Objective To explore the characteristics and evolution of disability prevention policies for the elderly by quantitative analysis and text-mining analysis of disability prevention policy texts for the elderly in China from 1988 to 2024, so as to provide a basis for improving disability prevention policies for the elderly in China. Methods CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and Rost CM6 software were used for bibliometric and text-mining analyses of policy texts related to the elderly disability prevention in China, such as policy quantity, issuing agencies, formats, and thematic changes. Results A total of 111 policy texts were analyzed, with only 5.4% (6/111) specifically focusing on elderly disability prevention. Policy development had 3 stages: 1988-2005, an initial construction phase for the rehabilitation and prevention system, primarily focused on the establishment of fundamental systems for disability rehabilitation and basic institutional development, such as community security; 2006-2015, a goal-oriented phase enhancing disability prevention and social security, particularly targeting fall prevention, chronic disease control, and subsidies for the elderly with disabilities; and 2016-2024, a phase of refined disability prevention strategies and integration with elderly health services, where the focus has increasingly shifted to precise prevention measures and the alignment of disability prevention with elderly health service systems. Conclusion China’s disability prevention policy system and the policy system related to aging health have gradually formed, but the 2 have not been effectively integrated. While universal policies offer public awareness benefits, the lack of pertinent policies limits elderly disability prevention outcomes. It is necessary to introduce more pertinent elderly disability prevention policies.