Study On The Implementation And Influence Factors Of Community Service For Elderly

As the aging population gradually increases and the number of children is constantly fewer, the care of aging people has become an unprecedented challenge in China. According to the report of the 17th National Congress, more importance must be attached to social development on the basis of economic growth to ensure and improve people's livelihood, carry out social restructuring, expand public services, improve social management and promote social equity and justice. We must do our best to ensure that all our people enjoy their rights to old-age care, so as to build a harmonious society. The care of the elderly has become a great livelihood issue from personal and family problems. Whether to solve this issue is related to political stability, social progress and happy life of people. At the beginning of 1987, the concept of Community Service was proposed by Ministry of Civil Affairs for the first time, which also proposed the development goals to establish and improve the community service system. Since then, the community service in China has entered a period of comprehensive development. In August 2000, the Decision on Strengthening the Work of aging by Central Committee and State Council point that in order to improve the functions for the elderly, we should strengthen the community construction, and develop service for elders relying on community. In February 2005, the Notice to Carry out Socialized Demonstration Activities about Care Service for the Aged also clearly states that old-age welfare service system should based on family support and community service. The Government is committed to promote community service for the elderly and encourage social to shoulder part responsibility, which create a favorable policy environment for the development of this service.Based on the theory of sociology and gerontology, this study use standardized sociology empirical research methods. Extracting 4 communities in Changsha as study objects, We establish systematic and objective evaluation index system. Through the sampling questionnaire survey to community service workers and the elderly aged 60 or older, comprehensively, systematically and objectively assess achievements and shortcomings of the urban community services for elderly in life care, medical services, and mental consolation field. Then identify the factors affecting the function, summarize up the successful experience, find out problems existed and try to build up an execution plan which is more scientific and can provide a certain policy advice.The results of this study show that:urban community services carry out well in the field of life care, medical services, and mental consolation. The function is played obviously, which basically meet the demand. The specialization degree of servers, the investment of government, the management of volunteer, all affect this function significantly.In order to urge the this function more effectively, the government should play a leading role in raising the specialization level of community services, strengthening the management of community volunteers. Besides, community service for elderly should be integrated with family care and social-oriented, and then gradually establish welfare systems for elders which base on family care and rely on community service. Finally all people can enjoy their rights to old-age care and social will get long-term stability and harmonious development.