Five departments recently jointly issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Healthy Development of Grassroots Elderly Associations in the New Era" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), further enhancing the strength of grassroots elderly work, leveraging the role of the elderly, and serving the elderly and grassroots governance.

The Opinion proposes to support and encourage the development of grassroots elderly associations based on the principles of practicality, ease of management, and service to the elderly, and promote the healthy development of grassroots elderly associations in the new era. Adhere to the equal emphasis on cultivation, support, and standardized management, support and encourage the establishment and development of grassroots elderly associations in places where conditions permit, carry out registration management for those that meet registration requirements, and provide guidance and management for those that do not meet registration requirements; Adhere to the combination of overall coordination and local conditions, take multiple measures simultaneously, and avoid a one size fits all approach.

Support the development of grassroots elderly associations in terms of funding, facilities, personnel, etc

The Opinion proposes to encourage various regions to coordinate resources reasonably based on their actual situation, provide diversified support for construction, and improve their work level.

One is to encourage grassroots elderly associations to seek funding support through various means and support social forces to participate in the construction of grassroots elderly associations through public welfare donations and other means.

Secondly, we encourage all regions to focus on integrating and utilizing existing resources, relying on public service facilities such as Party and Mass Service Centers, New Era Civilization Practice Centers (institutes, stations), Township (street) Community Service Centers, Township (street) and Village (community) Veterans Service Stations, Urban and Rural Community Service Stations, Elderly Care Service Facilities, Elderly Activity Centers, Elderly Universities (schools), Grassroots Social Work Service Stations, etc., to provide venues, equipment, and other support for grassroots elderly associations to carry out activities.

The third is to focus on discovering and cultivating leaders and key members of grassroots elderly associations with good ideological quality, organizational ability, service enthusiasm, and dedication spirit, continuously improving their abilities and qualities, and effectively leveraging the supporting role of professional talents such as social workers.

The fourth is to promote grassroots elderly associations to strengthen their awareness of using systems to manage people and affairs, improve daily work systems, and establish a sound democratic supervision system. Guide grassroots elderly associations to develop bylaws based on their own characteristics and carry out management services in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws.

Grassroots elderly associations will play a role in five aspects

Grassroots elderly associations are organizations initiated and formed by elderly people or units, with activities in townships (streets), villages (communities), implementing self-management, self-education, self-service, and serving society. They are the bridge and link between the Party and the government and the vast number of elderly people, and an important force in grassroots elderly work in the new era. The Opinion further clarifies that grassroots elderly associations should play a role in five aspects:

One is to organize the elderly to learn the Party's line, principles, policies, and national laws and regulations, do a good job in ideological and political work for the elderly, guide them to exert positive energy, and make new contributions.

The second is to play a bridging role, closely connect with the elderly, reflect their reasonable demands, and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

The third is to organize the elderly to actively play a role, utilizing their experience and advantages in grassroots governance, rural revitalization, scientific popularization, cultural inheritance, environmental protection, promoting silver hair consumption, and caring for the education of the next generation, contributing wisdom and strength to economic and social development.

The fourth is to carry out elderly volunteer services such as elderly care services, mutual assistance services for the elderly, and the "Silver Age Action", organizing young elderly volunteers to visit and assist elderly people with special difficulties such as advanced age, disability, living alone, and economic difficulties.

The fifth is to advocate a positive view of aging and the concept of healthy aging, guide the elderly to form a scientific, civilized and healthy lifestyle, and organize and carry out educational, cultural, sports and other activities that are beneficial to the physical and mental health of the elderly.

Source: CCTV News App (CCTV reporters Li Yumei and Shi Yilong)