On June 9, financial news reported that the Shanghai International Aging Care, Assistive Devices, and Rehabilitation Medical Expo, commonly referred to as the "Aging Care Expo," was recently held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The event featured over 680 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions, attracting more than 100,000 visitors. A responsible official from the Credit Market Department of the People's Bank of China attended the 2026 Shanghai Aging Care Expo Silver Industry Innovation and Development Conference and delivered a speech. The Shanghai Headquarters of the People's Bank of China has directed financial institutions within its jurisdiction to actively collaborate with the Shanghai "Aging Care Expo" and introduce several financial measures to benefit the elderly.

Key Initiatives and Developments

First, a dedicated elderly care finance zone made its debut at the "Aging Care Expo." The Shanghai Headquarters of the People's Bank of China utilized videos, display boards, and other methods on-site to promote elderly care finance policies and Shanghai's unique elderly care financial products and services to exhibiting companies, individuals preparing for retirement, and the elderly population. They provided in-depth explanations of the multi-tiered elderly care financial ecosystem. The initiative supports financial institutions in conducting on-site elderly care financial service matchmaking and financing connections for the elderly care industry, fostering deeper integration of financial resources with the silver industry and improving the alignment of supply and demand in elderly care finance.

Second, an innovative business model for elderly care service trusts was unveiled. The Shanghai Headquarters of the People's Bank of China, in conjunction with the Shanghai Financial Regulatory Bureau, the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, and the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Financial Office, has launched a pilot program for elderly care service trusts in Shanghai. This model aims to establish a comprehensive elderly care service ecosystem by integrating "advance directives for guardianship + elderly care service trusts + elderly care service institutions." It promotes the formation of a professional system where designated guardians are responsible for personal care, trust companies manage assets, and elderly care service institutions provide professional care services, collectively safeguarding the property security and quality of life for the elderly and those preparing for retirement.

Third, a special campaign to promote silver consumption through finance was initiated. The Shanghai Headquarters of the People's Bank of China issued a notice titled "Notice on Promoting Silver Consumption Through Finance During the Shanghai 'Aging Care Expo'." It organized financial institutions to leverage consumption scenarios like the "Aging Care Expo," focusing on key areas such as consumption of elderly products and services, and home adaptation for aging. Nearly twenty consumer subsidy and discount activities were launched to enhance the willingness of the elderly population to consume.

Fourth, a group standard in the field of elderly care finance was released. The Shanghai Headquarters of the People's Bank of China guided the Shanghai Financial Society, in collaboration with the Shanghai Elderly Care Service and Aging Industry Association, to release the nation's first group standard, the "Occupational Specification for Elderly Care Financial Planners." This standard specifies and clarifies the service processes, professional ethics, qualification requirements, professional competencies, and skill assessments for elderly care financial planners. It aims to standardize the professional conduct of practitioners in elderly care finance and cultivate high-quality, specialized talent in the field.