Policy Optimization Of Country Home-based Care For The Aged Service

Suzhou entered the period of aging population earlier in 1982.Along with miniaturization of the family structure,empty-nest trend of families with the elderly,empty-nested elderly people living alone and elderly people who are disabled and semi-disabled have become increasingly prominent problems.To respond to growing demands for home-based care for the aged service,Suzhou has issued a series of policies for further development of home-based care for the aged service,and spearheaded efforts to launch “virtual homes for senior citizens”.So far,a standardized and professionalized service model based on the information management platform has taken shape in Suzhou.Wuzhong District is in the suburbs of Suzhou.Since transformation from a county to a district in 2000,it has sped up its urbanization process.As a result,the speed of its aging population,empty nest trend,and disability of empty nest elderly people in rural areas has even overtaken the urban average level.In 2013,Wuzhong District passed on the spirit of Suggestions for Construction of the Home-based Care for the Aged Service System in Suzhou,and introduced the model of “virtual homes for senior citizens” combining preferential treatment for some and for all.2016 witnessed the start of implementing Regulations on Suzhou Municipal Home-Based Care for the Aged Service in Wuzhong District.Over the past one year,the service effects have been remarkable,but some problems with policy design and implementation regulations have also been revealed in terms of source and operation.Based on service practices of a home-based care for the aged service provider,F,in Wuzhong District,this paper conducts a survey and analysis of the service objects,service content and service satisfaction degree of the country home-based care for the aged;objectively evaluates implementation effects of the country home-based care for the aged service policies;and further reflects on policy design,points out major problems during the policy implementation process,and also analyzes causes behind.To be specific,the problems discovered include unreasonable definition of service objects,unscientific service pricing,lack of diversification of the service team,and weakening of the role of the home-based care.Concerning these problems,the new public management theories are combined with the target-oriented policy tools to propose suggestions for policy optimization of home-based care for the aged service in Wuzhong District and even Suzhou at large.These suggestions include introducing the demand evaluation system,classifying and grading services provided,diversifying service providers,and strengthening the role of the home-based care.