Study On The Various Ways Of Caring For The Urban Empty-nest Elderly

At present,the aging problem in China is becoming more serious.The empty-nesters in cities are facing pressure from various aspects such as economy,health,medical care,and spiritual sustenance,which means they urgently need the support of a diversified society.Although China has initially established a diversified pension service system,there are still various problems.That is to say,in general,although China has made significant achievements in diversified social pension,the pension service system is still in the initial stage,and some new models still need practicability tests through further practice and exploration.The research on the diversified pension scheme for empty-nesters in urban communities can promote the development of the old-age care service in our country and help improve the mental and psychological health of the empty-nesters,thus improving their quality of life.Such research can promote the harmony between generations in the empty-nester families,improve primary governance,ease social conflicts,and maintain stability.At present,China's diversified pension service system for urban empty-nesters has been gradually established.The main pension models designed for these people are family support,home-based care in the community,institutional pension scheme,combining medical support and nursing,etc.The investigation and questionnaire survey of the Yajuyuan community in Jinan has shown that empty-nesters in urban communities mainly need economic support,life care,medical care,emotional comfort,etc.The current diversified old-age care service,however,cannot meet these needs well.The main problems are lack of resources for family care for the elderly due to the declining birth rate in the society;unbalanced supply of community home care services,with single practice and backward process;lack of institutional pension supply and service satisfaction;and popularization of the current model of combiningmedical support and nursing being limited by economic conditions.Besides,the empty-nesters in urban communities need more attention.Therefore,it is suggested that the following measures be adopted to improve the diversified old-age care service for these empty-nesters.We should carry forward the culture of filial piety and respect for the elderly and consolidating the primary significance of family support.We should focus on the development of home-based care in the community.We should integrate and coordinate various resources from the government and society to provide old-age care service in multiple ways.We should achieve multi-department cooperation to facilitate the development and perfection of combining medical support and nursing.We should build a reasonable and multileveled division of labor by coordinating various ways of old-age care.The government should provide essential care and support for the empty-nesters who have lost their only child.Moreover,we should create an information platform for the elderly and a decision-making mechanism based on statistical analysis with big data to provide accurate and in-place services for urban empty-nesters.