Aging Challenges Internationally: Chinese Elderly Face Higher Rate of Poverty

Chinese seniors face more challenges than elders in other countries, accoding to the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.  This first large scale survey of those over age 60 indicated alarming rates of poverty, disability and mental illness in a culture where honoring older people is deeply ingrained. The survey was led by Chineses and international academics and interviewed 17,808 individuals across 28 of China's 31 provinces and was partly funded by the Chinese government through a science foundation.  

Survey Results Indicated:

38.1% Report Difficulty with Daily Activities

40% Showed high Symptoms of Depression

23% of Chinese Living in Poverty are Elderly

38% of Chinese with Disabilities are Elderly

40% of Chinese with Depression are Elderly

88.7% of Chineses Receive Assistance with Activities of Daily Living from Family Members

China has the unique problem of facing serious problems with managing an aging society while having a very large population and still being a poor country.  The U.S.A. has an older population that largely has savings at a much higher percentage than younger Americans.  China will experience a very large older population while still being a developing country.  By year 2050, more than 32 million Americans will be age 80 or older.