China Unveils Two Mandatory National Standards for Senior Care Institutions

Dragon Media News Desk

China has unveiled two mandatory national standards aimed at improving safety and service quality in senior care institutions, as the country moves to further professionalize and regulate a sector that is becoming increasingly important amid its rapidly aging population.

The two standards, the Basic Specification for Senior Care Organizations and the Criteria for Determining Major Accident Hazards in Senior Care Organizations, were jointly issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Both will take effect on August 1, 2027.

The basic standard establishes 90 specific requirements across seven major areas, including site selection, facilities and equipment, admission and discharge procedures, and safety management.

The requirements are intended to establish a mandatory baseline for the compliant operation of senior care institutions across the country.

The second standard introduces a systematic procedure for identifying major accident hazards. Drawing on lessons from nationwide management practices, it is designed to help frontline managers identify safety risks accurately and address them in a timely manner.

Wang Yuhuan, an official with the State Administration for Market Regulation, said the mandatory standards would guide senior care facilities to focus on key safety and service requirements.

According to Wang, the standards are expected to continuously strengthen risk-prevention capabilities and improve the overall operational quality of senior care institutions.

China is accelerating efforts to upgrade its elderly care system to meet the demands of a rapidly aging society.

The country has more than 320 million people aged 60 and above, giving it the world’s largest elderly population.

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, China plans to renovate and upgrade 2,000 public senior care facilities during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030.

During the same period, the country aims to increase the proportion of nursing-care beds in public senior care institutions to more than 73 percent.