A caregiver provides assistance to an elderly resident. [Photo/Yongpai app]

Ningbo's long-term care insurance program is providing thousands of care-dependent residents with professional in-home care while easing the burden on their families.

Since 2017, Ningbo — one of the first national long-term care insurance pilot cities — has gradually expanded coverage to 8.39 million insured residents. The program now serves nearly 50,000 people with severe functional limitations.

Services now reach every township and neighborhood in the city, supported by 359 designated long-term care insurance institutions. Remote islands and mountainous areas are served by local stations staffed with trained, community-based caregivers. Ningbo has also pioneered a "one hour per day" model, ensuring daily home visits that provide 42 basic care and 10 medical services at patients' bedsides.

The impact on families is tangible. On Dec 23 at 6 am, a caregiver visited a patient's home in Fuming subdistrict. She helped with turning, massage, joint exercises, and hygiene.

"Caring for my bedridden husband used to take up all my time. Daily visits from a professional caregiver have given me some relief," said the patient's wife.

The program has also fostered a professional, standardized workforce. Over 8,000 certified caregivers receive training in pressure sore prevention, feeding, and psychological support.

A digital platform has made the long-term care insurance system more transparent and services more accountable. Families can apply for care, select services, and review records directly from their phones. Caregivers must scan a code and verify their identity using facial recognition during each visit. Administrators can monitor service delivery in real time and conduct spot checks via video or follow-up calls, ensuring every service is properly provided.

According to local authorities, Ningbo continues to expand its long-term care insurance services, including in-home bathing assistance and dementia support, ensuring long-term care remains accessible and high-quality across the city.