Beijing (CNS) -- 2.35 million, almost 20% of the capital's population, were over 60 years old by the end of 2010, according to the "2010 Beijing Aged Population Statistics and Development Report" released by the Municipal Committee on Aging, September 27.
The total 67,018 beds in all 386 municipal elder care institutions, however, can only serve 2.9% of the elderly.
As the report indicated, the aged population (over 60) in 2010 climbed by 84,000 compared to that in 2009, taking up 18.7% of the entire figure. Those in the age range above 80 reached 351,000, or 2.8% of the total.
In the five years from 2006, the number of elderly over 60 years old grew by about 330,000.
The Municipal Committee on Aging gave an explanation for this rocketing boom: newborns during the first birth tide around the middle of last century have gradually entered their senium. This trend will continue for a few dozen years.
The report also refers to the phenomenon of empty nesting, a family of only elderly. Beijing had 443,000 empty nests in 2010, or 18.8% of the total aged population, 2.8% more than that in 2009.
In order to make up the bed insufficiency, additional household services were carried out, including meals for elderly at home and service lines. Policies encouraging youths to care more about their own and surrounding seniors were implemented. For instance, models that respect and serve the elderly will be selected on September 28.
The extension of life expectancy will also add to the aging trend. In 2010, Beijing was home to 434 centenarians, 17 more than in 2009. 121 of them were males, and 313 were females.
