Book Review: Aging in World History

A book review of Aging in World History

Book Review: Evolving Eldercare in Contemporary China: Two Generations, One Decision

A book revie

Economic Reform and Intergenerational Relationships in China

The process of modernization in China is occurring in a context of rapid population ageing—the reverse of the sequence in the West—and presents serious challenges to the tradition of reliance on family and work unit support. This paper examines the impact of post-Mao economic reform, including the de-collectivization of agriculture, the loosening of restrictions on migration, and housing and enterprise reform, on the support systems of China's elderly. Delivering family support has become increasingly problematic, and researchers and policy-makers have begun urging the Chinese government to take practical steps to alleviate the situation. They point out that most children are doing whatever they can, but that the financial and opportunity costs of providing care exceed what is possible. They urge the government to address problems of elderly poverty by developing rural pension schemes, major illness insurance and long-term care insurance, by increasing hospital and community health services for the elderly, and by training basic-level workers in the special needs of the elderly.

Impact of aging in Hong Kong

Typescript.Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1978.Bibliography: leaves [269]-281.Microfiche.viii, 281 leave

Aging and disability in China: Cultural issues in measurement and interpretation

Aging is no longer an issue of concern only to industrialized countries. Recent estimates project that the year 2000 there will be 590 million people aged 60 or older worldwide. Of these 590 million approximately 61% will be living in lesser developed countries. Thus, these countries will shortly face critical decisions concerning the impact of these aging populations on state plans for economic development. China, the country with the largest anticipated number of elderly in the world provides an instructive case of how one developing country is attempting to balance the needs of the elderly with those of the union as a whole. In particular the rapid aging of the Chinese population has prompted official concern about the financial implications of providing health care to increasing numbers of disabled or frail elderly. This paper reports the effort of one study to determine the extent of disability and frailty among the urban elderly and the strategies they and their family members have develope to cope with it. The research was conducted between June 1987 and January 1988 in two neighborhoods of Canton, the capital of Guangdong Province. Two hundred household, each containing at least one member 70 years of age or older, were randomly selected from household registration lists. In each household a 1-2 hr interview was conducted with the elder (or, in the case of those too disabled to participate, proxy) on the following topics: personal background, proximity andcontact with kin, household composition and organization, health and functionality, use of medical services, work history, income sources, daily activities, and attitudes regarding intergenerational relations. The paper is divided into five parts addressing the following topics: (1) China and research on aging, (2) comparative data--problematic aspects, (3) methodological issues to consider when investigating disability, (4) the findings of the study, and (5) the significance of ideological, environmental, and political factors in mediating the experience of age-associated disability in China.aging disability China health care family caregiving

Kidney failure and transplantation in China

The incidence of chronic renal failure in China is approximately 120,000 cases per year; the vast majority of these new cases will die within a very short time because of the shortage of funds, dialysis machines, and organs for transplantation. This paper focuses on the reasons behind the organ shortage and the strategies proposed by the Chinese medical profession to increase the supply of transplantable kidneys. The data were gathered on multiple trips to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan between August 1993 and January 1995. During these trips the author spoke formally with nephrologists, urologists, dialysis and transplant nurses, and other individuals active in the field of organ procurement, and informally with others familiar with general hospital practice. The author also draws heavily on articles published in leading Chinese journals. The kidney shortage in China is produced by the same sorts of problems as exist in other countries, but the shortage is aggravated by certain beliefs and practices specific to Chinese populations. Live donation is hampered by traditional beliefs about the function of the kidney, while cadaver donation is hampered by reluctance to cut a body and a host of beliefs about ghosts, labeled "feudal superstitions" by the authorities. Cadaver donation is further restrained by the lack of legal recognition of "brain death". In response to the organ shortage, the Chinese medical community has expanded the range of eligible sources to include those condemned to death as criminals, a practice itself usually condemned by the wider international community. At the same time it has advocated: (1) enhancing corpse donation through propaganda work, administrative work, legal work, and incentives; (2) encouraging live donation; (3) familiarizing the public with the benefits of organ transplantation, and (4) pursuing the development of artificial organs.China dialysis executions kidneys transplantation