'I'd talk to the TV': The paid companions bringing warmth to China's lonely
Summary
Many elderly people in China feel very lonely as they lose family support or live far from their children. A new service has started where paid companions visit older adults regularly, providing help with daily tasks and emotional support to improve their quality of life.Key Facts
- Yang, a 91-year-old woman near Beijing, experienced severe loneliness after her husband died and considered euthanasia, which is illegal in China.
- Many elderly in Chinese cities feel isolated due to migration of family members and changing social structures.
- Wang Yingwei runs a small business where he and his team visit seniors twice a day, delivering meals and helping with small home repairs.
- The service costs less than half the price of hiring a professional caregiver.
- Yingwei’s team treats elderly clients like family and aims to help seniors live at home instead of moving to nursing homes.
- The industry of paid companions for the lonely elderly in China is valued at around $7.4 billion and is expected to grow.
- Some clients, like Zheng Ruizhi, find these visits uplifting and valuable for companionship and assistance.
- The rise of this loneliness industry reflects wider social changes and challenges in supporting aging populations in China.
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