Abstract
“Ageing in place” is the preferred choice for the majority of older persons in China, and community care services support them in living in their homes as long as possible. Based on statistics, interview data, and policy documents, this study analyses the provision and utilisation of community care facilities in Beijing by conducting spatial and qualitative analysis based on structuration theory. The mapping and spatial analysis reveal spatial inequity in the allocation of community care facilities in Beijing, which increased from 494 in 2017 to 1,201 in 2020. Communities in suburban areas, where the older population is growing the fastest, have poorer spatial accessibility to community care services than those located in the central city. Qualitative analysis based on interviews with 28 older residents in six communities, and six managers and staff members of community care facilities, revealed high demands for community care services including daily life support, emotional support, and healthcare services, with low utilisation of the services and many challenges for service provision. Poor perception and evaluation of the services by older persons result in low utilisation of the services. Financial difficulties in service provision and limited support from the government are the major challenges reported by the managers. Strategies have also been developed to meet these challenges by the older persons and managers. Text analysis of policy documents shows the development of regulations and policies on the construction, support, and quality management of the community care system. The complex dynamics of interaction between structure and agency in resource allocation and daily practice of service delivery shapes the provision and utilisation of community care services as a relatively new mode for aged care in China. The findings support understanding the challenges of community care service provision and utilisation from a health geography perspective. Joint efforts from local governments, communities, the private sector, and older residents are needed to support ageing in place in Beijing.
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Editor’s notes
Manuscript received on 17 February 2023. Accepted on 10 August 2023.
Excerpt
Full text document will be published online on September 2024.
Outline
Introduction
Conceptual framework
Data and methods
Spatial inequity in community care services
The demands for and utilisation of community care services
Service provision and challenges
Discussion
Conclusion
First lines
Introduction
Beijing is experiencing rapid urbanisation and population ageing. Population census data shows that the population aged 60 and over has reached 4.3 million, which was 19.6% of the total population as of 2020. Ageing in place is the preferred choice for the majority of older persons due to family values, lower living costs, and the preference for care by family members. The national and municipal governments aim to create a home-based, community-based, and institution supplemented multilevel care service system in China. Community care, as it applies to both developed countries and China, refers to the care option where older persons receive continuous and comprehensive support from their families and communities, allowing them to age in place as long as possible (Fang et al. 2015). As older persons age, their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) decrease. Community care services help older persons maintain good health and their IADL (Harman 1981). The presence ...
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References
Bibliographical reference
Yang Cheng, Ruiqing Guang, Xinxin Sun, David Phillips and Mark Rosenberg, “Provision and Utilisation of Community Care Services in Beijing, China”, China Perspectives, 134 | 2023, 19-29.
Electronic reference
Yang Cheng, Ruiqing Guang, Xinxin Sun, David Phillips and Mark Rosenberg, “Provision and Utilisation of Community Care Services in Beijing, China”, China Perspectives [Online], 134 | 2023, Online since 01 September 2024, connection on 06 December 2023. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/chinaperspectives/15719; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/chinaperspectives.15719
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About the authors
Yang Cheng is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Geographical Science at Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China (chengyang@bnu.edu.cn).
Ruiqing Guang was a master student in the Faculty of Geographical Science at Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China (987349707@qq.com).
Xinxin Sun is a master student in the Faculty of Geographical Science at Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China (202221051059@mail.bnu.edu.cn).
David Phillips is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong (phillips@ln.edu.hk).
Mark Rosenberg is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada (mark.rosenberg@queensu.ca).
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Copyright
The text and other elements (illustrations, imported files) are “All rights reserved”, unless otherwise stated.
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