China will see its first peak in aging population growth in 2013, as the number of elderly will exceed 200 million for the first time, a new report predicts.

People aged 60 and over in China will increase to 202 million in 2013 from 194 million by the end of 2012, or increase to 14.8 percent from 14.3 percent of the total population, according to the report released on Wednesday by the China Research Center on Aging.

China stepped into an aging society in 1999, and now has entered into an accelerating period, which has brought many social concerns.

"Senility, the disabled elderly and empty-nesters will be severe challenges for China," said Wu Yushao, head of the center, at a news briefing.

According to the report, China has more than 36 million elderly people who cannot look after themselves, and the figure is expected to be rise to 37.5 million in 2013. There is a general expectation that they should be looked after in nursing homes.

However, China is lacking facilities. Beds in nursing homes totaled 3.9 million in 2012, with 20.5 beds in per thousand senior citizens, the report says. The 21st Century Business Herald reports that in China, only 15 percent of private pension institutions can offer the service of rehabilitation nursing.

Nursing homes often refuse to accept those people because they are worried about taking responsibility if something happen to them, said Dang Junwu, deputy head of the center, at a news briefing on Wednesday.

“Nursing homes are willing to take them because they can make a lot of money,” Dang said. “But they don’t dare to. If something happen to those old people, they cannot afford the compensation.”

Also, empty-nesters added up to 99 million in 2012 and will exceed 100 million this year, the report reveals. Elderly with chronic diseases will exceed 100 million in 2013 from 97 million in 2012, it says.

The report also highlights defects in infrastructure in many cities. The 21st Century Business Herald said that 70 percent of old buildings where urban old people live in aren’t equipped with elevators, which is a serious problem for any those that might have a hard time getting around.

“The whole society has weak acknowledgment of aging,” said Wu, the center head. “Those apartments were built many years ago. At that time, people weren't even aware of this problem.”

In order to cope with an aging society, 3.1 billion yuan ($493.3 million) has been allocated to a pilot program to set up the social service system for the elderly, according to the report.

China has also revised laws to guarantee pension insurance for people in both rural and urban areas.