Research on Regional Adaptability of Elderly Care Models in China

An Empirical Analysis Based on Economic Development Disparities

Abstract

This study conducts an empirical analysis of the regional adaptability of China's elderly care models by integrating macro-regional data with 213 micro-survey records. Core findings reveal significant spatial heterogeneity in elderly care resource allocation, characterized by a "hot east, cold west" pattern: service density is concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta region, while rural areas in central China remain underserved. Regarding influencing factors, economic level primarily determines institutional care preferences, while cultural capital reinforces preferences for home-based care. Individual education, income, and regional development jointly influence decisions through cultural inclinations, capacity constraints, and personal needs. Addressing regional disparities, the study proposes tailored strategies: economically advanced regions like East China should prioritize developing high-end, smart customized care models, while underdeveloped central regions require strengthening government-led universal services and mutual-aid community development to build a multi-tiered elderly care system with Chinese characteristics. This research holds significant implications for optimizing the allocation of elderly care resources, promoting the coordinated development of regional elderly care services, and providing empirical evidence and policy references for the construction of a multi-level elderly care service system with Chinese characteristics.