Informal adoptive kinship for eldercare?

21/05/2025 22 min

Listen "Informal adoptive kinship for eldercare?"

Episode Synopsis

What if family wasn't about blood, and elderly care didn’t have to come from strangers? On Chinese social media, posts have surfaced about “认干亲养老”—a practice where young people form supportive, contract-like relationships with older adults. It echoes elements of godparenting and elder companionship in the West, but with key differences. Could this be a way to patch the cracks left by shrinking families and limited state support? Maybe—but it also carries serious risks. On the show: Heyang, Bob Jones & Yushun