Challenges of Long-Term Care Provisions for the Elderly in Urban China

Population ageing is one of the most pressing problems around the world, especially in the context of urbanisation and industrialisation. In China, the issue of aged care is particularly complex as the state’s “one child” policy, increased life expectancy, the weakened role of family care and the limitation of formal care provision all interact with one another, thereby exacerbating the problem. This article analyses the challenges of the Chinese traditional care pattern for the elderly, examines the development of long-term care provisions and then discusses the further development of elderly care models in urban China.