CHINA> National
![]() |
Work-ridden youth caught up in aging China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-23 23:37 BEIJING: Many younger Chinese, dealing with the heavy pressures of contemporary life and work, are finding it hard to play the traditional role of supporting their aged parents, a survey has found. A survey by the China Youth Daily, published Tuesday, drew that response from some 70 percent of 3,144 people surveyed. Of those polled, 65.8 percent were born after 1980 and 23 percent after 1970.
Filial piety has traditionally been the prime virtue in China, and few people have been willing to face the criticism they would incur by sending aged parents to nursing institutions. Du Peng, head of the gerontics studies center of the Renmin University of China, told Xinhua Tuesday that smaller families, higher living and medical costs, a more competitive work environment and longer lifespan were making it harder for young people to nurse the aged. "The government should offer stimulus measures and grant more subsidies to institutions that contribute to the care and support of senior citizens." he said. More than 80 percent of those polled said their ideal way of life was to balance a career and care of their elders; 52.9 percent said they would like to live with their parents. Nearly 25 percent said they would rather live apart from their parents but offer spiritual and material support. Du said that 8.9 percent of those aged above 60 in China, or more than 14 million, were unable to care for themselves while there were only 2.75 million beds in nursing homes. "The development of nursing homes is falling short of the needs of the aging society." he said He called for the promotion of community care for the aged and giving more emphasis to volunteers who could help nurse the aged. With the development of the country's old-age pensions and medical care insurance system, which allows Chinese citizens to pay pension premiums in one place and draw money from another, the problem would be alleviated, he said. |
主站蜘蛛池模板: 东海县| 富民县| 高淳县| 黔江区| 龙川县| 赫章县| 平武县| 襄樊市| 大安市| 吴堡县| 资兴市| 上虞市| 怀来县| 武威市| 临夏县| 佛冈县| 镶黄旗| 延川县| 潍坊市| 包头市| 宜宾市| 柘荣县| 加查县| 革吉县| 马尔康县| 祥云县| 双桥区| 克东县| 昌图县| 准格尔旗| 新龙县| 河源市| 古蔺县| 固始县| 嫩江县| 健康| 马关县| 始兴县| 新邵县| 桦南县| 昭通市|