Getting the elderly to eat well

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As the population ages, the focus of healthcare will have to change.

The world's largest food maker, Nestle, and the organizing committee of the National Community Care Campaign launched the Elderly Care - Health Project on Sept 18 in Beijing.

The program aims to take a step forward in nutrition and health education for the elderly in China. It is expected to reach 1 million middle-aged and senior people and eventually benefit 10 million homes housing the elderly.

Starting in September this year, Nestle, as an exclusive partner of the organizing Committee of the NCCC, which is led by the All-China Women's Federation and the National Committee on Ageing, will activate the project in 10 Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha, Chengdu and Nanjing.

The education program will enter urban communities, providing in total 50 health lectures plus heart checks and professional consultations in the cities. In total, 1 million health brochures will be dispatched, reaching 1 million households housing an elderly person within the first year.

"China is aging. It is an imminent issue for us to strengthen health education and guidance on the elderly," said Liu Xiaoping, deputy director of the organizing committee of the NCCC. "We are very glad to cooperate with Nestle to advocate a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle, contributing to our aging society."

The National Committee on Ageing said that the Chinese elderly population is expected to reach around 300 million in 2017, with seniors accounting for 23 percent of the total population.

"By the end of 2100, namely the end of the 22nd century, the number of China's elderly will surge to more than 318 million, more than 31 percent of the country's population," said Yan Qingchun, vice-president of China National Committee on Aging.

Questions:

1. What percentage of China’s population will be elderly in 2017?

2. Which company is the world’s largest food-manufacturer?

3. By which year will Chinas elderly reach 31 percent of the population?

Answers:

1. 23 percent

2. Nestle

3. 2100

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.