An Exploration of Rural Elderly Care Models under the Rural Revitalization Strategy: A Case Study of Ningxia

Abstract

With the deepening of aging, elderly care has become a focus of attention in various countries. China is also facing a serious aging issue, and how to reasonably solve the elderly care problems has become one of the key research topics for Chinese experts and scholars. China has vast territory with significant regional disparities between the east and west, leading to unbalanced urban and rural development. The aging issue in western rural areas is more severe, yet their development is relatively lagging behind, with serious population loss challenging traditional family care models. Addressing the elderly care problem requires targeted measures based on practical considerations. Taking Ningxia as a case study, this paper finds that the material living standards of elderly rural residents in Ningxia are low, and their spiritual life is relatively lacking. By analyzing the deficiencies in rural elderly care in Ningxia from the perspectives of family care and institutional care, corresponding solutions are proposed. Currently, rural family care in Ningxia faces difficulties, institutional care development is immature, and public acceptance is low. Therefore, suggestions are made to improve rural infrastructure to retain labor, enhance the operation and internal environment of care institutions, and increase public acceptance, aiming to improve the living conditions of elderly rural residents in Ningxia and meet their care needs.