A bed in a public nursing home can range from around 1,000 to 3,000 yuan (S$180 to S$550) a month, and admission is generally prioritised according to the help needed with daily living activities.
In a private nursing home such as Changyou, a shared room with two beds costs 4,400 yuan a month, and a private room costs double that. The average monthly salary in Beijing, where Changyou is located, is around 13,000 yuan.
In megacities such as Shanghai and Beijing, the cost of living in a private nursing home can go up to 19,000 yuan a month, with a requirement that at least a one-year lease be signed.
Eldercare costs aside, the sector is struggling to attract more workers. According to the China Research Centre on Ageing, the country currently has about 500,000 eldercare workers but requires 12 times that number.
