"The suggestions I am preparing this year are related to long-term care insurance, mainly focusing on how to promote the high-quality development of assistive device rental services," said Liu Ting, deputy to the National People's Congress and head of the Home Living Products Business Marketing Department of Panasonic Home Appliances (China) Co.

Liu has conducted research in more than 20 cities in China to understand the obstacles to promoting assistive device rental services for long-term care insurance.

"In May last year, I went to Japan to visit the rental management center of assistive devices at Panasonic's headquarters for elderly care, and also went to its plants to see how the assistive devices are recycled and disinfected," Liu said, as he learned a lot from his trip to Japan, with the traceable management process leaving a deep impression on him.

Liu said that in recent years, China's smart elderly care industry has been developing rapidly, and in the management of assistive device rentals, there is much to be learned from Japan's practices, especially when it comes to strengthening the digital supervision of the entire process.

"We need to expand the selection of assistive devices available for rent, establish a sound product standard system, and better meet the diverse and personalized needs of the elderly," said Liu.