Publications

- July 1, 2012: Vol. 4, Number 7

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Which Way to Go? China Experiences Senior Housing Woes

by Alex Eidlin

The demographics in China are compelling. Due to the one-child policy implemented decades ago, the seniors cohort of the population has steadily increased while the number of young people to take care of them has declined.

Most of the Asian countries share with China strong family ties and filial feelings and obligations that compel children to take care of their parents. But rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes make it more difficult for grown children to take care of their parents. Traditionally in China, several generations would live under the same roof, with younger family members taking care of the older ones – and taking care of older people was something done by families with established tradition, not involving governments, developers, operators, or any other outsiders. This is not the case anymore, at least not in the cities where young and not-so-young professionals spend most of their time at work trying to take care of both

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