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Outpatient care for the elderly in China

Stand: 31.05.2018 - FORUM Vocational Training, Dr. Ing. Helmut Riethmüller

In the People's Republic of China, there are currently about 150 million old people over the age of 60 years. This is the current retirement age for men, in some women it is still 50 (!). The number of old people is growing exponentially and is expected to reach a staggering 340 million senior citizens in 2050. That's almost as many seniors as most of the EU population (as of 2019: 512 million people).

Accordingly, due to demographic and social developments, the area of elderly care in China will inevitably change strongly in terms of both quality and quantity. The reasons for this are:

  1. As a result of the (now abandoned) one-child policy, 1 married couple2 people have to look after 4 grandparents and their own children.
  2. The average life expectancy is also rising in China.
  3. Previous familial care structures, especially in rural areas, are becoming more and more thin.
  4. Public care structures have to be developed or expanded one way or the other.

Basically, it should be considered that development speeds in China are much greater than in Europe and especially in Germany. Examples of this are the incredibly rapid growth of Chinese cities, the establishment of a global marketable industry and the establishment of modern infrastructure. However, development in the social field has not kept pace, which has an impact on the relevant area of care for the elderly. A relevant legislation is not available, nor a Altenpflegeversicherung and structures of an outpatient home care. However, once the Chinese state has recognized and recognized a need for action, very rapid developments and changes can occur. Otherwise, the rapid overall development of the country can not be explained.

According to recent information from China (AHK Shanghai) since the fall of 2015, such a development process begins. As a result, the results and experiences made in this project can quickly become obsolete. Nevertheless, the described entry into the field of elderly care in China with its enormous dimensions (probably 340 million senior citizens in the year 2050) is of the highest social, developmental and also scientific interest.

In terms of content, an important future development is already named here, which is equally important for Germany, Europe and China. The aging of society can not only be counteracted by the further expansion of care services. A change in our picture of aging is essential. The high number of senior citizens will have to lead a more active and healthier life - and also have to make a contribution to society beyond the so-called age limit. The third phase of life will no longer be a time of gradual and then progressive degradation, but a time of fulfillment and participation, before the fourth phase begins as a rapid decay phase. Europe may still be able to learn a lot from China.