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New fund established for China's empty nesters

Xinhua, January 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

China Social Welfare Foundation has launched a fund with local governments, enterprises and NGOs Thursday designed especially for empty nesters whose adult children have left home.

The fund will help offer living assistance and service support, including health checks and nursing for the elderly.

As of the end of 2014, China had 212 million people age 60 or above, 15.5 percent of the total population. The figure is expected to reach 243 million by 2020. The number of empty nesters is also rapidly growing with more than 100 million in the country.

"Around 90 percent of the seniors choose home-based pension support nationwide. They also need care from society, though they live in their own homes," said Qi Xuesen, chairman of the foundation.

"That means elderly care is not only a family affair but a big issue that needs the efforts of government, firms and NGOs," said Wang Zhen, head of a nursing institution for the aged. Endi