China will develop 1,000 senior-friendly communities this year, the National Health Commission said recently.

The commission began setting up such communities in 2021. It aims to build 5,000 of them in urban and rural areas by 2025 and have them in all regions by 2035.

The communities will feature renovated residential buildings that meet the needs of older residents as well as barrier-free public facilities.

Meanwhile, local health clinics and daycare centers are urged to improve services for seniors and provide regular recreational activities for them to participate in.