Seniors Day — more reflection than celebration

English>>China Society

Editor's Pick

Seniors Day — more reflection than celebration

(Shanghai Daily) 17:55, October 12, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

Filial piety is now the law of the land and Seniors Day will be celebrated tomorrow — for the first time as an official festival. Zhang Qian looks at the challenge of senior care in a rapidly aging society.

For several thousand years, filial piety — including respect and care for the elderly — has been a fundamental virtue governing Chinese society.

The saying goes, “Filial piety comes before all virtues.”

But the esteemed position of the elderly and guarantees of their care have been eroded in a rapidly changing society as traditional family structures are weakened, people are mobile and separated, and many couples have only one child to care for them.

Caring for the elderly and establishing an effective caring system have become a major social problem.

Tomorrow is Chong Yang Jie, the Double Ninth Festival, a day for showing respect to the elderly in China. This year it seems exceptionally special as the “Day for the Aged” has been written into law, a result of the amended “Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of the Aged,” which went into effect in July.

The amended law, commonly called the filial piety law, also suggests that family members should care for the spiritual needs of the elderly throughout the year.

Those who do not live together with aged parents should visit them often or send regards, according to the law.