During the National Day holiday, streets and alleys were filled with a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere.

At the Jinsong Subdistrict Elderly Care Service Center located in Jinsong West Community, Chaoyang District, Beijing, elderly care services never paused for a moment. Staff members stayed at their posts, ensuring short-term institutional care, home visits and inspections, and door-to-door meal delivery were all carried out without exception, accompanying senior residents through a steady and secure holiday.

Shortly after 5 a.m., as dawn was just breaking, the kitchen was already bustling with activity.

Steamed milk-scented buns, soft multigrain porridge, along with eggs and side dishes 鈥?the offerings were simple but suited the elderly residents' appetites perfectly.

After breakfast and a brief rest, staff member Luo Xiuwei guided everyone into group activities.

"What would you like to do today?" she asked. Many seniors suggested singing, and soon melodies of old songs such as "The East Is Red" and "Ode to the Motherland" filled the hall, with the elderly softly humming along.

Those grandparents who preferred not to sing gathered in small groups to play chess or chat, while others stood up to do some simple stretches, enjoying a comfortable and easy time.

Before 11 a.m., lunch was already out of the pot.

Braised meatballs, scrambled eggs with wood ear mushrooms and cucumber, paired with two light vegetable dishes and a bowl of dried shrimp and egg soup 鈥?low in oil and salt, tender and easy to chew, specifically adapted to the dietary needs of the elderly.

On one side, residents inside the center dined in an orderly manner; on the other, staff swiftly packed meals into insulated boxes to deliver to elderly residents living nearby who are advanced in age and have limited mobility.

Post-2000s care worker Zhao Fuzhen carried a blood pressure monitor with her at all times.

Arriving at Grandma Fu's home, she set down the warm meal box and skillfully measured the elderly woman's blood pressure.

"Excellent, your blood pressure is much more stable!" Grandma Fu smiled and replied: "I also feel lighter these past two days, and I've been sleeping much more soundly."

After the lunch break, the sunlit rehabilitation hall at the elderly care service center came alive with activity.

Outside, the autumn breeze was slightly chilly, but inside the glass sunroom it was warm and cozy, becoming a "little fitness haven" for the seniors.

Staff stood nearby to supervise and encourage, guiding Grandma He hand over hand to grip the handle and slowly raise her arm to exercise her upper body strength 鈥?she performed each repetition earnestly. In the adjacent activity area, Grandpa Li aimed a ball at the fun basketball hoop, smiling happily with every successful shot. In the rehabilitation room, a therapist led elderly residents through lying-down stretches, with gentle movements slowly easing their leg joints.

The elderly care service center also prepared yogurt and fruit to provide extra snacks for residents who needed them.

During the holiday, when children go out traveling and elderly family members at home are left without care, the center's short-term care service can ease their worries.

This National Day holiday, a total of five elderly individuals received short-term care here, and Grandma Zhang was one of them.

"I'm staying here, so my children can travel with peace of mind. I have someone taking care of me, and old friends to chat with. I don't have to spend the holiday alone at home feeling lonely. It's great," she said.

24-hour daily living care, health monitoring, rehabilitation nursing, and recreational companionship 鈥?Yin Zhiyu, head of the elderly care service center, explained that during this National Day holiday, all staff at the center were on duty, safeguarding the daily lives of the elderly and ensuring uninterrupted services.

"This place is a warm home. Even during the National Day holiday, we must steadily carry out our daily services and protect the daily lives of our seniors," he said.

It is understood that in May of this year, Jinsong Subdistrict officially released the "Jinsong Subdistrict Three-Year Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Elderly Care Services (2026鈥?028)," the first subdistrict-level three-year special plan for elderly care services in Chaoyang District, marking a new stage of precision, systematization, and long-term high-quality development for grassroots elderly care services in the area.

Yin Zhiyu said that the implementation of the three-year action plan has also raised higher requirements for the center's daily services. Going forward, the center will gradually align with subdistrict-level resources in areas such as talent cultivation, dementia-friendly services, and fall prevention interventions, extending the sense of security felt during the holiday to every single day.