Care Workers In The Present Situation Of China's Pension Service Agencies, Problems And Countermeasures

Population ageing in China has become an outstanding social problem, generating profound implications for the supporting policies, service institutions, and old-age care providers, all of which are of particular concern and research interest to the author. In developed countries, sophisticated service and management systems have long been in existence, which give equal attention to the mentally and physically challenged elderly people in need of professional nursing care, as well as to the pay, social status, and career development for people engaged in care provision. However, surveys show that the qualifications, training, and recruitment of the care provision personnel in China are far from satisfactory, which are largely responsible for the repeated accidents reported in the media, and in the resultant low social opinion of the care provision. On the other hand, old care provision has been an unattractive occupation to the labor force and the supply of the personnel is far short of the demand, owing to the heavy workload, low pay, employment uncertainties, and high job risks involved.In view of that situation, this study, by means of literature review, case analyses, questionnaires, and interviews, all targeting the population in Beijing area, attempts to examine the status quo of the different types of old-age care providers and to locate the causes of the problems. The research concludes with suggestions and measures aimed at a healthy development of old-age care in China, by mapping out a comprehensive program, ensuring a reasonable salary standard and job security, improving the social image, and promoting the professionalization in order to produce a contingent of care staff with sufficient number of people, increased job satisfaction, and professional qualifications for effectively protecting the legal rights of the elderly people.