0 Humanitarian measures: Chinese Government Acts for Aged People

Published by Tom Hopkins on November 4th 2011 and viewed times  

While learning Mandarin and studying abroad in China, you will notice that there is a marked prevalence of old people in a typically Chinese society. It is not that generations of old people, in other parts of the world, have been written off, but only in China, you will find the harmonious coexistence of three generations under the same roof.

In China, the concept of nuclear family in still modern and hence, is hard to come to terms with. In most Chinese families, two members are old. The elderly population is steadily on the rise and it is estimated that one-eighth of the Mandarin population is over the age of sixty and half of them are said to live on their own. Latest statistics reveal that one hundred and sixty seven million people are above the age of sixty and one million have crossed the age of eighty. As a part of our Chinese language programs, you can opt to stay with local Chinese homestay families, where you will have the opportunity to interact with the elderly members and observe their lifestyle. This is will definitely lend a new dimension to your study abroad experience, as you will get an insight into the social dynamics that exist amongst the old people in China.

There are several disadvantages of the Chinese one-child policy, one of which is: not a lot of Chinese youths are willing to step up to the challenge of caring for the elderly members of their family. This is because most of them are too busy with their own careers, following the economic explosion in China. This is one the major flipsides of the rapid growth and industrialization of the country that has been blatantly overlooked over the years.

In the event of innumerable deaths of old people, who died in their homes lonely and totally unnoticed, amendments were made in the existing Law of Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Aged. It came into effect in the year of 1996. According to the enforced law, it is a legal duty of people to visit their elderly parents. The Chinese government and volunteer organizations are working hand in hand in order to eradicate this problem.

One-Child policy has definitely brought the birth-rate down by one third than what it used to be, thirty years back. Perhaps that is why today lesser number of young men and women are available to take care of their elderly relatives.

Though more and more people are falling back on retirement homes, which have become functional in major urban cities, they only cater to the needs of a handful few of the population- the wealthier mass. There are many people over the age of eighty, who are living off their savings in abject poverty.

While learning Chinese in China, you will be happy to know that the government is seriously considering the welfare of the senior citizens and is even willing to splurge millions on care homes, which will provide the elderly population the best care possible. As an integral part of their human-rights agenda, young people have to regularly visit their elderly relatives, so that they do not feel neglected and isolated.

Article Source:
http://www.articlepool.com/language-articles/humanitarian-measures-chinese-government-acts-for-aged-people-633280.html
Rate this article:

Total Vote: 0, Rating: 0/5
Tom Hopkins - About Author:
Minds Abroad is your informed counselor for study abroad language programs in China. Learn Mandarin in China and enrich your cross-cultural experience. For more posts and information on places of cultural and historical interest that we take our students to, visit www.mindsabroad.com

Comments (0)
Post a Comment