Empty nests a social issue

The "empty-nest" elderly have become an increasingly important social issue in China, especially as the population is aging rapidly. By the end of 2011, there were about 185 million people above the age of 60 in China. Almost half of them live independently, according to the third China Urban and Rural Elderly Demographic Situation Tracking Survey released on July 10. Care and support for the elderly is urgently needed nowadays, as many don't see their adult kids very often.

"Grown-up children are required to visit their parents regularly", was written into the draft amendment of the Law on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, which was submitted to the top legislature in June.

However, in an online survey launched by Sohu, a major Chinese Web portal, only a little more than half of the respondents supported the idea of making "visiting parents regularly" a legal duty.

Nobody denies the good intention behind the idea of making visiting parents a legal duty. But the fact is adult children aren't always able to visit their parents frequently. It's not simply a matter of them not wanting to.

China's large-scale population migration is the main reason that adult children are separated from their elderly parents. Data from National Bureau of Statistics show that in 2011, there were 158.63 million people working away from their hometown for more than six months. Migrant workers can hardly afford the expense of visiting their parents frequently. To make a living and support their families many of them have to work overtime and voluntarily give up leave, which makes going back home an extravagant use of time and money.

Also the expansion of college enrollment over the last two decades means more young people have been leaving their hometowns to study, live and work in large and middle-sized cities. Many of them can only visit their parents once a year due to the cost of living and the time needed for returning home. Many employees only have five to 10 days annual holiday. Under such circumstances visiting parents once a year may be the best they can do.

The authorities generally encourage adult children to live with their parents. But the cost of living, high property prices, low-level, unsound and fragmented social security and medical insurance for the elderly prevent many people from taking their parents away from their hometown.

The changes in family structure have also increased the burden of parental care for many. China has implemented a family planning policy nationwide since the 1980s, which has led to the emergence of "4-2-1" or "4-2-2" family units where two adults who are both an "only child" have to support four elders and raise one or two children after they get married. Before the introduction of the family planning policy several siblings would help each other and support their parents.

In a nutshell, visiting parents frequently is a social issue rather than a moral one.

Legal scholars may argue that this amendment can become the legal basis for the elders to protect their rights when their adult children fail to fulfill their obligation of support. But visiting in itself will be of little comfort to the elderly if it is forced rather than voluntary.

From this perspective, making visiting parents frequently a legal duty will not meet the emotional needs of "empty-nest" elderly but will add to the burden on children who are far away from their parents.

There's nothing wrong with advocating and fostering positive social values and traditional virtues, but it requires more than just good intentions. Without the necessary institutional support, even with the best will in the world many people will be unable to take good care of their parents physically and emotionally.

The author is a writer with China Daily. wangyiqing@chinadaily.com.cn