China is encountering formidable healthcare challenges brought about by the problem of aging. By 2050, there will be 400 million Chinese citizens aged 65+, 150 million of whom will be 80+. The undesirable consequences of the one-child policy, rural-to-urban migration, and expansion of the population of 'empty nest' elders are eroding the traditional family care of the elders, further exacerbating the burden borne by the current public healthcare system. The challenges of geriatric care demand prompt attention by proposing strategies for improvement in several key areas. Major diseases of the elderly that need more attention include chronic non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders. We suggest the establishment of a home care-dominated geriatric care system, and a proactive role for researchers on aging in reforming geriatric care through policy dialogs. We propose ideas for preparation of the impending aging burden and the creation of a nurturing environment conducive to healthy aging in China. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
[1]Chinese Univ Hong Kong, Sch Biomed Sci, Fac Med, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China;
[2]NIA, Lab Mol Gerontol, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA;
[3]Univ Bielefeld, Dept Publ Hlth Med, Sch Publ Hlth, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany;
[4]Chinese Acad Sci, Ctr Aging Psychol, Key Lab Mental Hlth, Inst Psychol, Beijing 100101, Peoples R China;
[5]Sun Yat Sen Univ, Dept Med Stat & Epidemiol, Sch Publ Hlth, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, Peoples R China;
[6]Sun Yat Sen Ctr Migrant Hlth Policy, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, Peoples R China;
[7]Fudan Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Shanghai 200032, Peoples R China;
[8]Zhejiang Univ, Inst Nutr & Food Safety, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, Peoples R China;
[9]Zhejiang Univ, Dept Toxicol & Nutr, Sch Publ Hlth, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, Peoples R China;
[10]Kings Coll London, Diabet & Nutr Sci Div, Sch Med, London WC2R 2LS, England;
[11]Chinese Acad Med Sci, Peking Union Sch Publ Hlth, Beijing 100006, Peoples R China;
[12]Peking Union Med Coll, Beijing 100006, Peoples R China;
[13]Harvard TH Chan Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Global Hlth & Populat, Boston, MA 02115 USA
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