Beijing to have 150,000 beds to nurse seniors by 2020

The number of beds for seniors in Beijing nursing homes will increase to 150,000 by 2020 to accommodate the aging population, officials said on Sunday.

Currently, 449 nursing homes serve the elderly offering 98,888 beds, along with another 24,342 beds in 108 homes under construction. In the next five years, the number will increase by 25 percent compared to that at the end of last year, according to the Office of Seniors of Beijing.

The city has more than 3.21 million people over 60 and the number increases by 500 daily. By 2020, the capital will have about 4 million in the category, according to the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs.

Li Wanjun, director of the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs, said the government will focus on perfecting the function of nursing homes to provide better services to the elderly rather than building more homes.