BEIJING — The National Health Commission (NHC) and other related authorities have issued two guidelines, urging efforts to evaluate elderly citizens' demands for nursing services and intensify training for orderlies.

At a press conference held on Aug 27, Jiao Yahui, an official with the commission, said currently China has nearly 250 million people aged 60 and above, of whom more than 40 million are unable to take care of themselves.

The guidelines were rolled out to meet the huge demands for professional medical and nursing services among debilitated old people, Jiao said.

According to the guideline, the evaluation will be carried out at hospitals providing nursing services for old people, nursing homes (stations), nursing and rehabilitation centers, among other medical institutions.

In the evaluation, the demand for nursing services is divided into five levels, ranging from zero for seniors who have sufficient self-care abilities to four for those with severe disabilities.

Medical institutions should provide different nursing services according to the evaluation results, as well as step up efforts to cultivate more nurses, enhance their professional skills, improve the service quality and expand employment, Jiao said.

The NHC will take more measures in the future, including increasing the supply of nursing services, expanding the trial program of Internet plus nursing services and developing community and home nursing services.