Can China afford rapid aging?

Abstract

China’s rapid aging has caused widespread concern, but it seems that the situations and consequences of rapid aging are not adequately acknowledged. This study analyzed the problem of ageing in China from the aspects of elderly people’s health status, income source, daily care, suicide, the weak social security system in terms of pension, health expenses, and long-term care costs as well as incoming accelerating ageing process in China. All these factors indicate that it is difficult for China to afford the issue of a rapidly aging population.

Preventative care utilization and associated health‐related measurements among older adults following the 2009 health reform in China

“…The rapid growth of the elderly population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases are strongly related . The associated health care costs of older adults also will increase . Regarding all chronic diseases, it has been projected that the total health expenditure will grow from 261.5 million Yuan RMB to 462.3 million yuan RMB in 2005 and 2030, respectively …”

The Tsinghua–Lancet Commission on Healthy Cities in China: unlocking the power of cities for a healthy China

“…10,44 The pace of population ageing in China has been even faster than that in most developed countries. 45 Projected fertility rates and expected population age structures show that, in the decades to come, most older people in China will live in urban areas. By 2030, around 207 million people aged 65 years or older are projected to live in urban areas, compared with 52 million in 2010; 93 million people will live in rural areas by 2030, compared with 67 million in 2010.…”

“…Health expenditure on elderly people as a percentage of GDP increased from 2·1% in 1993 to 3·4% in 2013. 45 Notably, rising health costs have substantially burdened older people. For example, the average monthly pension for 79·74 million retired enterprise workers was ¥2200 ($354) in 2015.…”

“…The 2010 census estimated that there were 6·32 million households of people aged 65 years or older who lived alone in urban areas. 45 The situation is more severe in large cities. In Beijing, 50% of empty-nest families and 80% of healthy retired urban residents live alone.…”

Design and Voluntary Motion Intention Estimation of a Novel Wearable Full-Body Flexible Exoskeleton Robot

“…The number of China's elderly and disabled people had reached 260 million at the end of 2014, China's rapid aging has caused widespread concern, and it is difficult for China to afford the issue of a rapidly aging population [1]. Additionally, the number of hemiplegic and paraplegic patients and people with walking difficulties increased year by year.…”