Quantitative evaluation of the central and local community-based home care policy in China based on the PMC Index model

Background: The community-based home care model is a vital strategy and pivotal response against global population aging. However, multidimensional empirical studies that quantitatively evaluate the design and consistency of community-based home care policies are scarce and have left a critical gap in understanding and optimizing CHC policies. Methods: This research introduces a novel evaluative framework combining text mining and the Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) index model to quantitatively assess the consistency and design of 30 Chinese CHCPs issued by central and local government from 2021 to 2024. Results: The study yields two key original findings. First, it empirically identifies a core tension in multi-level governance: high longitudinal consistency coexists with significant horizontal disparities in local policy capabilities. Second, it pinpoints deficiencies in policy nature, content, and timeliness as primary constraints. Conclusion: The study's primary theoretical contribution is to present the first empirical and quantitative analysis of CHCPs from a multidimensional level by using the PMC Index model. The primary practical contribution is that through a multidimensional consistency evaluation, the study offers specific, evidence-based optimized pathways for policymakers to enhance policy coherence as well as effectiveness and to bridge the gap between central planning and local implementation.