Transformation And Adaptation Of The Family Lives Of The Elderly In The Cultural Change

Traditional Chinese family is the core of the society, and the starting point of the network development between people. It also maintains the basic force of the whole social cohesion. Filial piety culture and familism outlined the good life picture for the elderly. But as China’s modernization, take-off in economic development and sharp changes of social structure, the diversity of values, the decline of traditional family function, and the great changes in human behavior, the good life picture of elderly family lives also have changed. Therefore, the starting point of this study is the transformation of current family lives of elderly. Previous studies on the elderly’s family life mainly focus on the concrete practice of the family intergenerational relationships, this paper attempts to explore the transformation and adaptation of the family lives of the elderly in the background of the cultural change.We can found that the traditional culture of filial piety and familism protected the elderly in every level. Through literature review and unstructured interviews with elderly people, this paper argues that cultural change in individualism and young-center culture poses challenges for the elderly life. Material arrangement and spiritual practice of family life are changing, traditional family function is declining. Under this transformation, the elderly are seeking adaptation outside the family, such as working and activities. They are building a new picture of the good life of the elderly.Therefore, this paper argues that the establishment of a new good life picture of the elderly needs the aid of social work. It can practice by carrying forward the filial piety, community care and attention to the old value. In general, the elderly are a rich and colorful group. It needs to create a positive cultural background of aging in the future.