During this year's National Day holiday, 145 elderly care service complexes across the city remained open for business, with many of them introducing 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 Aunt Wang was doing finger exercises together with her old friends. The elderly woman has limited mobility and relies entirely on a caregiver. During this year's National Day holiday, her caregiver returned to her hometown and her children are abroad, so through a friend's introduction, Aunt Wang came to this elderly care service center.

During the National Day period, at this day care center, there were 12 other elderly people besides Wang Guiying who chose short-term respite care.

In response to the care difficulties faced by elderly people during holidays that were collected in advance, four home-based elderly care service centers in Hexi District launched short-term care services during the statutory long holiday, with stays 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 special subsidies from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

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