A volunteer assists an elderly resident as she walks to her dorm at the Lingyanshan Buddhist Nursing Home in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

In 2014, the administration convened a national conference on the issue, but no detailed regulations or policies have yet been issued.

Jin said that, depending on their size, some officially recognized homes are eligible for government subsidies, but the application process is long and tortuous, and many religious institutions fear they would have to spend time and energy dealing with a range of government departments if they register.

"We are different from other nursing homes, so the standards should be different. As long as we are doing OK financially, we would rather keep the home our own," he said.

That's exactly how Cao, the elderly Lingyanshan resident, likes it. She has lived at the home for three years, but her family visits frequently from Shanghai, a 30-minute train ride away.

"I love my home, my children and my grandchildren. I talk to them on the phone sometimes, but when I hang up, I just let it go. I don't think about them too much," she said.

"I don't have many concerns anymore. I enjoy inner peace. All I want is to spend my life here in peace until the very end."