民政部等七部门近日联合发布关于加强养老机构预收费监管的指导意见，鼓励养老机构采用当月收取费用的方式，并规定养老服务费预收的周期最长不得超过12个月。
A guideline on regulating prepayment for elderly care services has been issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and six other departments lately. The guideline encourages providing elderly care services through monthly payment. When prepayment is involved, it says, the maximum prepayment period for elderly service fees should not exceed 12 months.
【知识点】
养老机构预收费是指养老机构提前向老年人或者其代理人收取一定额度费用，并承诺在一定时间内，按照服务协议约定提供相应养老服务的行为。养老机构预收的费用主要包括养老服务费、押金和会员费。养老服务费是指床位费、照料护理费、餐费等费用；押金是指为老年人就医等应急需要、偿还拖欠费用、赔偿财物损失等作担保的费用；会员费是指养老机构以“会员卡”“贵宾卡”等形式收取的，用于老年人获得服务资格、使用设施设备、享受服务优惠等的费用。
近年来，一些养老机构采取预收费方式运营，一定程度缓解了设施建设资金不足等问题，纾解了运营压力。但是，也有少数养老机构出现了资金管理使用不规范，资金链断裂后“退费难”“爆雷”“跑路”等问题，甚至有的不法分子实施非法集资、诈骗等犯罪行为，严重损害老年人合法权益，扰乱养老服务市场秩序。
为此，民政部、国家发展改革委、公安部、财政部、中国人民银行、市场监管总局、金融监管总局联合发布关于加强养老机构预收费监管的指导意见，自2024年10月1日起施行，有效期5年。其中提到，主要目标是，2025年前，建立健全跨部门养老机构预收费监管工作机制，协同监管进一步优化，预收费资金监测预警、风险隐患排查和违法违规行为的处置能力有效提升，养老服务市场更加公平有序，非法集资风险隐患有效减少，老年人对养老服务消费的满意度稳步提高。
【函电贺词】
我们的目标很宏伟，也很朴素，归根到底就是让老百姓过上更好的日子。孩子的抚养教育，年轻人的就业成才，老年人的就医养老，是家事也是国事，大家要共同努力，把这些事办好。现在，社会节奏很快，大家都很忙碌，工作生活压力都很大。我们要营造温暖和谐的社会氛围，拓展包容活跃的创新空间，创造便利舒适的生活条件，让大家心情愉快、人生出彩、梦想成真。
Our goal is both inspiring and simple. Ultimately, it is about delivering a better life for the people. Our children should be well taken care of and receive good education. Our young people should have the opportunities to pursue their careers and succeed. And our elderly people should have adequate access to medical services and elderly care. These issues matter to every family, and they are also a top priority of the government. We must work together to deliver on these issues. Today, in our fast-paced society, people are all busy and face a lot of pressure in work and life. We should foster a warm and harmonious atmosphere in our society, expand the inclusive and dynamic environment for innovation, and create convenient and good living conditions, so that the people can live happy lives, bring out their best, and realize their dreams.
——2023年12月31日，习近平发表的二〇二四年新年贺词
【相关词汇】
家庭养老床位
home-based care beds for senior citizens
银发经济
silver economy
养老院
nursing home
