As part of our mission to put carents on the map, we are exploring life for the carenting generation globally. This week the focus is on China.
Across the UK currently, there are around 30 ‘Centres for Ageing’ all working towards facilitating a ‘healthy’ progression of life. Several of these centres identify the value of learning from ageing communities globally and with this in mind, we have been exploring how carenting varies internationally.
There are multiple dimensions to ageing and although biological factors are important, social and economic factors play a key role in the care landscape. This is especially well illustrated in China.
China is predicted to see 26% of its population above 65yrs by 2025, compared to 18% in England. This demographic shift is the result of stringent government family planning: China’s one-child policy (1979-2015). Whilst couples were ‘recommended’ to have one child to counteract overpopulation and limited resources, the desired decrease in birth rate has left China today at a loss of working population and funds to care for a huge elderly demographic.
Currently home-based familial assistance is the primary source of care for elders in China, whether it be a spouse or adult child, primarily female carents were recorded to provide 77% of care in 2013. With the goal of keeping public financing low and a target for 90% of care to be provided by carents, the state has been seen to play with the value of traditional filial piety as far as making it a law.
Under the ‘’Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly People’’ adult children are legally reminded to be responsible and the main providers of support for their parents whether it be physically, financially or emotionally. This may include something as simple as a reminder to visit, or in some notably extreme interpretations outside the law, companies automatically sending a percentage of their employee’s wage directly into their parent’s bank account. As to the effect of such interference within the private family dynamic, it is unquantifiable, yet could in all possibility unsettle an already precarious balance of caring being an honour or an obligation for a carent.
What does the future hold for a carent in China? In the realisation that if a carent is to be a sustainable resource and considering the wellbeing of all involved, ideas including basic healthcare training programmes or paid vacation to provide care have been suggested. In addition, methods albeit vague are to be introduced to incorporate carent self-care. These would be in place to combat the common yet notably overlooked feeling of resignation towards an unhealthy ageing future and an unhappy next generation carent.
This article uses information from the following sources:
BBC, 2015. China chain imposes ‘filial piety tax’ on employees A
Glinskaya, E. & Feng, Z., Editors. 2018. Options for Aged Care in China: Building an Efficient and Sustainable Aged Care System. Directions in Development. Washington, DC: World Bank.
National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA) 2024
Centre for Ageing Better – The State of Ageing 2023-4