China is encouraging communities to provide services for the
elderly, as pressure grows on retirement homes and individual
families.
"Community services can be easily organized in neighborhoods
where residents have friendly relations and tend to help each
other," said Guo Ping, deputy director of the China Research Center
on Aging.
He suggested communities set up special teams to pay regular
visits to the elderly at home, offering cleaning, laundry and
medical care services.
According to Guo, there are now more than 143 million Chinese
seniors aged over 60. They represent 11 percent of the country's
total population and account for half of the total grey population
in Asia and 20 percent worldwide.
But only 1.2 million beds are available in China's 380,000
retirement homes. In other words, there are only 8 beds for every
1,000 elderly people, far less than the 50 to 70 beds in developed
countries.
Some elderly people, with only small pensions, cannot afford
retirement homes, which may charge 1,300 yuan to 1,600 yuan
(US$165-200) per month.
Seniors left at home feel the "nest is empty" with children too
busy with their work or moving to other cities.
"The community can give them day care or even offer
around-the-clock services, which will free them from loneliness and
help solve their difficulties," said an official surnamed Li in
Beijing's Yuetan neighborhood committee office.
His neighborhood has put together files on all the elderly
people over 60 and appointed special service teams to provide them
with medical care and nursing.
"Our team members also read books and newspapers to them, and
accompany them on shopping trips and to hospital. Clubs in the
community also offer them free classes on calligraphy, painting,
English language, singing and knitwork," Li said.
Though charged a moderate sum, the elderly are happy to accept
these services in a familiar neighborhood they have lived in for
decades, he said.
Deeply influenced by the traditional value that children should
support their elderly parents and guarantee them a happy life, many
Chinese seniors are reluctant to leave home and live in retirement
homes.
However, with many Chinese families now having a "four parents,
one couple and one child" structure, young people are shouldering a
heavier burden supporting the elderly.
Experts recommend that senior citizens live at home and be taken
care of by their communities. It is a solution that suits China's
situation and its traditions.
(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2006)