October is National Senior Citizens Month in the United States. Statistics indicate that more than 78% of seniors aged 60 and over in China suffer from chronic diseases, leading to an increasing demand for health services among the elderly population. To address the challenges faced by seniors in accessing healthcare, China has initiated the construction of age-friendly medical facilities since 2020. To date, over 4,400 hospitals at the secondary level and above have been transformed into age-friendly institutions.

The National Health Commission emphasizes four key areas—cultural, management, service, and environment—when developing these age-friendly medical facilities. Local governments are tailoring their approaches to enhance the patient-centered care that elderly individuals receive. For instance, recognizing the difficulties many seniors have with fully digital hospital systems, some hospitals have set aside a portion of their appointment slots for in-person registration, allowing family members or friends to assist the elderly in scheduling appointments. Additionally, hospital staff are available to guide seniors through the use of self-service check-in kiosks and payment systems. Across the country, healthcare institutions are streamlining appointment systems, introducing user-friendly telemedicine options, and enhancing online processes by adding intelligent voice assistance and services designed specifically for seniors. Currently, more than 3,300 comprehensive hospitals have established “green channels” for elderly patients, offering volunteering services such as guidance and companionship, as well as ensuring accessible facilities like ramps and wheelchairs. Public hospitals are also creating mutual referral processes with nursing homes and community health services.

Addressing Long-term Medication Needs for Seniors
The Challenges of Medication Access

Seniors with chronic illnesses often need to visit hospitals regularly for prescriptions. A survey targeting elderly patients revealed that over 50% of respondents spent 2 to 4 hours during each medical visit, finding the long wait times exhausting. In response, various regions have implemented measures such as long-term prescriptions and home delivery of medications to ease these challenges.

Recently, Beijing expanded the list of chronic conditions eligible for long-term prescription management from five to eight, now including hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyperlipidemia, osteoarthritis, and mental health disorders. Patients can receive prescriptions for up to 12 weeks of medication.

Zhejiang province has fully adopted long-term prescription services, covering 12 chronic conditions including hypertension and diabetes. The province emphasizes that prescriptions should be extended to the maximum duration possible and should not be limited based on the hospital’s classification or whether a family doctor contract has been signed.

In Shandong, the maximum duration for chronic disease prescriptions has been extended to 12 weeks since 2022, with a requirement for regular follow-ups with patients. In Tai’an city, 15 secondary-level hospitals have formed an Internet-based chronic disease management network, integrating online and offline strategies for standardized care for elderly patients. Patients can upload their health data, such as blood sugar and pressure levels, from home, allowing doctors to manage them accordingly. At Tai’an Central Hospital, over 8,000 diabetes patients have joined the chronic disease management program. Ms. Wang, an 81-year-old with diabetes and hypertension, shared that after signing up for the hospital’s chronic disease service in May, she now enjoys benefits like online follow-ups and home delivery of her medication.

Wang Qiang, Director of the Tai’an Medical Insurance Center, stated, “By innovating chronic disease management models, we’ve effectively reduced the growth rate of medical insurance expenditures and lightened the financial burden on patients. From January to June of this year, the per capita medical costs for chronic disease patients at Tai’an’s 15 service centers decreased by 17% compared to the last half of last year.”

Creating Senior-Friendly Healthcare Environments

Improving Access for Elderly Patients

Since last year, the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine have launched a campaign nationwide aimed at “Improving the Medical Experience and Enhancing Patient Satisfaction,” placing a particular focus on modifying healthcare environments to be more age-friendly and accessible, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly. In recent years, many of the challenges affecting seniors’ access to healthcare are gradually being alleviated.

At Chongqing Medical University’s Second Affiliated Hospital, a dedicated registration window for elderly patients has been established, staffed with volunteers to assist seniors in using advanced technology. The hospital provides multiple appointment methods, including phone registration, assistance from family members, and a specialized WeChat service for seniors. In the inpatient department, “senior-friendly wards” are equipped with resources such as wheelchairs, magnifying glasses, and walkers. Additionally, priority is given to elderly patients during procedures like blood draws.

To further facilitate healthcare access for seniors, Chengdu’s civil affairs department is collaborating with medical institutions to transform over 2,600 community service stations into integrated healthcare and eldercare facilities. Chengdu’s Eighth People’s Hospital has established 11 integrated healthcare stations, serving over 50,000 elderly individuals to date.