With autumn sunlight bringing warmth and deep respect for the elderly, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission organized a series of Elderly Care Month activities across its affiliated institutions during the 16th national Elderly Care Month. The initiatives aimed to promote the virtue of respecting and caring for elders, and fully leverage their strengths and experience, jointly creating a warm picture of lifelong learning, contribution, and enjoyment for the elderly.

Home Visits: Bringing Care to the Doorstep. In recent days, members of the Commission’s leadership team led groups to visit retired staff representatives, expressing the Party Committee’s care and extending festive greetings and best wishes. On the eve of the Double Ninth Festival, Zhong Dongbo, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, visited the home of 94-year-old veteran of the War of Resistance, Zhou Yujiang. He inquired about Zhou’s daily life and health, listened to his stories of steadfast revolutionary faith, introduced recent health-sector developments, and expressed sincere gratitude for Zhou’s contributions to the Party, the nation, and the health sector. Zhong noted that the greatness of the Party’s cause lies in the dedication of countless steadfast veterans like Mr. Zhou. With the baton now passed to the next generation, it is essential to carry forward these glorious traditions and continue advancing national development and sector progress. He also instructed relevant departments to implement support policies thoroughly to ensure retired colleagues enjoy a secure and happy later life. Mr. Zhou, recalling how the revolutionary ranks gave him a new life, said emotionally: “The day I decided to follow the Communist Party, I committed to this path — and I’ve stayed on it for 80 years.” His sincere words conveyed noble loyalty to the Party and the people, reflecting the enduring strength of revolutionary gene and spirit passed from generation to generation.

Silver-Age Action: Bringing Health Services Close to Home.On Double Ninth Festival day, the Municipal Health Commission and the Municipal United Front Work Department jointly held the “Capital Health—United Medical Service to Pinggu” free clinic event. Four retired senior experts from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Capital Institute of Pediatrics, together with two young specialists, visited Xiagezhuang Town in Pinggu District to deliver health services to local residents. Upon arrival, the senior experts went straight to their temporary consultation stations despite fatigue from travel. The site was crowded as residents waited in line. Experts took pulses, listened carefully, reviewed medical records, and wrote treatment suggestions by hand. They provided comprehensive services ranging from health consultations and common and chronic disease prevention to personalized guidance, covering TCM specialties, cardiology, neurology, and pediatrics. Over nearly four hours, the experts served more than 200 residents without pausing for rest, bringing warmth and health during the festive season and adding vitality to the Double Ninth celebrations through the Silver-Age Action.

Elder-Youth Collaboration: Passing the Torch Across Generations.Before the festival, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital launched the “Warm Service for the 80s and 90s” program. The retirees’ service office delivered cashmere scarves to four elders aged 80 and, together with young volunteers, provided mobility aids to seven elders aged 90, explaining their proper use on site. The initiative received high praise from elders and families alike. The retirees’ office and Youth League Committee of Beijing Shijitan Hospital invited retired staff representatives to the Double Ninth Festival event “Walking Through the New Scenery of Shijitan Hospital in the Warm Autumn in Apricot Forest” creating a platform for cultural exchange between retirees and young league members. Senior colleagues shared stories of their youth and life lessons, while younger participants discussed their aspirations and goals. The event fostered a warm atmosphere of respect for the elderly and allowed young people to learn perseverance and valuable experiences from their predecessors.