'Elderly drifters' find homes away from home

Across China's major cities, a quiet migration known as Lao Piao — literally "elderly drifters" — is unfolding as older adults leave their hometowns to help care for grandchildren in urban households.

Wu Pei, 33, a production manager at a foreign company in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, now has two elderly drifters in her life.

After Wu returned to work from maternity leave at the end of 2021, her mother moved from Anhui province and her mother-in-law from Hunan province to take turns caring for her 4-year-old son. At times, they all live together, reshaping the household's rhythms and serenity.

"Living as three generations under one roof has not always been easy. The older women rely on life experience, while I am guided by modern, science-based parenting ideas. Disagreements over routines, diet or discipline sometimes arise," said Wu.

Yet, over time she has witnessed genuine change. Her 65-year-old mother used her retirement to study childcare and earned a caregiving certificate, while her 63-year-old mother-in-law learned to prepare healthier meals for her grandson.

"It amazes me that they are still willing to learn at this age. Their effort makes me feel deeply grateful, but it also reminds me how much they've given up for us," said Wu.

One incident revealed the depth of her dependence on them. When her son developed a high fever while both grandmothers were away, Wu and her husband struggled to cope.

"That was the first time we truly realized how hard it is to take care of a child on our own. In the middle of the night, we both thought the same thing — without them, we can't do this," said Wu.