Shanghai authorities plan to trial a "senior care counselor" system at community centers to provide better services for the elderly, a senior civil affairs official said yesterday. Staff workers at community-based comprehensive senior care service centers will be trained to provide consulting services on senior-related service facilities, senior care programs, long-term nursing insurance and senior service subsidies for the elderly from next month in the trial, Zhu Qinhao, director of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, said. They will also recommend the most suitable senior care services and items for the elderly, and the program is expected to roll into neighborhood and village committees at a later date.