Core Viewpoint - The establishment of the long-term care insurance (LTCI) system is a significant decision to address population aging and improve social welfare, aiming to provide care and financial support for individuals who are disabled or elderly and require long-term care [2][3]. Group 1: Long-term Care Insurance System - The LTCI system was initiated in 2016, with pilot programs expanding to 49 cities by 2020, covering nearly 190 million people by the end of last year [2][3]. - Over 2.7 million disabled insured individuals have benefited from the LTCI, with total fund expenditures exceeding 85 billion [2]. - The LTCI has created approximately 300,000 jobs and attracted around 60 billion in social capital investment in related industries [2]. Group 2: Challenges and Innovations - The pilot programs have revealed challenges such as insufficient sustainable funding, lack of professional care workforce, and the need for improved technology integration [3]. - Some regions have innovated by achieving full coverage of LTCI despite financial constraints and have developed new care models like the "time bank" system [3]. - The establishment of a unified national LTCI system is essential for the welfare of millions of disabled individuals and requires collaborative efforts across society [3].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the severe shortage of professional caregivers in China, particularly for the elderly, and discusses the government's efforts to address this issue through the establishment of the Long-term Caregiver profession and the involvement of the insurance industry in talent development [1][4][6]. Group 1: Current Situation of Caregivers - Approximately 35 million disabled elderly individuals exist in China, representing 11.6% of the total elderly population, while only about 500,000 certified caregivers are available, indicating a significant supply-demand gap [1]. - The average age of caregivers is high, with nearly 40% aged between 50 and 55, and only 3% under 30, leading to a situation where older caregivers are looking after other elderly individuals [2]. - The working conditions for caregivers are challenging, with 44.39% working 9 to 12 hours a day, and 36.49% earning less than 4,000 yuan per month, deterring younger individuals from entering the profession [2][3]. Group 2: Policy Initiatives - In 2022, the government added the "Long-term Caregiver" profession to the occupational classification system, with national standards released in February 2024 to promote the professionalization of caregiving [4]. - The National Health Commission has included care for disabled elderly individuals as a key focus in various planning documents, emphasizing the need for a robust caregiving service system [4]. Group 3: Role of the Insurance Industry - The insurance industry is leveraging its resources to address the talent shortage in the caregiving sector by creating high-end elderly care communities that generate employment opportunities for various caregiving roles [6][7]. - Insurance companies are collaborating with training institutions and universities to provide comprehensive training programs for caregivers, enhancing their professional skills and knowledge [7]. - Specialized insurance products, such as liability and accident insurance for caregivers, are being developed to mitigate occupational risks and improve job satisfaction among caregivers [7][8]. Group 4: Challenges Ahead - Despite the initiatives, the insurance industry's involvement in caregiver training and service system development is still limited, necessitating stronger collaboration with government, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to effectively tackle the challenges in elderly care [8].

Core Viewpoint - The long-term care insurance (LTCI) system in China has created a new workforce of 300,000 long-term care professionals over the past nine years, but there is a significant gap between the demand for care services and the supply of qualified personnel, which poses a challenge for the system's development [1][2][3]. Group 1: Current Situation and Demand - There are approximately 35 million disabled elderly individuals in China, representing 11.6% of the total elderly population, leading to a projected demand for around 10 million long-term care workers [2][3]. - Research indicates that the labor demand gap for socialized elderly care services could reach between 3.6 million and 5.8 million, with future needs potentially rising to 10.9 million to 14 million by mid-century [3]. Group 2: Workforce Challenges - The long-term care workforce is characterized by low educational levels, low pay, low professional recognition, high average age, high work intensity, and high turnover rates [4]. - The average age of long-term care workers in certain regions is around 50, with a significant portion of the workforce being over 50 years old, making recruitment of younger staff a major challenge [4][5]. Group 3: Policy and Training Initiatives - The National Healthcare Security Administration has initiated training programs for long-term care professionals, aiming to enhance talent cultivation and attract more individuals to the industry [2][7]. - The introduction of the long-term care worker certification system is expected to improve the professionalization and attractiveness of the industry, as well as enhance public recognition of the role [9][13]. Group 4: International Comparisons and Best Practices - Learning from Japan and South Korea, the development of the long-term care workforce is closely linked to the establishment and improvement of long-term care insurance systems, which include measures to attract and retain talent [7][12]. - Japan's experience shows that despite efforts to improve working conditions and recognition, high turnover rates persist, indicating the need for ongoing efforts to enhance the appeal of the profession [12]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The professionalization of long-term care workers is seen as a critical step towards addressing the industry's challenges, with a focus on creating a supportive environment that recognizes the value of care work [11][14]. - The ongoing development of training programs and certification standards is expected to facilitate a younger and more skilled workforce in the long-term care sector [13][14].

Core Insights - Jiangsu Province has positioned long-term care insurance (LTCI) as the "sixth insurance," aiming to provide basic care protection for disabled individuals through a balanced funding model and social insurance system [3][4] - The elderly population aged 60 and above in Jiangsu has surpassed 20 million in 2023, accelerating the demand for long-term care services due to aging [2][4] Group 1: Long-Term Care Insurance Framework - The LTCI system in Jiangsu is designed to alleviate family care burdens and reduce the impact of aging on society by providing economic and care support for disabled individuals [3][4] - The system focuses on two main functions: reducing care burdens and improving care quality, while also supporting the development of the silver economy [3][4] - To address issues such as policy fragmentation and unequal benefits, pilot cities are implementing a unified approach in the design of the LTCI framework, funding mechanisms, benefit standards, and management services [3][4] Group 2: Care Service Supply and Workforce - Jiangsu currently has 2,610 designated care service institutions, including 388 medical institutions, 872 elderly care institutions, and 1,315 home care service providers, with a total of 68,000 service personnel and 94,000 nursing beds [4][5] - The supply of care services is lagging, particularly in rural areas, leading to challenges in accessing quality care [5] - The introduction of the new profession of long-term care workers aims to address service provision issues and stimulate demand in the care industry, promoting the integration of elderly care, medical care, and rehabilitation services [5][6] Group 3: Professionalization of Care Services - The certification of long-term care workers is a step towards standardizing and professionalizing the care industry, with ongoing efforts needed to enhance the attractiveness of this profession [6] - Policies will be implemented to incentivize care institutions to prioritize hiring certified personnel and to link service quality with insurance payment mechanisms [6] - Continuous training and skill enhancement for certified long-term care workers will be organized to improve service standards and elevate the overall quality of care [6] Group 4: Cross-Region Service Accessibility - Current challenges exist in the standardization of assessments and service provisions for long-term care insurance, particularly for individuals residing in different regions [7] - A pilot program has been initiated in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Nantong to allow for cross-region access to LTCI benefits, focusing on mutual recognition of assessments and benefit settlements [7]

Core Viewpoint - The establishment of the Long-term Care Worker profession aims to strengthen the talent pool for long-term care services and promote the professional development of this field [1] Group 1 - The first national examination for junior Long-term Care Workers (Level 5) was held in Nantong, Jiangsu [1] - Successful candidates will receive the first national Long-term Care Worker vocational skill level certificates, marking the implementation of this new profession in Jiangsu [1]