Measurement, Evolution and Equalization Effect of the Coordination of Regional Elderly Service Policies: A Case Study of Yangtze River Delta

The Yangtze River Delta is a model for regional integrated development, but unbalanced and inadequate elderly services have become a shortcoming in its integration process, to which the regional elderly services policy coordination can provide a solution. Based on the construction of the regional elderly service policy coordination measurement model, this paper collects the provincial elderly service policies in the Yangtze River Delta during 2011-2021, systematically evaluates the level and evolution trend of the elderly service policy coordination in the Yangtze River Delta through policy quantification, and identifies its impact on the elderly services equalization. The results show that the Yangtze River Delta elderly service policies are in a state of constant transition between dysfunction and coordination, and that the inter-provincial elderly service policy coordination helps promote the equalization of elderly services in the Yangtze River Delta region. And this paper puts forward policy suggestions to promote the synergistic development of regional elderly service in China from setting the target orientation of elderly service policy coordination, narrowing the gap of inter-provincial elderly service policy level, reshaping the elderly service integration promotion system and constructing the assessment mechanism of elderly service integration.