Aging in China: Implications to Social Policy of a Changing Economic State

Aging in China Implications to Social Policy of a Changing Economic State Sheying Chen and Jason L. Powell, editors China’s elder population is on the rise—at a faster rate than anywhere else on the globe, and with fewer young people to support them. These statistics are of no small importance to a nation growing in economic power and world status, or to those looking to China for a deeper understanding of an aging world. Aging in China examines the current picture and future challenges in light of the steps being taken toward comprehensive elder policy after decades of the One Child Law. Approaching China’s complex social policy landscape through conceptual, theoretical, and empirical perspectives, expert contributors analyze critical issues regarding pensions, long-term care, housing, caregiver burden, care inequities between urban and rural sectors, and the economics of providing for a burgeoning population of older people. Included in the coverage: The development of income security policies for the elderly. Social policy, family support, and rural elder care. Gendered social capital and health outcomes among older adults. An East/West approach to mind-body health among Chinese elders. Family caregiving and its impact on caregiver mental health. The evolution of Chinese nonprofit organizations and elder care homes. As a core resource for nation-specific or comparative study, Aging in China will interest readers across a wide range of disciplines, including gerontologists, sociologists, cross-cultural and health psychologists, and public health policymakers.