Research On The Dilemma Of Elderly Who Lost Their Only Child From The Perspective Of Social Support

Elderly who have lost their only child are a particularly vulnerable demographic,as they often face significant emotional and practical challenges due to the lack of companionship from their child.As such,it is critical that various social forces prioritize providing care and assistance to this group.Despite increased awareness around the unique struggles faced by single-child families,policies and programs specifically designed to assist elderly parents who have lost an only child remain incomplete.To improve the lives of these individuals and ensure that their ongoing needs are met,it is crucial that we establish a comprehensive social support system tailored to their specific circumstances.This research is grounded in social support theory and utilizes a semi-structured interview approach to conduct in-depth interviews with 20 urban elderly individuals who lost their only child in J Street,Beijing.Through the integration and analysis of interviews,it was found that these elderly people who lost their only child encounter various challenges related to survival,living,and development.In terms of survival,they may struggle with feelings of purposelessness,medical concerns,and diseases.As for their living conditions,the group often face psychological stress,economic struggles,and difficulties in receiving proper care.Additionally,they must navigate the challenges of social integration and self-fulfillment in order to achieve personal growth and development.Further research has revealed that seniors residing in urban areas who have lost their only child encounter significant challenges due to a lack of social support.This issue is mainly caused by restricted access to information channels and insufficient policy aid.Unfortunately,community support services may not offer specialized programs or professional assistance tailored to the unique needs of these individuals,further contributing to decreased levels of trust and understanding.Additionally,without their only child’s support,family members are often unable to provide adequate emotional support,resulting in feelings of loneliness and isolation.Moreover,elderly individuals who have lost their only child tend to have distant relationships with their neighbors,which can result in limited opportunities for meaningful connections and supportive relationships.Organizing self-activities for elderly individuals who have lost their only child is challenging due to the limited organizational influence.Furthermore,the volunteer service team may lack expertise which can lead to inconsistencies in the quality of service provided.This study proposes targeted suggestions for enhancing formal and informal social support for elderly people in urban areas who have lost their only child,based on professional methods and knowledge of social work.At the formal level,we recommend that governments increase support efforts and expand policy promotion channels,communities establish a professional community support system and integrate various resources,and social organizations provide professional services and establish stable relationships with these elderly individuals.At the informal level,families should provide material and emotional support to the elderly,neighbors should create an inclusive and friendly atmosphere to expand their social circle,self-organizations should develop by utilizing various resources.Meanwhile,Strengthening volunteer teams’ construction can enhance the level of support services.By collaborating from multiple parties as mentioned above,it is possible to effectively improve urban social support systems for elderly individuals who have lost their only child and address the challenges they face.