During this year's National Day holiday, a total of 145 elderly care service complexes across the city remained open for business, with many of them rolling out short-term respite care services to fill the gap in family caregiving.

At the home-based elderly care service center on Machang Street in Hexi District, 71-year-old Auntie Wang was doing finger exercises together with her elderly friends. The elderly woman has limited mobility and relies entirely on a nanny for care. During this year's National Day holiday, her nanny returned to her hometown and her children are abroad, so through a friend's introduction, Auntie Wang came to this elderly care service center.

During the National Day period, at this day care center, there were 12 other elderly people like Wang Guiying who chose short-term respite care. In response to the caregiving difficulties during holidays that were collected from elderly residents beforehand, four home-based elderly care service centers in Hexi District launched short-term care services during the statutory long holiday, with stay durations ranging from one day to one week, allowing elderly people to choose freely. For elderly people with moderate or above disability, short-term care can also qualify for a special subsidy from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

During the National Day holiday, a total of 145 elderly care service complexes across the city remained open for business, providing meal assistance, caregiving and other services for the elderly.