Chinese families face growing care burden as population ages
- While care homes play a key role in countries such as Japan, the sector is hamstrung by a lack of trained staff and affordability problems in China
- A rapidly increasing elderly population and shrinking working-age one are likely to deepen the problem
In Heyuejia, a care home in western Beijing, new residents announced their advanced ages and illustrious former careers to applause from a crowded hall, before tucking into a candle-decorated cake.
Spacious rooms, nutritious food, and activities from calligraphy to art therapy are on offer to residents – largely retired professionals – for around 10,000 yuan (US$1,500) a month. Prices scale with the level of care needed.
Such facilities play a key role in other ageing countries such as Japan. But experts say China’s relative lack of wealth and a dearth of qualified carers has hamstrung the sector, keeping the burden of care on families.
HNA Investment Group opened Heyuejia in 2016 as part of efforts to “respond to China’s ageing crisis,” according to a company statement.
Helped by government subsidies, more than 40,000 registered homes have been built in recent decades. But many are too expensive or too low quality to replace family care, experts say.