Ensuring person and family-centered social and health care services is emerging as a key priority for health and human services globally. Shanghai, a city of 24 Million people, is aging more rapidly than the rest of China, the country with the largest older adult population in the world. Indeed, Shanghai’s aging population currently matches the total population of the Metro Chicago area. Shanghai is testing and culturally adapting models of services and care from around the world as they plan for the future.

Since 2014, CSCI Social Service Exchange has engaged with Shanghai in a mutual yearly exchange of experts in the field of aging. Our goal to learn from each other about best practices, policies and research. This October, eight delegates from Chicago, experts in elder law, social work, geriatrics, clinical care, health professions’ education, research and social services, including housing, travelled to Shanghai to engage with health and social services leaders, tour community based social/health centers, public and private housing, and to exchange knowledge and ideas about policies, financing, health workforce development and research.

This ASA roundtable will highlight what we have learned from our colleagues in Shanghai that may be adaptable to Chicago.