Sichuan's provincial legislature approved the Sichuan Elderly Care Service Regulations on September 24th during the second plenary session of the 29th meeting of the Standing Committee. The regulations will take effect on November 1st, 2026, marking a significant step toward a more institutionalized, standardized, and law-based approach to elderly care services across the province.
Drafting began in April 2025 under the provincial Department of Civil Affairs, and the final text was passed after review by the provincial People's Congress Standing Committee. The regulations consist of 78 articles across seven chapters covering general provisions, the elderly care service network, service delivery, support guarantees, supervision and management, legal liability, and supplementary provisions. They provide a systematic framework for ensuring "support for the aged" in Sichuan, from network construction and service provision to financial backing and regulatory oversight.
With the introduction of these regulations, the province intends to strengthen coordination among different government departments, balance the design of systems for basic security, inclusive services, market development, and law enforcement, and gradually introduce a series of supporting policies. A key focus is addressing the persistent issues of uneven development between urban and rural elderly care and inadequate service supply in rural areas.
Sichuan is one of China's most populous provinces and ranks third nationally in terms of its elderly population. As of the end of 2025, the province was home to 21.5 million people aged 60 or older, presenting a particularly severe demographic challenge. In recent years, the provincial government has issued multiple policy documents focused on aging, building a framework supported by major administrative decisions, departmental work plans, and industry standards — all of which laid the groundwork for this new legislation.
Several provisions in the newly passed regulations directly affect the daily lives of older residents and have drawn considerable public attention.
Building a Comprehensive Service Network
The regulations require county-level and above local governments to establish a three-tier elderly care service network covering urban and rural areas. This includes developing comprehensive county-level elderly care management platforms, strengthening town and street-level regional service centers, and setting up village and community-level service points tailored to local conditions. The push for embedded community-based services means developing elderly care complexes, integrating care facilities into neighborhoods, and ensuring services are accessible close to where people live.
Rural elderly care is explicitly tied to the rural revitalization strategy. Local governments are required to strengthen resource guarantees for rural elderly care, expand service supply according to local realities, and better meet the needs of older residents in the countryside.
Three Types of Care Institutions, One Set of Standards
The regulations divide elderly care institutions into three categories: basic security type, inclusive support type, and fully market-oriented type. Enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, and individuals are all encouraged to establish and operate these facilities. Clear rules are laid out for how institutions must operate, how fees are managed, and how safety and infectious disease prevention are handled. The regulations also specify standards related to planning, land use guarantees, facility construction and renovation, utilization of idle assets, and prohibited actions. Particular attention is given to per-capita land standards, alignment with national land-use planning, and the requirement that new residential developments include elderly care facilities. The regulations further mandate that a proportion of welfare lottery public welfare funds — no less than the national requirement — be used to support elderly care services.
Support for Home and Community Care
On the home and community care front, the regulations establish systems for family care support policies, defined home-visit service content, home accessibility modifications for the elderly, and family care beds. A visiting and care mechanism is to be set up for older adults living alone, those who are empty-nesters, and those with disabilities, cognitive impairments, or severe physical limitations.
The regulations place particular emphasis on popular and essential services such as meal assistance, bathing assistance, daytime care, short-term respite care, rehabilitation nursing, and rental of rehabilitation aids. A network for elderly meal services is to be promoted, with support for nursing homes, community care facilities, and catering companies to provide meals for seniors. For bathing, the regulations support the use of community bath points, mobile bath vehicles, and in-home bathing services to assist elderly individuals who live alone or have disabilities, cognitive impairments, or are of advanced age.
Integrating Medical Care with Elderly Care
The regulations require county-level and above governments to develop integrated medical-elderly care systems across policy frameworks, facility planning, talent development, and cooperation mechanisms. Based on the size and distribution of the elderly population, medical and elderly care resources are to be coordinated and ideally located at the same site or nearby, with established collaboration mechanisms to promote integrated development. Qualified medical institutions are encouraged to open geriatric departments. The regulations also promote the application of traditional Chinese medicine techniques, methods, and TCM-integrated elderly care services, providing preventative health services such as TCM health consultations, assessments, intervention and conditioning, and follow-up management.
Financial Support and Penalties
Beyond the above, the regulations include a support package covering funding guarantees, financial backing, and digital empowerment. Penalty provisions are also established for violations such as unauthorized suspension or termination of services by care institutions, or unauthorized changes to the designated use of elderly care facilities.