Disabled elderly in rural areas need a helping hand

LI MIN/CHINA DAILY China has been facing the challenge of an aging population since the start of the 21st century, with more elderly people living in rural areas while their young children prefer to migrate to urban areas in search of jobs. In the absence of professional elderly care services in rural areas, it falls upon younger family members of these senior citizens to take care of them. Given the relatively smaller family size because of successful family planning measures and as more and more young people migrate to cities in search of work, there are fewer young people left in rural areas to take care of the disabled elderly people. Compared with cities, professional elderly care resources are scarce in rural areas, and the local governments and social organizations do not pay much attention to or provide enough support for disabled elderly people. The family care dilemma of disabled elderly people in rural areas is caused by multiple factors including lack of funds, manpower and social support.