community services for aging persons. Part three uses case studies to analyse the regional and local dimensions of elderly services. Suggestions are made for future planning, development, and policies. This book will appeal to policy makers, city planners, service providing businesses, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying economic geography, planning, and regional development.

Focusing on social work and social service delivery, this book examines the social policies and programmes designed to address different societal issues and concerns across India and China. It focuses on gaining understanding of design and delivery of social welfare policies related to special interest groups, highlighting important contemporary challenges such as child labour, child abuse, exploitation of women, problems related to disabled people, mental health issue, illiteracy and unemployment. Offering a comparative perspective, the book considers the impact of political administration in both countries to critically assess key issues related to social welfare in two different political, economic, social, and cultural contexts.

This book uses a revised version of Kingdon’s multiple-streams framework to examine health financing reforms in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) as well as long-term care insurance (LTCI) reforms in Japan and Singapore. It shows that the explanatory power of the multiple-streams framework can be strengthened through enriching the concepts of policy entrepreneurs, ideas, and windows of opportunity in the original framework as well as bringing the theoretical lens of historical institutionalism into the framework.

Lasting healthcare for the entire population, specifically the elderly, has become a main priority in society. It is imperative to find ways to boost the longevity of healthcare services for all users. Sustainable Health and Long-Term Care Solutions for an Aging Population is a pivotal reference source featuring the latest scholarly research on issues pertinent to health cost and finding effective ways of financing healthcare for the elderly. Including coverage on a number of topics such as provider accreditation, corporate social responsibility, and data management, this book is ideally designed for policy makers, academicians, researchers, and advanced-level students seeking current research on the innovative planning and development of healthcare.