Senior citizens learn to play Taichi in a "senior citizens university" in Yongchuan, Chongqing, Oct. 29, 2006. In 2005, some 26 thousand "senior citizens universities" were set up in China and enrolled 2.3 million students.   Chinanews, Beijing, Nov. 2 – Currently more and more senior citizens are living in "empty-nest" families, most of them having become people with few words in such families. Li Bengong, vice director of the National Ageing Association said that the public should pay more attention to old people's innermost feelings.

 

Generally, old people do no like to stay alone, and many of even feel loneliness unbearable. Along with the economic development and improvement of people's living standards, senior citizens seldom worry about their survival. Most of them wish to learn some professional skills to make their own life more meaningful.

 

Li said the central government has reformed the national education system for the aged since the Senior Citizens Law was implemented in 1996. In 2005, some 26 thousand "senior citizens universities" were set up and enrolled 2.3 million students.

 

China has also set up 670 thousand recreation centers and 60 thousand art troupes for elderly people since 1996. More than 200 million old people listen to the radio programs for the aged regularly.

 

Li said that traditional Chinese culture requires people to be filial. At present looking after old people is also an important issue to the drive for building a harmonious society. He said old people would have more and more opportunities to enjoy a colorful life in the future.