In November 2005, I was invited to travel to China as part of a People-to-People Ambassador Program delegation on aging. Jeanette C. Takamura, former Assistant Secretary on Aging, led the delegation,which included representatives from area agencies on aging, state units on aging, senior advocates, nurses and social workers. We visited hospitals, senior housing and social welfare homes in Beijing, Shanghai and Guiyang, engaging in a professional exchange about aging and healthcare.
China’s elderly population is the fastest growing in the world. By 2020 the number of people over 60 will nearly double to 240 million. Currently 14.2 million people are over 80 and there are 17,000 centenarians. Here an elder celebrates his birthday at the Beijing Song tang Caring Hospital.
China faces many challenges. The development of senior programs and housing lags behind the enormous need. Less than one-third of China’s 1.3 billion people have health insurance and few services are available in rural areas where many elders live.
The people of China really honor seniors and their contribution to society.The government encourages seniors to keep learning. It’s common to see classes with people in their 80s and 90s. Children have a legal responsibility to care for their parents. If an elder is without family, the government guarantees food, shelter, clothing, basic medical care and burial.
One of the things that impressed me most was how affectionate young people are both toward each other and toward elders. Young people also seem to enjoy being with the elderly. It was refreshing to see these positive attitudes.
Marion Karpinski, RN
Health Care Educator