China has ended its controversial one-child policy, and now couples can have two children in the most populated country in the world. However the consequences of this 36-year law are expected to have drastic ramifications on the aging population. China is a country with a culture that prides itself on children respecting and taking care of their parents. China’s aging population is growing, and it’s projected that almost 12% of the population in 2020 will be at least 65 years of age. With a total population of around 1.36 billion, or roughly one-fifth of the earth’s population, it doesn’t take long to see how the numbers will affect aging parents who only have one child.
Some issues at hand are the disproportionate number of males born versus females. TheNational Statistics Bureau reports in 2009, of every 118 males born in China, only 100 females were born. Critics of the one child law attribute this to gender discrimination, which influences widespread female infanticide, and sex selective abortions. Currently there are about 9-Million more boys than girls in China. In this patriarchal nation, the role of caretaker is considered primarily a female position, but with the disproportionate gender gap, it is yet to be seen how Chinese culture will cope when the situation.
Giving it perspective, when a man’s parents both age, care will be needed. How will the child continue to work and take care of two parents? On a culture level, will he be willing and able to embrace this traditionally feminine role in a patriarchal society? Remember an only son would mostly likely have one child himself, so there could be a shortfall in additional family backing. It’s a classic case of too much care and not enough support. What’s more troubling, is it’s likely his wife will be facing the same situation. Whether it’s a man or a women, with very few exceptions, there is a 36-year period of “only childs” that will be hit with an unprecedented generational burden.
The bottom line is China will be facing an increased need for long-term care for their seniors. And there is simply not enough offspring support that is traditionally available to parents. One would expect that the idea of a child taking care of his or her parents, is going to be a much different vision in the coming decades.
What will China do? As a communist country one would expect the government to fund a solution to this upcoming problem. Now more than ever, Assisted Living Facilities, Home Care, Nursing Homes and other companies involved in the senior care industry could be of great need throughout this Asian powerhouse when the parents of the “one-child” generation begins to reach the age of care.
For companies seeking to grow internationally, it makes sense that this would be the time for long-term care industry to branch out more aggressively to the Chinese, and expand their senior care to the far east. The need for more care will be coupled with the need for qualified executives and management to run these facilities. Senior Care Recruiting Firms could begin to play a large role in assisting the Chinese with future long term care issues.
MedBest Healthcare Recruiting Firm CEO Julie Rupenski, has noticed a trend in the Chinese attending more national senior care conferences. Rupenski has been an executive in both the long term healthcare and the recruiting world for over 25 years. Rupenski says she recently spoke with a Chinese businessman who wants to open an Assisted Living Center in the United States. “His plan is to learn the operational aspect of the business and bring that knowledge back to China.” Rupenski also noted a recruiting firm who’s hired an an executive to manage senior care properties in China. “For the first time, I am seeing Chinese companies show interest in how we manage and run our Assisted Living Facilities and Independent Living Communities. They are beginning to show an interest in senior care recruiters.”
Rupenski spent decades in the senior care industry before becoming a recruiter. “It’s imperative to hire an experienced team of executives when you are first developing an ALF. It’s an area of business that Americans are good at, and that’s profitable. It makes sense to want to emulate a successful industry. I believe at the very least, we will see senior care recruiting firms begin to act as consultants to the Chinese. And as the business world continues to grow on an international level, I expect Chinese and American partnerships to develop within Senior Care.”
The story is yet to be told how China will adapt to their growing elderly population with a lack of offspring to assist in senior care. But with this issue on the horizon it makes sense that companies involved in long-term healthcare will see this as a potential opportunity to expand their expertise internationally.
Author: Leslee Lacey, MedBest Public Relations
Print Page
RSS
Blog Home
All Blogs
