ABOUT 10,000 old people living in poverty are expected to receive subsidized care-at-home service from the government in 2012.

The city has launched an endowment plan to help the elderly living in rural areas since 2008. As of the end of June, more than 12,000 old people in Laoshan, Chengyang and Huangdao districts had received the service.

Among them, 5,722 people had used the service paid for by the government. The program also created 1,770 homekeeping and senior care jobs.

(Wang Yuanyuan, Li Lili)

Caption:

A community worker with Fushan community is helping 78-year-old Lu Guirong to use an express mobile phone which connects to many public services. The express mobile network has been upgraded to serve 8,300 households of senior citizens living alone or couples aged above 80.Wang Qun