Aging, Living Arrangements, and Housing in China

Abstract

Grounded in a literature review, current living arrangements and housing conditions of the elderly in China are investigated with new empirical evidence. Survey data of September 2009 included a total of 692 Chinese households with a focus on elderly members. Major findings are: (1) living arrangements of the Chinese elderly were diverse, but the majority were living independently, or in “empty nests,” with 67.8% of the respondents not living with their adult children; (2) housing and community facilities for the elderly were inadequate (especially those serving the disabled); (3) no significant group difference was found in the utilization of public facilities by the elderly; (4) the workplace (Danwei) was no longer a dominant source of housing assistance; and (5) housing conditions and property rights as part of the social stratification in China reflected different occupational statuses before retirement.