To investigate and analyze the post demand of elderly caregivers in tertiary and secondary level hospitals so as to provide a basis for reasonable allocation, selection and employment, training and development as well as performance evaluation of elderly caregivers.

From July 2017 to August 2017, we carried out cross-sectional study in 910 head-nurses, backbone nurses, elderly caregivers, patients and their family members of age-related departments from 12 provincial and municipal hospitals in China by group sampling. We analyzed the base situation, content and competence for a post of elderly caregivers as well as put forward the problems existed in this post.

There were statistical differences in ages, education, vocational qualification, wages among elderly caregivers of secondary level hospitals and tertiary level hospitals (P<0.001) . The percentage of subjects in the core competence "interpersonal communication skills" of elderly caregivers was the highest accounting for 100.00%. In quality requirement, the percentage of subjects towards "cherishing post and devoting to work" was the highest accounting for 98.08%. Sujects' job identification of elderly caregivers revealed that the highest percentage was in life caring (94.23%) .

There is a gap in staffing, personnel quality, job requirements and subjects' expectation. We should strengthen training for elderly caregivers in basic nursing, operation skill and professional quality so as to adapt "treatment and care combination" pension service model.

Data collection; Hospitals; Elderly caregivers; Post demand