A staff member of an elderly care service center guides a senior citizen on using smart devices in Dongcheng district in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 31, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

　　Voluntary guardianship services are addressing the elderly's immediate needs, especially those who have no traditional guardians such as a spouse or a child.

　　Under the service, as clarified in the 2020 Civil Code, an adult can choose a reliable person or organization to be their guardian when they become incapacitated.

　　Fei Chao, 35, director general of Jinshan Guardianship in Shanghai, sometimes receives urgent calls during the night, and often has to rush to the hospital to sign medical documents for a client. This is one of the most critical services Jinshan provides for older people.

　　Established in 2020, Jinshan is the first nonprofit civil organization in China dedicated to providing professional guardianship services for the elderly. It was initiated by three nonprofit organizations led by Shanghai Jinmei Elderly Care, which is dedicated to serving residents with dementia. One of the organizations specializes in legal assistance, and the other focuses on hospice care.

　　After the client and Jinshan sign an agreement, they go through the notarization process that aims to protect both sides and ensure the fair execution of the accord. When the client becomes unable to make independent decisions or requires an agent to act on their behalf in legal matters, Jinshan usually acts as that agent.