A staff member teaches residents how to make handicrafts on November 4 at the newly established elderly care service station in Chongqing. (Photo/Long Fan)

Chongqing - While a local kindergarten faced low enrollment and underused facilities, the surrounding community struggled with a lack of activity spaces for its elderly residents. To address both issues, a kindergarten in Southwest China's Chongqing has taken the innovative step of integrating elderly care services into its campus.

Yu'an Ke'ai Kindergarten, located in the Chongqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, has experienced enrollment challenges since it opened in 2021. According to Principal Li, the kindergarten currently has only about 100 children enrolled, leaving the entire third floor unused. Meanwhile, the neighboring residential area has a significant elderly population but few indoor activity spaces.

"On sunny days, elderly residents can walk or sit outdoors, but on rainy days, they have nowhere to go," said Li.

With support from the local government, the kindergarten underwent an age-friendly renovation. In just over a month, the unused third floor was transformed into a 600-square-meter elderly care service station.

"The kindergarten teaching area operates with closed-off management, while the elderly care service station is managed openly," Li explained.

Residents participate in exercises on November 4 at the newly opened elderly care service station in Chongqing. (Photo/Long Fan)

The new station is divided into three main areas: health management, leisure and entertainment, and culture and education. It features massage chairs and therapy devices in the health management area, while the leisure area includes facilities for table tennis and chess. The culture and education section is equipped with bookshelves, a calligraphy desk, electronic keyboards, and tables stocked with craft materials to cater to a variety of interests.

The station is staffed with dedicated personnel, and kindergarten teachers also contribute during their free time by leading classes for the elderly in crafts, singing, and more.

"By leveraging our existing resources—facilities, equipment, materials, and teachers—we can fully utilize early education infrastructure," said Li. For example, teachers have adapted singing lessons from nursery rhymes to nostalgic songs enjoyed by older adults. Craft lessons use shared materials to engage both children and the elderly in developing hands-on skills.

Since its opening two weeks ago, the station has been welcoming an average of over 50 visits daily. One regular, a 67-year-old resident surnamed Liu, shared his enthusiasm: "It’s close to home. I can get a massage, play table tennis—of course, I love coming here!"

Currently, the station provides free basic services such as health lectures, medical consultations, haircuts, movie screenings, and birthday parties. According to Principal Li, plans are underway to expand the offerings based on the needs of the elderly. Potential future services include low-cost options such as meal delivery, housekeeping, errand assistance, and chronic disease management.

This initiative reflects a broader trend across China, where some kindergartens are being repurposed or integrated with elderly care services. A representative from the Public Service Bureau of Chongqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone explained the vision behind the program.

"Through the integration of nursery and elderly care services, we aim to create a one-stop solution by sharing resources and combining services. This approach not only optimizes idle facilities but also encourages intergenerational interaction," said the representative.

By fostering connections between young children and the elderly, the program addresses the care needs of both age groups while easing the burden on families managing dual caregiving responsibilities.

Looking ahead, the bureau plans to repurpose more underutilized or closed kindergartens with the help of social investments and fiscal support. "We will continue to explore ways to maximize unused assets, incorporating elderly care services to broaden their function and capacity," the representative added.

(Zhang Yizhu and Long Fan, reporters from Chongqing Daily, contributed the Chinese version of this report.)