The elderly in the Huide Nursing Center learn to do handicrafts in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]

The city of Baotou in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has been making strides in improving its elderly care system over recent years, according to local media reports.

A total of 478 elderly service institutions of various types have been built in the city. There are 32 beds per 1,000 elderly people, achieving the goal of 30 beds per 1,000 elderly people which was set during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

In addition, the city, being one of the fifth batch of home and community elderly care service reform pilot areas, expanded the service content of its home and community elderly care service outlets. 

Two senior residents drink tea and play chess in a chess room. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]

Relying on the "12349" convenient service platform for the elderly, it provides catering, medical assistance, cleaning assistance and other smart health care services for the elderly at home.

Through online means such as WeChat applets, Baotou provides the elderly with "a la carte" convenient home care services, aiming to develop "a nursing home without boundaries".

In accordance with the characteristics of Baotou city, 38 comprehensive service centers for home elderly care communities have been built, and 31 professional elderly service social organizations have been given license to operate.

The smart development model of Baotou's home elderly care community has been initially formulated to promote the overall improvement of the city's home and community services for the elderly.