In China, long-term care insurance supports seniors who have lost some or all of their ability to take care of themselves through long-term caregivers.

Shanghai was one of the first cities to launch a pilot program in 2016. As of 2023, around 500 long-term care insurance agencies in the city take care of around 400,000 seniors. Eligible seniors pay under 250 yuan ($35.03) per month for the service as medical insurance covers 90 percent of the cost.

As one of now over 68,000 long-term caregivers in Shanghai, Xie Yuqun works long hours each day to provide vital assistance to the city’s many vulnerable seniors and their families — even saving lives.