Apart from its skyrocketing economy, China faces another kind of
growth - its aging population.
According to a leading scholar in gerontology, the study of
aging, one in every five old people in the world is Chinese.
"By the middle of this century, China will reach the peak of its
aging population of people aged 60 and over amounting to 434
million, 31 percent of the population," Du Peng, chief of the
Institute of Gerontology with Renmin University of China, said.
He made his remark yesterday in Beijing at the ongoing 8th
Asia/Oceania Regional Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, where
more than 1,000 experts from home and abroad have gathered to
discuss the aging problem.
"The main determining factors of the aging society in China
range from a boosted average lifespan, which stands at 72 years old
nationwide, because of improved life quality and healthcare to the
China-unique family planning policy, " Yang Hui, a fellow
researcher with Du told China Daily.
But Du said there were challenges that lay ahead because of the
country's growing aging population.
China currently still lacks a comprehensive and efficient
national system to support the elderly, especially those who have
no income, insurance and children, mostly in countryside.
Despite existing programs funded by the government to subsidize
the economically marginalized and childfree old people both in
cities and vast rural areas, they can hardly make ends meet for
even basic survival, given high medical costs.
Starting this March, such people in the countryside have been
given monthly financial assistance of at least 73 yuan, while their
urban counterparts get more.
"But simply giving money is far from enough as some are partly
disabled from old age and cannot take care of themselves," Du
said.
"The government can purchase services for them from companies
selling household services."
Traditionally, extended family and children, especially in rural
settings, have taken care of older family members.
But that tradition may not last, Du said, and legislation may be
needed to guarantee the rights and benefits of old people.
(China Daily October 23, 2007)