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November 18, 2014

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Growing dilemma over care for seniors

By Wu Huixin | November 18, 2014, Tuesday | Print Edition

TWO “empty nesters” in Jiaxing of Zhejiang Province were found dead in their home by their son last month. An autopsy later showed the man had been dead for 10 days due to electric shock while his wife, who had dementia, died of starvation and dehydration.

The son encountered fierce social criticism because he hadn’t contacted his parents for nearly three weeks before he went home and found them dead.

The deaths have caused a stir across the country and shined a spotlight on the situation of empty nester, which means a parent whose children have all grown up and left home.

According to an online survey on tencent.com, 58 percent of respondents said their parents are empty nesters because they live in different cities.

Similar cases have occurred in recent years. Four Hangzhou empty nesters died due to various accidents in their homes last summer.

There are now more than 8.97 million people older than 60 in Zhejiang Province, accounting for 18.6 percent of the population.

The number is expected to reach 11.86 million in 2020.

This puts pressure on families as society is changing. For people who were born before the one-child policy was launched in the late 1970s, the responsibility of providing for old parents has been shared by siblings, which in return reduces the burden of care.

“When my mother was suffering from cancer three years ago, my sisters and I looked after her in shifts, therefore I didn’t get so tired,” said Zhang Huazheng, a 49-year-old Hangzhou native.

However, for an only child, taking care of elderly parents can be very taxing, especially when they don’t live in the same city.

“I work in Shanghai and will probably continue living there in future. I cannot figure out what to do if my parents get sick someday. This might be the biggest family problem faced by my generation,” said Zhang Yun, daughter of Zhang Huazheng.

Living with children and grandchildren is traditionally considered the greatest happiness by Chinese people. However societal changes mean young people now often prefer having more privacy and living separately. Meanwhile, even some parents are realizing it’s better to live apart from their grown children.

“Children have their own lifestyle. Living together can produce family conflicts,” said Zhang Huazheng. “I would choose to live in a senior home if I cannot look after myself any longer.”

Others feel the same, which puts pressure on the government to provide more facilities for seniors.

Since Hangzhou No. 3 Welfare House opened last August and already has a long-waiting list as its 2,000 beds were filled immediately. Another 2,000 seniors are on the welfare house’s waiting list.

According to the Hangzhou Elderly Service Association, the city has 1.35 million people older than 60 and only 90 senior homes.

Business Daily published a survey this month in which more than 50 percent of respondents said they would not live in a gerocomium when they get old.

“I won’t let my parents live in one of those homes. First, children who send parents to such homes are considered unfilial. Second, I don’t trust the service at those welfare houses,” said Zhang Yun.

Her concerns are not groundless.

In recent years, several scandals involving nurses abusing old people have been exposed in the media, arousing public condemnation and in return making people like Zhang Yun distrust such facilities.

Meanwhile more seniors want better service and privacy, but most senior homes are unable to meet such requirements.

To cater to elders, some real estate developers have started building residential blocks that include a rehabilitation center with medical services and professional nurses. More than 100 communities targeting elders will be established across the province in the future.

However, these complexes have an average housing price of 15,000 yuan per square meter, in addition to monthly service fee of 2,500 yuan to 3,200 yuan. Most families can not afford the high expense. Thus such buildings are only for the wealthy. Most seniors need a combination of care from their family and the community.

In July, Hangzhou Zhalongkou Community invested 2 million yuan to equip infrared detecting devices in the homes of empty nesters. The equipment sounds an alarm if no movement is detected for more than 12 hours. While the idea is sound, again the cost may be prohibitive. Only with government support can such an idea be used on a wider scale.

Other high-tech equipment like smart wristbands can be worn by seniors so they can get help quickly if something happens.

To deal with the problem of providing for the aged, the Zhejiang government in April released its so-called 9643 concept. It means 96 percent of elders live with their children, 4 percent live in a senior home and 3 percent receive a government pension. This shows the government believes family members are still expected to be the main provider of care.

“An aging population is scary, but it would be scarier if government departments don’t do anything to deal with it,” says a netizen identified as 5Moscow.

Hangzhou


 

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