A new integrated elderly care pilot zone, centered on artificial intelligence and comprehensive community coverage, has officially launched in Jiangxi Subdistrict, Xinwu District. This initiative, spearheaded by Wuxi Medical Health Group under Guolian Group and the Xinwu District government, leverages the local Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital as its core hub. The project aims to establish a distinctive "Wuxi model" that deeply combines medical treatment, rehabilitation, senior living, and nursing services.

Looking at why this project was initiated, Jiangxi Subdistrict serves as a clear reflection of Wuxi's aging demographic, characterized by a high concentration of elderly, including many who are advanced in age or live alone. A persistent challenge has been the disconnect between medical and nursing systems, leaving seniors in a difficult position after an acute hospital stay—caught between occupying a hospital bed they no longer need and receiving inadequate care at home. This gap stems from hospitals facing bed shortages, insufficient community-level care capabilities, and a general lack of home-based support. The urgency is also driven by industry demand, as Wuxi's elderly population (those aged 60 and above with household registration) has reached 1.595 million, creating a massive need for a sustainable and replicable care model. Liu Feng, General Manager of Wuxi Medical Health Group, explains that current supply options are often either unsustainable due to heavy reliance on fiscal subsidies or unable to penetrate deeply into communities due to cost pressures for purely private institutions. This mismatch between supply and demand has created a pressing need for a new, integrated mechanism, prompting the establishment of this pilot zone.

Defining what is being built, the pilot zone's answer is to create an integrated network for medical care, nursing, rehabilitation, and daily living, using institutional facilities as a base to serve the entire surrounding area. Physical integration is the first step, with the project housed in the Xinwu TCM Hospital campus; Building No. 3 is fully connected internally to the main hospital. Of the 180 beds available, 150 are dedicated to nursing and 30 to senior living, allowing for seamless transition between routine care and emergency treatment within the same complex. Hospital President Li Zhengdong confirms they will provide comprehensive daily diagnosis, treatment, nursing, rehabilitation training, and medication guidance, with a 24-hour green channel for urgent medical needs and priority admission for emergencies or hospitalizations. This physical connection is designed to support deeper service outreach. The model adopts a "institution + community + home" structure, extending services from the main care building outward to all 37 subdistrict communities, offering day care and short-term respite stays, eventually forming a 15-minute service radius. Technology is a fundamental component. Zhao Xiangyang, R&D General Manager for Haier's elderly care division, notes that AI rehabilitation robots, smart mattress monitoring systems, and wearable devices will be standard equipment. They are embedding AI into the service core, with examples like muscle exoskeleton suits enabling stroke patients to regain walking function and intelligent systems performing 24/7 automated inspections and anomaly alerts. Before the full smart application launch, the TCM hospital demonstrated a unique "TCM + AI" feature, with tongue and pulse diagnostic devices already in use, and AI robots based on large models expected to bring standardized constitution assessment and health guidance directly to the homes of those with limited mobility.

On the operational side and sustainability strategy, such a large network requires a clear operator and a viable financial model. The approach here combines public welfare attributes with market mechanisms, according to a governance structure outlined in three strategic cooperation agreements signed at the launch ceremony. The Wuxi Medical Health Group will co-build the project with Jiangxi Subdistrict, providing capital and operational expertise; a partnership with Haier Elderly Care will bring in AI technology; and an operating company will work with the Xinwu TCM Hospital to establish the professional medical foundation. Through this tripartite effort, Jiangxi Subdistrict serves as both a testing ground for services and a connector for the entire elderly care industry chain. A representative from the Xinwu District government confirmed they will leverage the district's industrial advantages in biomedicine and AI to deepen integration with the elderly care sector. Data and demand generated within the trial zone will be used to inform product iteration for local companies, creating a beneficial loop where demand drives supply and supply creates new demand. The project has plans to replicate this model in every administrative district, building a region-wide network by linking these nodes together. As Liu Feng articulates, the real significance of this exploration is ensuring that every senior can enjoy a warm and dignified life in their own neighborhood, regardless of the specific form of care they choose.