As autumn brings the Double Ninth Festival, the later years of life shine with renewed brilliance. To vigorously promote the traditional virtues of respecting, honoring, caring for, and supporting older adults, and to put into practice the concepts of a positive view of aging and healthy aging, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission organized a series of activities during the 17th National Respect for Older Adults Month in 2026. From visits and expressions of care to health services, and from science and culture to fraud prevention, these activities demonstrated respect for older adults through concrete actions and supported their continued contributions through services. They aimed to enhance the sense of belonging and happiness among older adults across the Commission system as they enjoy their later years, while continuing to bring together the strength of older adults in safeguarding public health.

Visits and expressions of care bring warmth to older adults at home. During the Double Ninth Festival period, members of the leadership team, led by Zhong Dongbo, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, visited representatives of older adults and extended their greetings. During the visits, Commission leaders carefully inquired about the older adults’ physical health and living conditions, listened attentively to their thoughts and concerns, and conveyed the Party Committee’s sincere care and holiday greetings. At the studio of Chen Yuzhi, a senior expert at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, 92-year-old Dr. Chen continues to offer advice on the prevention and treatment of asthma in children and has also participated in organizing the National Sports Meet for Children with Asthma. At the home of Huang Wen, a veteran Party member of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Director Huang shared her experience of participating in primary healthcare service projects for many consecutive years, providing outpatient services, training and guidance to medical staff, and caring for patients at medical institutions in places including Hainan and Xinjiang. Commission leaders expressed their sincere gratitude to the older adults for their contributions to the development of health services. They also stated that they would carry forward the dedication and sense of responsibility embodied by medical professionals who practice benevolence and travel far and wide to serve others, and would strive to create favorable conditions and provide strong support so that older adults could enjoy their later years and continue to make contributions.

Free medical consultations and health services safeguard the well-being of older adults. On the eve of the Double Ninth Festival, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission joined the Education Working Committee of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, the Beijing Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and other organizations in holding the event “Warmth in Golden Autumn, Enjoying the Double Ninth Festival.” Senior experts from Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, and Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine joined younger colleagues at the event to provide free medical consultations, with senior and younger professionals working side by side. The consultation services were carefully planned and well organized in advance, with a focus on common and frequently occurring diseases among older adults. The services covered specialties including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular medicine, gastroenterology, traditional Chinese medicine on orthopedics, and internal medicine. At the event, senior experts patiently answered questions, explained prevention and medication use for chronic disease, offered advice on daily diet and routines, and provided hands-on guidance on precautions during exercise. Health services were provided to older adults on more than 300 occasions, helping sustain the positive impact of the “Safeguarding Health for Older Adults” initiative. The event also featured areas for legal information, cultural exchanges, product exhibitions and sales, and elderly care services. Older adults were able to access a range of thoughtful services in one place, experiencing the mutual commitment between the contributions of older adults and society’s respect and care for them.

Exhibition visits broaden the horizons of older adults. On the eve of the Double Ninth Festival, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission responded to the diverse and multi-level elderly care needs of older adults across the Commission system. It carefully organized and mobilized relevant organizations to arrange group visits to the 12th Beijing International Silver Industry Expo, helping older adults learn about elderly care policies and industry resources. In preparation for the visits, organizations across the Commission system made thorough arrangements and detailed plans to ensure that the activities were conducted safely, orderly, and comfortably. At the exhibition, older adults walked around, observed the displays, and stopped frequently to take a closer look. They carefully examined and tried out smart elderly care devices, health and wellness therapy products, age-friendly renovation facilities, cultural, sports, and creative products for older adults, as well as new models of elderly care services. These experiences allowed them to see firsthand the convenience brought by smart elderly care and technology-assisted support for older adults. The older adults unanimously expressed that the exhibition had given them a direct understanding of the innovative achievements and development trends of the elderly care industry in the new era, leaving them with greater confidence in and anticipation for a high-quality, caring life in their later years.

Film screening raises awareness of fraud prevention and protects older adults’ savings. Following the organization of a fraud prevention knowledge competition for older adults across the Commission system, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission actively encouraged and organized representatives of older adults to attend the premiere of the anti-fraud public awareness film Psychological Protection – The Anti-Fraud Paw Patrol at Beijing Theater during the Double Ninth Festival period. The film draws on real cases of fraud frequently targeting older adults and recreates the entire process by which scammers disguise their identities and manipulate their victims. It helps older adults recognize common fraud schemes and effectively improves their ability to identify and guard against scams. Real cases serve as warnings, and the lessons from the screening leave a lasting impression. Older adults said that the film presented a fresh approach and combined entertainment with cautionary messages. It made them feel the care and warmth of the organization, brought anti-fraud awareness closer to everyday life and more directly to people’s hearts, and helped them build an additional layer of psychological protection against scams.