| Developing the elderly care industry is good for improving people's well-being and stimulating consumption, said Xu Hongcai, an economist with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. "Consumption on elderly care requires the supply of the elder care market, offered by both the government and the market," he said. A research report issued by Guolian Securities suggests that a string of policies have been carried out in China to encourage the participation of the social sector in the senior care industry, which will boost the country's consumption in the health and medical sectors. As China opens this sector, foreign firms such as France's Orpea and Japan's Nichii have tapped the elderly service market in China. China still lacks leading players in the senior care market which includes nursing care, rehabilitation assistive devices and daily necessities for seniors, Tang said. The long-term care insurance system will help increase the occupancy rate of some elderly services facilities given a number of elderly people can hardly afford the expenses, according to Tang. | 
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