In today's Corridor for Deputies to National People's Congress (NPC), Tashi Wangmo, a deputy to NPC from Barkam, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, shared her 16 years of experience in elder care with the country. Her story embodies both steadfast dedication and innovation. From an ordinary nursing worker to the director of a nursing home, and now serving as a deputy to NPC from the grassroots level, the girl of generation Z has dedicated 16 years to exemplifying the Chinese saying, "Caring for the elderly as we care for our own." Her career trajectory reflects the evolution of China's elderly care sector while outlining a future for the burgeoning "silver economy".
Picture shows Tashi Wangmo and the elderly.
From nursing worker to deputy to NPC: The frontline "guardian of elderly care"
In 2008, the 18-year-old Tashi Wangmo entered the elderly care service industry. From helping the elderly with bathing and nail trimming to organizing health exercises and heart-to-heart talks, she gradually came to understand that elderly care is not only about daily assistance but also, more importantly, about offering emotional companionship. "The elderly need someone who is willing to stop and listen to them." This straightforward understanding marked the beginning of her professional journey.
Picture shows Tashi Wangmo is with the elderly.
Over the past 16 years, she has tackled the challenges on elderly care services at the grassroots level, including a shortage of nursing professionals, low wages for nursing workers, insufficient support for the elderly left behind in rural areas, and so on. These issues drove her to seek a broader platform for her work. After being elected as a deputy to NPC, she conducted in-depth research in villages and towns of Aba prefecture, visited civil affairs departments, and listened to the voices of the elderly left behind in rural areas, transforming the challenges faced on the frontlines into policy recommendations.
Picture shows the elderly engaging in an activity.
Confronting elderly care challenges: Rooting the "silver economy" in ethnic regions
The 2024 Central Economic Work Conference identified the "silver economy" as an important lever for expanding domestic demand. This news greatly inspired Tashi Wangmo, but it also made her acutely aware of the weighty responsibility that came with it. In her view, developing the "silver economy" in ethnic regions requires overcoming dual challenges: addressing infrastructure shortcomings and revitalizing industrial momentum.
Empowering with smart solutions to the "last mile" in supply and demand
"Highland elders also need 'stylish' elder care," said Tashi Wangmo, who sharply recognized an opportunity to combine technology with elderly care. She thus started to think about establishing a smart elder care pilot platform. She proposed using big data to integrate elders' health records and service needs and connecting social resources like healthcare and household services. This would enable market entities to accurately match demand and offer more choices to the elderly.
Picture shows the elderly doing handwork.
Integrating industries to activate a new "elderly care +" ecosystem
In light of the unique ecological resources of Aba prefecture, Tashi Wangmo proposed the plan of integrating elderly care and cultural tourism. She suggested that the local government build medical facilities, activity centers, and age-friendly amenities in summer health resorts. This way, elders could escape the heat in the summer and return to urban areas in the winter, alleviating the pressure on urban elderly care while also boosting the rural economy. Tashi Wangmo believes that emerging forms of business and business models such as "elderly care + tourism", "elderly care + education", and "elderly care + healthcare" will be crucial for the development of the "silver economy".
Picture shows that Tashi Wangmo takes care of an elderly.
Cultivating talent to ensure a brighter future for the nursing profession
To retain talent is to secure the future of the elderly care sector. Tashi Wangmo's research found that the turnover rate of nursing workers in elderly care institutions in ethnic regions is high. She calls for improving the vocational system by encouraging secondary vocational schools and technical colleges to align with regional needs and emerging industry trends, dynamically adjusting elder care curricula to ensure a continuous output of professional talent. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of providing fair salaries and growth opportunities for elderly care service workers to support the healthy economic development of the industry.
Picture shows the elderly doing handwork.
Focusing on fairness: Guarding the "basic living standards" for rural elders
As a deputy from an ethnic region, Tashi Wangmo always prioritizes the elderly population here. In the nursing home where she works, 70% of the elderly residents come from rural areas. This year, Tashi Wangmo's suggestions mainly concentrate on issues related to elderly care insurance and basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents in ethnic regions.
Picture shows the elderly engaging in an activity.
Safeguarding while envisioning: Making the aging society warm
"Safeguarding" refers to the daily companionship we provide, while "envisioning" represents the wide-ranging possibilities within the elder care industry. Now, the nursing home where Tashi Wangmo works has moved into a new facility, and the laughter of the elderly residents is even more vibrant. Her greater vision is to activate the "silver economy", creating a positive cycle where the government provides a safety net, society offers craftsmanship, and the industry thrives. She aims for every elder to enjoy their golden years with less anxiety and more inner tranquility.
