Advanced tech among priorities for improved elderly healthcare

More efforts are needed to expand nursing services and innovative care models to meet growing demand for personalized and diversified care, members of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have said.

"Information technology and specialized nursing services are among the measures needed to provide better care," said Cao Yingjuan, director of the nursing department at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, during the province's two sessions, the annual meetings where lawmakers and political advisers review past achievements and plan for the future.

Cao, who has worked in nursing for more than 30 years, emphasized the need for advanced services to address the evolving needs of Shandong's aging population.

Shandong, with a population exceeding 100 million, is China's second-most populous province after Guangdong.

By the end of 2023, 23.62 percent of its residents were age 60 or older, totaling 23.91 million, according to the Shandong Development and Reform Commission.

The province has over 400,000 registered nurses, providing a significant pool of resources to meet the rising demand for care.

To address these needs, Qilu Hospital has launched an Internet Plus nursing service platform that offers services including wound care, central catheter line care and midwifery.

Last year, nurses from the hospital provided home care for a 92-year-old bedridden man who had fallen.

An appointment was made through the hospital's platform, and nursing care, including wound cleaning, significantly improved the man's condition.

"Utilizing information technology ensures continuity of care through online consultations, follow-ups and home care guidance for discharged patients," Cao said.

The platform also provides tailored nursing guidance for elderly patients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or complex conditions, she added, noting that the hospital's specialized services meet international standards.

At the end of last year, a patient surnamed Li underwent 20 sessions of specialized treatment for lower limb lymphedema in the hospital's breast surgery ward. The treatment significantly improved the patient's condition.

"At first, I just wanted to give it a try at the lymphedema nursing clinic, but it turned out they provided very advanced treatment aligned with international standards," Li said.

Cao also proposed that medical institutions in Shandong increase the supply of elderly care services and explore new models that integrate rehabilitation and artificial intelligence.

zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn