Study on the Issues of Home-based Elderly Care for Urban Empty-nest Elderly

Mainland China accounts for 19.27% of the world's population.By the end of 2017,its population aged 60 and above constituted 25% of the world's elderly population,making it the country with the largest elderly population globally.The family planning policy has led to changes in the social and family structure,shifting from the widespread pursuit of four-generation households to a "4-2-1" family structure (four grandparents,two parents,one child).This has exacerbated the phenomenon of "empty nest" elderly.For these seniors,the optimal and most affordable way of aging is to stay in a familiar environment,and home-based elderly care best meets these requirements.Currently,China's urbanization process is advancing rapidly both economically and in terms of social welfare development.However,this process has simultaneously triggered social issues of empty nesting and population aging.The following conclusions are drawn:(1) The contradiction between the supply and demand of urban home-based elderly care services is becoming increasingly prominent,and government institutional policies are inadequate.These problems exist due to difficulties in raising funds for elderly care services; weak infrastructure of community service facilities; slow development of market operation mechanisms; and inadequate transformation of government functions.(2) This paper analyzes and summarizes case studies and experiences of community-based elderly care from the United States,the United Kingdom,and Japan,thereby proposing countermeasures and suggestions for improving home-based care for urban empty nest elderly in China.