Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the evolution of aging support in China. The findings showed that (1) aging support from 1949–1977 emphasized the responsibility of the family and enterprises; (2) from 1978–2000, government and market responsibility emerged with the shift from a planned economy to a market-oriented economy; and (3) from 2001 onward, a development of social welfare for the elderly was undertaken by the government, but this includes a shared responsibility involving the market, society, family, and individuals. Based on these findings, the responsibility for aging support formed a dynamic V-shaped welfare evolution. This V-shaped welfare responsibility, especially in family support, is sustainable in China and other similar countries around the world.
Highlights
The total population of China was 542 million when the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949
In response to the crisis of shortage in aging services due to the ageing population, China’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2016–2020) explores the possibilities of creating a long-term care insurance (LTCI) system, such as those implemented in the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and Korea, which socialize the costs of long-term care services and medical treatments for the elderly
The V-shaped social welfare responsibility theory should be subject to further study as the transformation of economies and social structures continues
Summary
The total population of China was 542 million when the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. By 1959, the proportion of the elderly aged 65 and over in the total population was 3.85%. In response to the crisis of shortage in aging services due to the ageing population, China’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2016–2020) explores the possibilities of creating a long-term care insurance (LTCI) system, such as those implemented in the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and Korea, which socialize the costs of long-term care services and medical treatments for the elderly. China’s traditional elder care was based on the “feedback mode”, which required adult children and family members to be responsible for the care of their older parents [2]. As elder care evolved from being a responsibility of the family to a social risk, the government had to assume the responsibility for elder care. The change in China’s aging policy evolved along with those responsible for elder care
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