With the development of the economy and society and the deepening of reforms, the structure of China's elderly care service industry has undergone significant changes. The civil affairs department has promoted the healthy development of the elderly care service industry by strengthening the standardization, specialization, and scientific management of the industry. As of the end of 2013, there were 202.43 million elderly people aged 60 and above in China, accounting for 14.9% of the total population. It is expected to reach 243 million people in 2020. The characteristics of aging, disability, and empty nest population are very prominent, and the public's demand for elderly care services is very urgent.
Elderly care service certification is an independent third-party evaluation agency that evaluates the service provision ability, service process control, service performance, and other aspects of elderly care service institutions based on industry standards. The process includes the characteristics of material and spiritual needs of elderly care, and conducts an integrated evaluation of service ability to prove the capability status of elderly care service institutions to the public. This certification is applicable to the activities of home-based elderly care organizations and institutional elderly care organizations. Through the identification and selection of service characteristics by third-party evaluation agencies, quantified indicators such as functionality, safety, economy, comfort, and civilization are assigned to certification indicators. The evaluation is conducted through a certification model, and the results of the evaluation are made public to society.
The certified objects may include home-based elderly care services, institutional elderly care services, etc. The content of elderly care services may include meal assistance services, bathing assistance services, cleaning assistance services, medical assistance services, emergency assistance services, rehabilitation services, assistive device adaptation services, spiritual comfort services, etc. The certification of elderly care services evaluates and standardizes the service provision ability, service process control, and service performance of the certified objects.