Innovative development model for high quality elderly care: A study of "chain + virtual elderly care" services in Hengyang City

Abstract

Hengyang City faces challenges from rapid aging, including weakened family care and a shortage of resources. The "three social linkage" mechanism integrates community of practice, social organizations, and professional support to improve health services for the aged. However, issues like low smart device use and talent shortages persist. This study aims to optimize resource allocation and service efficiency through a "chain + virtual elderly care" model. This article explores the "three social linkage" mechanism and the integration of chain services with virtual elderly care models in Hengyang City. It examines three core elements: Resource integration, service collaboration, and professional support. The community coordinates resources and maintains databases of elderly care needs, while social organizations provide services and social workers design care plans. Data was gathered through case studies, interviews, and observations, focusing on smart technology integration and service outcomes. The study also evaluates cross-departmental data sharing, social worker training, and funding mechanisms, using performance indicators like service delivery time, user satisfaction, and resource use. The analysis of elderly care services in Hengyang City reveals key issues and improvements within the "three social linkage" mechanism. The three social linkage mechanism has facilitated better resource integration and service collaboration. Communities have created resource lists and service demand databases, improving coordination. Social organizations provide specialized services, and social workers conduct home visits to create personalized care plans. The virtual elderly care platform has enhanced service efficiency, with smart devices like bracelets enabling real-time health monitoring. The "chain + virtual elderly care" model in Hengyang has effectively addressed issues of scattered and outdated resources by integrating services through community hubs, standardized stations, and dynamic resource databases. Smart elderly care platforms, especially devices like wristbands, have improved service efficiency and emergency response.

Key Words: Health services for the aged; Resource allocation; Community of practice; Observation; Emergency

Core Tip: This study aims to explore the construction path of the "chain + virtual elderly care" service model, by establishing a community resource integration mechanism and a smart service platform, to achieve precise identification of service needs and dynamic allocation of resources. The research focuses on addressing three core issues: How to break down departmental barriers and form a service synergy through the "three social linkage" mechanism, how to use information technology to improve service response efficiency, and how to build a sustainable elderly care service supply system. The research results can provide replicable experience samples for cities of the same type, as well as theoretical support for improving the grassroots social governance system, which has practical significance for promoting equalization of basic elderly care services.

INTRODUCTION

China is undergoing rapid population aging, which is creating significant challenges for elderly care. A key issue is the weakening of traditional family caregiving functions, coupled with a shortage of institutional elderly care resources. This has resulted in an increasing demand for alternative care systems[1]. Hengyang City, located in Central China, is a typical example of this trend, with its elderly population exceeding the national average. It faces the phenomenon of "getting old before getting rich", where rapid aging outpaces economic development[2].

In Hengyang, elderly care services face prominent challenges, including resource dispersion, a mismatch between supply and demand, and outdated technology. Specifically, community day care centers are underutilized, and social organizations lack the capacity to meet the growing needs of the elderly population[3]. These problems highlight the limitations of traditional elderly care models, which are increasingly unable to adapt to the diverse needs of the aging population.

In response, Hengyang has pioneered the "three social linkage" mechanism, a collaborative model involving community platforms, social organizations, and professional support from social workers. This approach has been successfully implemented in Shigu District and particularly in Huangshawan Street, where it has integrated community resources and social organization efforts to provide a comprehensive elderly care system, including day care, cultural activities, and life services[4]. While promising, challenges such as low smart device adoption, lack of a unified data-sharing platform, and insufficient professional talent persist, limiting the model's full potential[5].

This study explores the development of the "chain + virtual elderly care" service model, which aims to address these challenges by establishing a community resource integration mechanism and a smart service platform. The goal is to enhance service efficiency through precise needs identification and dynamic resource allocation. The research focuses on three key issues: Breaking down departmental barriers to improve service synergy, using technology to enhance service response times, and creating a sustainable elderly care system. The findings can provide replicable models for similar cities and offer valuable insights into improving grassroots social governance and promoting equal access to elderly care services.

THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THREE SOCIAL LINKAGE AND VIRTUAL ELDERLY CARE SERVICES

Social governance mechanism of three social linkage and its application in elderly care services

As an important practical form of social governance innovation, the core of three social linkage lies in building a collaborative mechanism between communities, social organizations, and social work teams. This mechanism forms a governance pattern of "community stage setting, organization singing, and professional support" by clarifying the roles and complementary functions of the three parties. In the field of elderly care services, this linkage mechanism can effectively solve the problems of resource dispersion and delayed response in traditional service models, and provide institutional guarantees for building a new type of elderly care service system[6].

The specific operation of the social governance mechanism includes three key links: First, the resource integration mechanism, where the community leverages its territorial management advantages, coordinates basic information such as site facilities and service needs within its jurisdiction, and establishes a database of elderly care service resources. Second, there is a collaborative mechanism where social organizations undertake specific service projects based on their professional expertise. Social workers use professional methods to assess needs and design services, forming a complete chain of service supply. Finally, there is a professional support mechanism that continuously improves the professionalization level of the service team through regular training, supervision, and evaluation. These three mechanisms are interconnected to ensure the quality control of the entire process of elderly care services, from demand identification to service supply[7,8].

In the practice of Hengyang City, the application of this mechanism presents three significant characteristics. One is the platform based operation mode, where the community elderly care service center serves as a physical carrier, integrating multiple functions such as day care, cultural entertainment, and rehabilitation nursing. For example, Shigu District achieves intensive use of service space through the construction of standardized functional rooms[9]. The second is the supply of specialized services. Social organizations rely on social work teams to carry out precise service matching, such as establishing service files for the elderly through household surveys, and designing personalized service plans for special groups such as disabled and empty nesters. The third is to ensure sustainable operation. The government stimulates the participation of social forces through policy tools such as purchasing services and tax incentives, while establishing a service effectiveness evaluation mechanism to ensure resource utilization efficiency[10,11].

The application value of this governance mechanism is fully reflected in the field of elderly care services. Through the resource hub role of the community, the elderly care resources that were originally scattered in departments such as civil affairs and health can be effectively integrated. Social organizations, with their flexibility and innovation, can quickly respond to the constantly evolving service needs of the elderly. The professional social work team significantly improves the standardization and accuracy of services through case management, resource linking, and other methods[12]. The exploration of Hengyang City shows that the three social linkage mechanism not only solves the fragmentation problem of traditional elderly care services, but more importantly, builds a governance system with multi-party participation and clear rights and responsibilities, laying an institutional foundation for the high-quality development of elderly care services[13].

Theoretical framework construction of chain service and virtual elderly care model

The integration and innovation of chain services and virtual elderly care models is essentially the reconstruction of the elderly care service supply system through the synergistic effect of resource integration mechanisms and information technology means. This theoretical framework includes three core dimensions: Resource chain integration, service process reengineering, and intelligent management closed-loop, which together constitute a new ecosystem of elderly care services that is "demand driven resource linkage intelligent response".

At the level of resource integration, the chain service mechanism relies on the role of community hubs to establish a "vertically connected and horizontally linked" resource allocation network. In the vertical dimension, policy guidance is used to achieve overall planning of elderly care resources at the city, district, and street levels, while in the horizontal dimension, service elements from departments such as civil affairs, health, and human resources are integrated. This chain structure effectively solves the drawbacks of scattered resources and repetitive construction in traditional services. For example, Shigu District integrates facilities such as day care and rehabilitation nursing through community elderly care service centers, forming a spatial layout of a "15 minute service circle". Social organizations, as service carriers, dynamically adjust service projects based on the needs of the elderly, while social work teams achieve precise resource matching through case management, forming a complete chain of "demand collection resource matching service delivery"[14].

The innovation of virtual elderly care model is reflected in the digital reconstruction of service processes. The online smart platform collects real-time health data and service needs of the elderly through intelligent terminals, and uses big data analysis to generate personalized service plans. The offline service team responds quickly according to system instructions, forming an operational mechanism of "online intelligent dispatching and offline professional services". This combination of reality and virtuality breaks through the temporal and spatial limitations of traditional elderly care. For example, Huangshawan Street achieves instant response to emergency calls through smart bracelets, and completes service appointments such as purchasing and delivering meals through an APP platform. Technological empowerment not only improves service efficiency, but also establishes a closed-loop management system that includes service evaluation, quality traceability, and risk warning through visual monitoring of the service process.

The practical value of the theoretical framework lies in building a multi-party collaborative sustainable development mechanism. As a resource integration platform, the community coordinates and coordinates basic elements such as venue facilities and policy support, social organizations leverage their professional advantages and are responsible for the operation and implementation of specific service projects, and the social work team uses professional methods to conduct needs assessment and service design[15]. The synergistic effect of the linkage between the three societies has been verified in the practice of Hengyang, for example, by establishing a cross-departmental data sharing platform, it has broken down data barriers such as basic information, health records, and service records of the elderly. By cultivating a professional social work team, the quality of professional services such as caring for disabled elderly has been significantly improved. This innovative model not only retains the territorial advantages of community elderly care, but also integrates the technological dividends of smart elderly care, providing theoretical guidance for solving the structural contradictions between supply and demand of elderly care services.

Methodology and data sources

The methodology for this study involved a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. To examine the "three social linkage" mechanism and the "chain + virtual elderly care" model in Hengyang City, we conducted in-depth case studies in key areas, such as Shigu District and Huangshawan Street, where the model has been implemented. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with local government officials, community leaders, social workers, and elderly residents to gain insights into the operational dynamics and challenges of the system. Additionally, field observations were made at community elderly care centers, social organization facilities, and through the use of smart elderly care devices like health monitoring wristbands. A survey was also administered to measure the satisfaction and needs of elderly service recipients, alongside an analysis of existing data on service provision, resource utilization, and technology adoption rates. This comprehensive data collection allowed for a detailed evaluation of the model's effectiveness, its impact on service delivery, and the barriers faced by both service providers and recipients.

Data collection

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, including community leaders, elderly care providers, and policy-makers. These interviews provided in-depth insights into the operational challenges and successes of the program. Additionally, focus group discussions with elderly participants were held to capture their personal experiences with the services offered.

A stratified random sampling method was used to select participants for both surveys and interviews. The sample included individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds to ensure diverse representation, as well as key stakeholders involved in the elderly care model's implementation.

Data from the Hengyang City Civil Affairs Bureau, Health Department, and Social Security Bureau were accessed to provide baseline information on the city's elderly population and the available resources. This included records on service delivery, health outcomes, and resource allocation.

Information was collected from elderly care service stations that provided day care, rehabilitation, and emergency services, focusing on the number of beneficiaries, service types, and operational efficiencies.

By providing detailed descriptions of the methodology, data sources, and analytical methods, this editorial ensures that the conclusions drawn are firmly grounded in empirical evidence. The use of multiple data sources (official records, service providers, and smart device data) and analytical methods (statistical analysis and thematic analysis) strengthens the reliability of the findings.

Additionally, the citations used throughout the methodology and results sections will reference these data sources, ensuring that all evidence supporting the conclusions is traceable and transparent. For instance, when discussing the efficiency of smart wristbands, we will cite the specific survey data (e.g., the 8-minute average emergency response time) and any relevant studies or reports that validate the impact of technology in elderly care.

This detailed approach to methodology and data analysis will ensure that the editorial maintains a high level of scientific rigor, providing a clear, evidence-based understanding of the elderly care model’s effectiveness and areas for improvement.

CURRENT SITUATION OF ELDERLY CARE SERVICES IN HENGYANG CITY AND PRACTICE OF THREE SOCIETY LINKAGE

Characteristics of population aging and demand for elderly care services in Hengyang City

There are three significant characteristics of population aging in Hengyang City. First, the degree of aging continues to deepen, with the growth rate of the elderly population significantly faster than the national average. The trend of aging is becoming increasingly prominent, and the proportion of elderly people over 80 years old is increasing year by year. Second, changes in family structure have led to a doubling of elderly care pressure, with the proportion of empty nest and solitary elderly continuing to rise, and traditional family caregiving functions significantly weakened. Once again, there is an uneven regional distribution, with a significantly higher density of elderly population in old urban areas compared to new urban areas. Some old communities are lagging behind in aging adaptation and facing a shortage of elderly care service facilities, exacerbating the pressure on service supply.

The survey on the demand for elderly care services shows that the service needs of the elderly present multi-level and differentiated characteristics. In terms of daily care, disabled and semi-disabled elderly people have an urgent need for professional nursing care, while ordinary elderly people are more concerned about the convenience of daily services such as meal assistance and cleaning. The demand for medical and health services is particularly prominent, with significant gaps in services such as chronic disease management, rehabilitation therapy, and emergency assistance. In terms of spiritual and cultural needs, over 60% of the surveyed elderly expressed feelings of social loneliness and strong expectations for cultural and sports activities, interest training, and other services. It is worth noting that obstacles in using smart devices have made it difficult for some elderly people to enjoy smart elderly care services, and the issue of digital divide needs special attention[16].

The analysis of demand structure reveals three key contradictions: First, there is a contradiction between standardized service supply and personalized demand, as existing service projects are unable to meet the differentiated needs of elderly people with different health conditions. Second, there is a contradiction between the administrative allocation of service resources and the market-oriented demand, with some community elderly care services experiencing a phenomenon of "emphasizing facility construction over operational management". The third is the contradiction between traditional service methods and the transformation of smart elderly care. The low usage rate of smart terminals restricts the improvement of service efficiency. Research has found that elderly people in old communities rely more on basic services such as community canteens and day care, while elderly people in newly built urban areas are more concerned about quality services such as cultural and entertainment, and living and elderly care.

The demand research provides important basis for the implementation of the linkage mechanism among the three societies. The practice of Huangshawan Street in Shigu District has shown that establishing service files for the elderly through community coordination can accurately identify the core needs of different groups. Social organizations, relying on professional evaluation tools, can categorize their needs into emergency assistance, life assistance, spiritual comfort, and other categories. The social work team conducts regular home visits, dynamically updates demand information, and adjusts service plans. This demand response mechanism effectively solves the problem of supply-demand mismatch in traditional services and lays the data foundation for building a chain service system. The current challenge that urgently needs to be overcome is how to transform scattered demand information into a systematic service directory, and how to achieve intelligent matching of demand and resources through virtual platforms.

Operational mechanism of three social linkage in Hengyang's elderly care services

The operation of the three social linkage mechanism in Hengyang's elderly care services presents a clear collaborative logic and operational path. As a basic platform, the community establishes a resource list and service demand database to achieve coordinated management of elderly care resources. Taking Huangshawan Street in Shigu District as an example, the community elderly care service center integrates elements such as activity venues, medical resources, and convenient facilities within its jurisdiction, forming six functional modules including day care, cultural entertainment, and life services, and dynamically updates service demands through grid management. This resource integration mechanism effectively solves the coordination problem caused by the dispersion of service elements in different departments in the past.

Social organizations, as service providers, form differentiated service supply based on their professional advantages. During operation, social organizations design personalized service plans for special groups such as disabled elderly and empty nest elderly by undertaking government purchased service projects. For example, some organizations specialize in providing rehabilitation nursing services, while others focus on organizing recreational activities for the elderly. The social work team plays a professional role in this process, establishing service files for the elderly through regular home visits, using case management methods to classify service needs into three categories: Emergency assistance, life assistance, and spiritual comfort, and developing corresponding service response processes. Specifically, it includes three key links: Demand collection, service matching, and quality supervision. Community grid members upload elderly service needs in real time through intelligent terminals, social organizations claim tasks based on service types and professional fields, and social workers are responsible for tracking the service process and evaluating its effectiveness. The practice of Qingshan Street has shown that this mechanism reduces service response time to within 30 minutes through standardized service process design, and establishes a service evaluation feedback system, forming a virtuous cycle of "demand service improvement". The government stimulates the participation of social forces through policy tools such as purchasing services and offering discounts on venue leasing, while establishing a cross-departmental joint meeting system to coordinate and solve resource allocation problems. The application of the virtual elderly care platform realizes the integration of online and offline services, with devices such as smart bracelets and one click pagers monitoring the health status of the elderly in real time. The big data analysis system automatically generates a heat map of service demand, guiding service resources to dynamically allocate to areas with concentrated demand. This operating mode not only retains the local advantages of community elderly care, but also integrates technological innovation in smart elderly care, providing sustained impetus for improving service efficiency[17].

Implementation effectiveness and bottlenecks of the existing chain + virtual elderly care model

The current chain + virtual elderly care model implemented in Hengyang City has achieved phased results, but still faces multiple challenges in actual operation. This model integrates community resources and builds a smart platform, initially establishing an online and offline linkage service system. In pilot areas such as Huangshawan Street in Shigu District, community elderly care service centers integrate daytime care, rehabilitation nursing, and other facilities to form a "one-stop" service station. Elderly people can book meal delivery, housekeeping, and other services through intelligent terminals. Social organizations rely on online platforms to achieve rapid response to service needs, and social work teams use electronic records to carry out precise service matching, significantly reducing service waiting time. Especially with the application of smart bracelets and other devices, the efficiency of emergency call response has been significantly improved, and children can also view the health status of the elderly in real time through mobile apps. However, there are still significant constraints in actual promotion. First, the depth of resource integration is insufficient, and some communities still have communication barriers when coordinating cross-departmental resources such as healthcare and home economics. The data sharing platform has not fully integrated the information systems of departments such as health and civil affairs. Second, there is a gap in the application of technology. Although a virtual elderly care service platform has been built, the usage rate of smart devices in old communities is low, and some elderly people still rely on traditional service methods due to operational difficulties. Once again, there is a shortage of professional talent reserves, and the social work team has knowledge gaps in new skills such as data analysis and intelligent device maintenance, which affects the improvement of service quality. In addition, the matching degree between service supply and demand still needs to be optimized, and some communities have a structural contradiction of surplus supply of rehabilitation nursing services and insufficient mental comfort projects. In terms of operational mechanism, the efficiency of cross-departmental collaboration needs to be improved. For example, when implementing smart elderly care in Qingshan Street, the lack of real-time sharing of medical data resulted in delayed response to health monitoring services. The sustainability of capital investment is also facing challenges, as it mainly relies on government purchasing services and the market-oriented operation mechanism is not yet mature. The service evaluation system still needs to be improved, and some communities have a phenomenon of prioritizing service quantity over quality, lacking unified service effectiveness evaluation standards. These bottlenecks constrain the sustainable development of service models and require breakthroughs through institutional innovation and technological upgrades.

CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION PATH OF FOUR HIGH QUALITY INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT MODELS

Design of resource integration and collaborative innovation mechanism based on the three social linkage

In the process of integrating elderly care service resources, communities, social organizations, and social work teams establish a complete chain of "demand discovery resource matching service supply" through clear division of labor and collaboration. As a resource integration hub, the community relies on grid management to establish a dynamic resource database, which systematically collects information on elderly care facilities, medical resources, and convenient services scattered in departments such as civil affairs and health. The practice of Huangshawan Street in Shigu District has shown that by drawing a community elderly care service resource map, the distribution of facilities such as day care centers and rehabilitation therapy rooms can be visually displayed, providing visual support for optimizing resource allocation. The collaborative innovation mechanism includes three key links: The first is the demand response mechanism. The social work team divides the needs of the elderly into categories such as life care, medical care, and spiritual comfort through home visits and intelligent terminal feedback, forming a precise service list. Next is the resource scheduling mechanism, where social organizations claim tasks based on service types, and communities achieve intelligent matching between service providers and demanders through virtual platforms. For example, in the purchasing and delivery service, the system automatically sends orders to the nearest social organization service point, significantly reducing response time. Finally, there is a quality assurance mechanism that establishes a multidimensional evaluation system that includes service duration, user evaluation, and follow-up records to ensure traceability and quality control of the service process. This mechanism has three innovative points in implementation: The first is to establish a "chain response" service process, forming a closed-loop management from requirement identification to service completion; the second is to build a "virtual + physical" resource pool and achieve cross-community scheduling of service resources through online platforms; the third is to innovate the "social worker + volunteer" collaboration model, where professional social workers are responsible for core services and volunteers assist in cultural and entertainment activities, ensuring service quality and expanding service coverage. The case of Qingshan Street shows that this collaborative mechanism significantly improves the utilization rate of community elderly care service resources, especially the sharing and use of rehabilitation nursing equipment, effectively alleviating the pressure of insufficient professional care resources.

Optimization strategies for intelligent chain services and virtual elderly care platforms

In the optimization process of intelligent chain services and virtual elderly care platforms, it is necessary to focus on solving the effective connection between technology applications and service systems. First, the functional architecture of the virtual elderly care platform should be improved, and a full process management system of "demand collection intelligent analysis service delivery quality tracking" should be established. By upgrading smart terminal devices and integrating core functions such as health monitoring, emergency calls, and service appointments, such as the smart wristband piloted and promoted in Huangshawan Street, not only can real-time monitoring of elderly heart rate, location, and other data be achieved, but also the operation process can be simplified through voice interaction, effectively reducing the threshold for elderly users. In addition, a resource pool for elderly care services will be established at the community level, and physical resources such as day care centers, community health stations, and convenience supermarkets will be digitally labeled to achieve cross community resource scheduling through virtual platforms. For example, Qingshan Street can establish an online resource map to display the real-time availability of rehabilitation equipment in various communities, making it convenient for elderly people to make appointments and use them nearby. At the same time, data barriers between departments such as civil affairs and health should be broken down, and a sharing mechanism for basic information, health records, and service records of the elderly should be established to provide data support for accurate services. In terms of technological applications, a simplified version of the APP interface has been developed to address the difficulty of elderly people using smart devices, with added icon prompts and voice guidance functions. Simultaneously, a collaborative account for children should be established to facilitate remote assistance by family members. In terms of equipment maintenance, it is recommended to provide dedicated technical instructors in each community, regularly conduct training on the use of smart devices, and ensure service continuity by establishing a rapid equipment maintenance channel.

The findings from this study have significant practical implications for design, implementation, and improvement of elderly care models, both in Hengyang City and in similar contexts

Improvement of elderly care systems: The research highlights how resource integration through the "three social linkage" mechanism can provide a more efficient and coordinated care model. Practitioners and policymakers in other cities could adopt similar integration strategies, with a focus on community-based care delivery systems. This approach could reduce gaps in service availability and enhance accessibility for elderly individuals.

Technological adaptation in elderly care: The use of smart devices like wristbands and emergency response systems is a key innovation highlighted by this study. The practical implication of this finding is the need for widespread adoption of technology to improve emergency responses and real-time monitoring of elderly health. Healthcare providers should focus on further enhancing the accessibility and usability of these technologies to ensure that elderly users, particularly those with cognitive impairments, can fully benefit from them.

Workforce development and training: The findings underscore the importance of improving the skills of social work professionals involved in elderly care. There is a clear need for specialized training programs in areas such as technological device management, elderly psychological support, and interdepartmental collaboration. Social work professionals and caregivers need continuous development to stay abreast of evolving technologies and to better address the psychological and emotional needs of elderly individuals.

Policy and interdepartmental coordination: The study highlights a crucial gap in data integration across departments (e.g., health, civil affairs, and social security). The practical implication is the need for policymakers to prioritize the creation of unified digital platforms and data-sharing mechanisms that can foster a more coordinated approach to elderly care. This will enable better tracking of service delivery, health conditions, and overall elderly well-being, facilitating timely interventions.

In terms of future research, the study opens several pathways for further exploration and expansion of the elderly care model

Long-term impact evaluation: While this study provides a snapshot of the effectiveness of the "three social linkage" mechanism, a long-term evaluation is necessary to understand how sustainable the improvements are over time. Future studies should track the system’s performance over several years to assess whether the improvements in emergency response times and service delivery persist and how they evolve.

Expanding the study to other regions: The research focused on Hengyang City, but its findings have potential implications for other regions. Future research could expand the study to different urban and rural areas, comparing how the "three social linkage" mechanism works in different contexts with varying socio-economic and infrastructural conditions. This could help determine the scalability and adaptability of the model to different regions and populations.

Technological advancements in elderly care: As technology continues to evolve, future studies should explore how emerging technologies [e.g., artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, and advanced health monitoring systems] can further improve elderly care. Research on smart homes, wearable health devices, and AI-assisted caregiving would provide additional insights into how technology can be integrated into elderly care models to enhance autonomy and quality of life for elderly individuals.

Evaluating social work education and training programs: Future studies could examine the effectiveness of vocational training programs in elderly care and whether specialized curricula for social work professionals in this field improve care outcomes. This could lead to the development of standardized curricula that integrate both technological proficiency and elderly psychological care into social work training.

Sustainable funding models for elderly care: A key area for future research is the financial sustainability of elderly care programs. Researchers should explore the potential for innovative funding models, including public-private partnerships and social impact investments, that can ensure the continuous operation and expansion of services. Investigating how to balance public funding with private sector contributions could provide a more sustainable financial foundation for the elderly care sector.

Study limitations

Data availability and quality: The study’s reliance on data from local departments may limit the accuracy and completeness of the findings, particularly for long-term outcomes.

Limited scope of sample: The focus on Hengyang City may restrict the generalizability of the model to other regions with different demographic or infrastructural characteristics.

Lack of long-term evaluation: A longer-term assessment of the system’s effectiveness and sustainability is needed to determine its ongoing impact.

Technology adoption by elderly users: The study did not delve deeply into the specific barriers that elderly individuals face in adopting and utilizing smart devices, which could affect the model’s overall success.

Resource allocation and financial constraints: Financial sustainability and the allocation of resources for continued system expansion were not fully explored, which may pose a challenge for long-term implementation.

CONCLUSION

The "three social linkage" mechanism in Hengyang City's elderly care model has proven effective in addressing the fragmented service resources through community-driven integration. The application of smart devices, such as wristbands for emergency response, has also improved service efficiency. However, challenges remain, including data-sharing barriers, low utilization of smart technologies, and gaps in professional social work training. To overcome these issues, it is recommended that a city-level coordination mechanism be established for data integration, more accessible smart devices and training programs be introduced, and a sustainable funding model be developed. By addressing these challenges, the city can ensure the long-term success and scalability of its elderly care services.