A PROPOSAL filed with the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference calls for the renovation of old residences to make them more senior-friendly.

The aim is to make their lives safer and more convenient and comprises building renovations, furniture and decoration, assistive devices and intelligent equipment.

By the end of 2018, Shanghai’s senior population — those aged 60 or above — had surged to around 5 million, or about a third of its permanent residents. Among them, 817,000 were 80 or older.

In Shanghai, 90 percent of senior citizens rely on home care because of a shortage of facilities and due to traditional values, the proposal says.

Government authorities have provided many services for the elderly such as meal venues,daycarecenters and voluntary services, while the renovation of their homes was even more important, particularly for seniors above 80, or who have physical disabilities, the proposal says.

Better fixtures and an increase in assistive devices for senior citizens is needed.

Standards in making homes more senior-friendly are absent.

And many construction companies do not have the necessary experience, failing to achieve the desired result and leading to extra costs and disputes, advisers said.

The proposal called for including renovation in the government’s projects and drafting standards.

An evaluation system should be established with different solutions offered based on demand, and preferential policies such as subsidies can be introduced, the proposal suggests.