Li Nannan, deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and assistant president at an elderly care center in Nantong, poses for a photo in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Li Nannan, deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and assistant president at an elderly care center in Nantong, submitted a proposal to expand personnel in the elderly care industry during this year's conference, which is currently underway in Beijing.

Li said that the elderly care industry suffers from a severe shortage of personnel, mainly due to the high intensity of physical work involved and low incomes.

She suggested establishing treatment and salary standards for nursing staff, as well as professional ranks and titles like those for medical workers, and encouraging medical workers to take part-time jobs or do volunteer work at elderly care institutions.

Liu Pan, NPC deputy and director of the orthopedics department of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, also submitted a proposal concerning elderly care.

He suggested raising national and social recognition of the importance of geriatrics as an independent academic subject and establishing such subjects in higher-education medical institutions.

He said that hospitals should make clear the standards for professional ranks and titles for personnel majoring in geriatrics, and authorities should work out specific standards and rules for the construction and operation of hospitals specializing in senior care.

Liu also suggested offering preferential policies to such hospitals for things like the application of research subjects to help promote their development.