Editorial: Innovations in older adult care and health service management: a focus on China

China stands at the forefront of a global demographic shift as home to over 260 million people aged 60 and above – this accounts for one-fifth of the world's total older adult population and standing as the country with the largest number of older adults in the world. A recent Lancet editorial on population aging in China argued that the traditional model of care focussed on filial piety is unsustainable for China's rapidly aging population. Newer models of care and investments are vital to challenge the emerging crisis of aged care in China. The Lancet Commission report from Peking University identified some of the significant investments made by the Chinese government to support older adults and improve aged care services. China is taking massive steps to strengthen institutional and community care infrastructure both as a substitute to and to complement the role of informal carers. Long-term care insurance (LTCI) has been piloted in many cities in China to support older adults, with the government focussing on integration of long-term care with health/hospital care. Given China's unique regional segmentation of health insurance systems and regulatory environment for care provision, the Lancet Commission argued the necessity for better integration of services across regions and occupations, capping LTCI initiatives, expanding services for older adults and striving for a safer regulatory environment...