Aim: It is forecasted that the figure of families in China who lost their only child will reach 10 million by 2035. Traditional Chinese culture places these families in a particularly disadvantaged position for elderly care. It is quite important to understand the elderly care needs of the parents.Methods: The cluster sampling method was used to select the parents who lost their only child in Wuhu city, China. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis models were carried out to analyze factors influencing the parents' preferences for elderly care mode and choice of caregivers.Results: The Geriatric Depression Scale score (P < 0.001) was significantly associated with the parents' preferences for elderly care mode. Parents with different sex, marital status and grandchildren status had different preferences for their choice of caregivers. The number of chronic diseases and Geriatric Depression Scale scores were significantly associated with preferences for choice of caregivers.Conclusions: These parents should have a preferential policy of check in to a nursing home and simplify the check-in procedure. The parents should receive prompt for depression and stay in the community for elderly care. The government should guarantee that spouseless parents have priority in enjoying nurse/nursing home worker services. The government should support the development of volunteer services. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 112-117.

Purpose: The number of families who lost their only child was over one million in 2012 in China, and it is growing rapidly every year. Without their only child, they will inevitably worry about their health and life for their later years. It is important to explore the quality of life and influencing factors of the parents.Methods: The cluster sampling method was adopted to select the participants in Wuhu city, Anhui province, central China. The generalized linear regression models were performed to analyze factors influencing EQ-VAS scores.Results: The parents with different monthly income (P = 0.001) and self-rated health status (P &lt; 0.001) had different EQ-VAS scores. Educational level, self-rated health status, number of chronic diseases, depression and having grandchildren were significantly associated with their EQ-VAS score.Conclusion: The government should encourage public medical institutions to provide convenient health management and medical services to this vulnerable group. Priority treatment should be given to the parents who already have multiple diseases. The parents who were depressed should be given timely intervention. The government should give more financial subsidies to the parents who need to raise their grandchildren.