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Analysis of Participation Willingness and Influencing Factors of Rural Mutual Aid-based Elderly Care

Author(s)

Wenxiu Zhou*

Affiliation(s)

University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China *Corresponding author

Abstract

Since the early 21st century, China has entered an aging society, with the degree of population aging continuing to intensify. According to the Seventh National Population Census data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, individuals aged 60 and above accounted for 21.1% of the total population, while those aged 65 and above constituted 15.4%. This demographic shift coincides with significant socio-familial changes. The legacy of the family planning policy has led to sustained fertility decline, resulting in smaller family sizes dominated by nuclear families and a rise in the prevalence of the "4-2-1" family structure (four grandparents, two parents, one child). Concurrently, increased social mobility, particularly the migration of younger labor from less developed regions to first-tier and mega-cities, has resulted in prolonged physical separation between generations. Consequently, the traditional family-based system for providing elderly care is increasingly inadequate, leading to deficits in daily living assistance, emotional support, and care during illness for older adults. Faced with this deepening population aging and the marked decline in the capacity for traditional familial eldercare, there is an urgent need for greater societal involvement in supporting the elderly population.

Keywords

Mutual Aid for Elderly Care; Elderly Care Needs; Influence Factor

References

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