"To think that I could still get home services right before the Lunar New Year," said Auntie Jia Guiqin, a senior living alone in the Yutaoyuan Third District of Xicheng District, who became one of the first to experience the "Home Care + Elderly Support" service on the first day of the Spring Festival holiday. On February 15, the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, in collaboration with Xicheng District, initiated a pilot program for coordinated "Home Care + Elderly Support" services. The program focuses on three core services: home care, meal assistance, and short-term residential care, providing comprehensive support for elderly residents during the holiday period.
Auntie Jia, 74, had a hip replacement surgery years ago, which left her unable to sit on sofas, walk long distances, or perform tasks requiring climbing or bending. The Spring Festival season always brought her anxiety. "Daily cleaning is manageable, but the deep cleaning required for the New Year is beyond me," she shared. This year, the pilot program in Xicheng District ensured that home care providers were available even during the holiday, offering her much-needed help.
The caregiver assigned to Auntie Jia was Xiao Wu from JD.com's home care service. Learning that Xiao Wu was from Hunan, Auntie Jia warmly asked, "Aren't you going home for the New Year?" "No, I've brought my family to Beijing, and we're celebrating here this year," replied Xiao Wu as she mopped the floor, chatting casually with the elderly woman.
Liu Ruogu, a relevant business leader at JD.com, noted that nearly a thousand of their home care service providers remained in Beijing during the Spring Festival. "We have adapted our cleaning products to be more senior-friendly and introduced services such as seated baths, sponge baths, and bed baths for bedridden or mobility-limited seniors. Our staff can also assist with hair washing, haircuts, and nail trimming," Liu explained.
To help seniors enjoy a warm and comfortable Spring Festival, the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau and Xicheng District launched the coordinated "Home Care + Elderly Support" pilot on February 15. The initiative brings together JD.com, Taobao Quick Purchase, industry associations, local elderly care service providers, and community senior service centers, focusing on key needs of the elderly and promoting deeper integration between home care and elderly support services.
Seniors can request "Home Care + Elderly Support" services through one-click calling systems, Xicheng District’s dedicated hotline for the elderly, or community groups. During the holiday, JD.com’s home care services continued to offer daily cleaning and appliance maintenance, while JD.com’s nursing-at-home service provided professional health care, ensuring comprehensive support for seniors’ well-being.
Additionally, Xicheng District, in partnership with the Elderly Meal Assistance Service Association and Taobao Quick Purchase, organized a "New Year’s Eve Dumpling Delivery" event, offering free dumpling deliveries to seniors living alone or without family support. To address temporary care needs during the holiday, the district also coordinated resources from local nursing homes and community senior service centers to offer short-term residential care options during the first lunar month. This includes temporary beds and services such as 24-hour full care, daytime support, and short-stay arrangements, tailored to individual needs.
The short-term care service operates on an "apply-and-receive" basis, covering daily living assistance, nutritious meals, health monitoring, recreational activities, and holiday companionship. Staff work in shifts, with medical personnel available around the clock to ensure uninterrupted service, allowing families to feel secure while their elderly relatives are in care.
"Integrating home care with elderly support is a crucial step in meeting the diverse and multi-layered needs of seniors while advancing the high-quality development of life services," said Zheng Yu, Party Secretary of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau. He added that Beijing will continue to deepen the integration of home care and elderly support services, promote joint training of personnel, and encourage collaboration between home care companies and elderly care institutions. The goal is to create affordable service packages covering daily living and professional nursing, enabling seniors to access more convenient, high-quality, and attentive care, thereby enhancing their sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.