Ningbo township seeks new ways to boost seniors' incomes

To boost the incomes of local elderly residents, Luting township in Yuyao city, Ningbo has integrated elderly care in mountainous areas with the local homestay industry.

Led by local village cooperatives, the unused rooms of local seniors are now being rented to homestay investors.

"This helps increase local seniors' incomes when dealing with elderly care issues in mountainous areas," said a local official.

According to the official, every household that rents rooms to develop homestay businesses will receive an annual rental income of 5,000 yuan ($700).

Luting township also encourages homestay owners to offer job opportunities to capable seniors. Twenty-two seniors are currently working at homestays in the township, with an average monthly salary of 4,000 yuan.

Zhu Yuefang, a 71-year-old resident of Luting, helps clean rooms at the Luting Township Spring Homestay. The facility was transformed from unused houses, including Zhu's rooms. Renting out the rooms and working at the homestay bring in additional income for Zhu.

"I'm so happy that my income has increased by half," Zhu said.