Population aging is an important trend in social development, an important embodiment of the progress of human civilization, and also the basic national conditions of Our country for a long period of time to come. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China identified actively responding to population aging as a national strategy. On the eve of this year's Chongyang Festival, General Secretary Xi Jinping made important instructions for the work of the elderly, clarifying the development goals, work concepts, work tasks and working methods of the work on the elderly in the new era, which has a strong ideological, pertinent and guiding nature, which points out the way forward for us to do a good job in the work of the elderly in the new era and provides fundamental compliance. On October 14, the National Work Conference on Aging was held in Beijing, and on November 18, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Work on Aging in the New Era, making comprehensive arrangements for strengthening the work of the elderly in the new era. We must deeply study, comprehend, and comprehensively and accurately grasp the scientific connotation and spiritual essence of the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on aging work, conscientiously implement the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on aging work, make overall planning, really do solid work, and promote the high-quality development of aging work in the new era.
First, conscientiously study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, and resolutely unify ideological understanding with the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council
(1) Deeply understand the far-reaching impact of population aging on the economy and society, and further enhance the sense of mission of doing a good job in the work of aging in the new era. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Population aging is a worldwide problem, and the impact on human society is profound and lasting." In 2020, the total number of elderly people aged 60 and above in China will be 264 million, and it is expected to exceed 300 million during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. The national factor of population aging is closely related to the historical process of China's realization of the second centenary goal. It is necessary to deeply understand the importance, urgency and long-term nature of actively responding to the aging of the population, plan and promote the work of aging from the strategic and overall perspective, effectively prevent and resolve the risks of social stability and national security brought about by the aging of the population, and ensure the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and always stand tall among the nations of the world.
(II) Deeply understand the important position of aging work in the overall situation, and further improve the initiative of implementing the national strategy of actively responding to population aging. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Effectively responding to the aging of China's population is related to the overall development of the country and the well-being of hundreds of millions of people." The implementation of the national strategy of actively responding to the aging of the population is a major judgment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core when China enters a new stage of development and embarks on a new journey of socialist modern country construction, and is a major deployment made from the overall development of the cause of the party and the country. It is necessary to profoundly understand the epoch-making and landmark significance of implementing the national strategy of actively coping with the aging of the population, unify ideological understanding and action with the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, take the initiative and actively plan, learn from the experiences and lessons of other countries, respond in a timely, scientific and comprehensive manner, and embark on a path of actively responding to the aging of the population with Chinese characteristics.
(III) Deeply understand the opportunities and challenges facing the work of the elderly, and further strengthen the effectiveness of implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the central decision-making and deployment. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to "let the elderly share the fruits of reform and development and enjoy a happy old age." Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the top-level design of China's aging cause has been more complete, and many major reform measures have been implemented, laying a solid foundation for actively responding to the aging of the population. At the same time, we must also see that the foundation of China's aging work is still relatively weak, and the guarantees and services such as economic support, medical care, and life care still need to be improved. It is necessary to thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the central decision-making and deployment, continuously deepen reform and innovation, break down the institutional and institutional obstacles that restrict the development of the cause of the elderly, promote the high-quality development of the cause of aging, and continuously enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the majority of the elderly.
Second, accurately grasp the overall idea of the work of aging in the new era
(1) Strengthen Party leadership. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Party committees and governments at all levels should attach great importance to and earnestly do a good job in the work of aging." To do a good job in the work of the elderly in the new era, we must strengthen the party's overall leadership over the work of the elderly, and under the leadership of the party committee, give full play to the leading role of the government in promoting the development of the cause of the elderly, and participate in social participation and action of the whole people. Persist in personally grasping and taking overall responsibility for the main responsible persons of the party and government, and include the key tasks of the work on the elderly in the important agenda, into the economic and social development plan, into the actual projects of people's livelihood, and into the scope of work supervision and performance appraisal.
(2) Establish a positive view of aging. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must look at the aging society positively, and actively look at the elderly and the elderly life." These two "positive views" profoundly expound the connotation of the positive concept of aging, and are the logical starting point for us to correctly understand the law of human social development and scientifically plan the development of the cause of aging. This requires us to focus on deepening the ideological concept of the whole society to actively cope with the aging of the population, give full play to the positive role of the elderly, continuously promote the social participation of the elderly, deeply tap the potential of the aging society, and stimulate the vitality of the aging society.
(3) Promote healthy aging. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The most important indicator of modernization is the health of the people, which is the foundation of the people's happy life." To do a good job in the work of aging in the new era, we must put healthy aging in a more prominent position. It is necessary to realize the transformation from treatment-centered to health-centered, from the perspective of the whole process of life, starting from the early stage of life, comprehensive and systematic intervention in all factors affecting health, and build a three-in-one elderly health service model of "prevention, treatment and care" to extend healthy life expectancy.
(4) Systematic comprehensive response. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Integrate the concept of positive aging and healthy aging into the whole process of economic and social development." The problem of population ageing is a comprehensive problem. To do a good job in the work of aging in the new era, we must coordinate to promote the healthy China strategy and the national strategy of actively responding to the aging of the population, strengthen overall coordination, form an integrated effect, multi-angle planning, all-round force, multi-departmental coordination, and overall advancement. It is necessary to give full play to the overall coordination role of the committees on aging at all levels, strengthen the integration of resources, and promote the implementation of various policies on aging.
Third, make every effort to complete the key tasks of the work on the elderly in the new era
At present, we are in an important strategic opportunity period to vigorously promote the high-quality development of the cause of aging, we must conscientiously implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on aging work and the central decision-making and deployment, coordinate the implementation of the healthy China strategy and the national strategy of actively responding to the aging of the population, accelerate the improvement of the three major systems of "social security, old-age services, and health support", focus on building an age-friendly society, and pay close attention to various key tasks to ensure that the implementation is effective.
(1) Improve the social security and old-age service system. Give full play to the overall coordination role of the National Office on Aging, and promote the establishment and improvement of relevant policy systems and institutional frameworks. Further improve the multi-level old-age security system, improve the basic old-age insurance system, and promote the standardized development of the second and third pillars of old-age insurance. Accelerate the improvement of the old-age service system, establish a basic old-age service list system, vigorously develop home and community old-age services, improve the quality of institutional old-age services, and increase the construction of rural old-age service facilities.
(2) Strengthen health services for the elderly. Build an integrated elderly health service model to provide a full range of health services for the elderly. Promote the establishment of geriatric departments in secondary and above comprehensive hospitals (including traditional Chinese medicine hospitals), and strengthen the construction of rehabilitation hospitals and nursing homes (centers and stations). Promote the extension of medical services to the home community, and improve the long-term care service model from professional institutions to communities and families. Deeply promote the integration of medical and nursing care, strengthen the convergence of medical and health and old-age service policies, resource sharing and service integration, and improve the accessibility and convenience of medical and nursing care services. Improve the response measures for public health emergencies in the elderly, and strengthen the training of geriatric medicine talents.
(3) Promote social participation of the elderly. Support social forces to set up universities (schools) for the elderly, and promote the expansion of the supply of educational resources for the elderly. By revitalizing resources, we will provide cultural and sports activities for the elderly. Improve policies and measures such as employment, volunteer service, and community governance, and give full play to the positive role of young and elderly people. Support the continued participation of older persons in economic and social life. Build a platform and provide convenience for the elderly to participate in various volunteer services, and carry out the "Silver Age Action" in depth.
(4) Accelerate the development of the aging industry. Strengthen the basic research of the aging industry, guide and support social forces and private capital to enter the aging industry. Promote the integrated development of pension, health, sports, culture, tourism and other industries, and better meet the diversified and personalized needs of the elderly. Encourage all localities to develop industries with comparative advantages in the characteristics of aging, and create a brand of aging industries with demonstration and driving effects. Strengthen market supervision and earnestly safeguard the consumer rights and interests of the elderly.
(5) Build an age-friendly society. Strengthen the construction of a livable environment for the elderly, promote the construction of elderly-friendly communities and elderly-friendly cities, and promote the upgrading and transformation of aging in various industries and fields. Implement the "Wisdom to Help the Elderly" action to help the elderly cross the "digital divide". Strengthen the preferential treatment of the elderly. Carry forward the traditional virtues of filial piety and respect for the elderly. Strengthen the popularization of the law on the protection of the rights and interests of the elderly, severely crack down on all kinds of illegal and criminal acts that infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly in accordance with the law, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly.
Source: People's Daily
Author: Secretary and Director of the Party Group of the National Health Commission,
Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Office on Aging
Editor: Yang Minghao
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