The city government has set aside 40 million yuan (US$5 million) for 10,500 senior citizens holding the Shenzhen hukou to help them take better care of themselves, the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau announced yesterday.

A program to benefit the aged living in Shenzhen housing communities was also officially launched yesterday. The government will provide financial subsidies and encourage community-based healthcare service providers to offer professional assistance to senior citizens.

Residents above the age of 85, people above 60 in "special circumstances," and people living on social welfare will receive 200 to 500 yuan every month. People living in "special circumstances" include those who have no income, are not able to work, and don't have children to take care of them.

Services will also be provided for the elderly living in housing communities by welfare institutions, community clinics and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) registered with the civil affairs bureau. The bureau said it would set aside 20 million yuan from the welfare lottery fund to support and develop NGOs working in this field. These institutions will be encouraged to hire social workers specializing in medicine, nursing, psychology, nutrition and management.

As the government does not have enough money to build a large number of institutions to accommodate senior citizens, providing services to senior citizens living at home is a reasonable and necessary choice, said Liu Runhua, director general of the civil affairs bureau.

The city's senior citizens office hailed the policy as a great help for the elderly in Shenzhen.

Editor: Yan