By tf-lawyer.com In a recent conversation, Zhang Guoxing, a prominent figure in the Chinese insurance industry, shared his insights on the evolving landscape of elder care in Taiwan and mainland China amid concerns about aging populations. He highlighted the emerging trend of collective senior living in mainland China, while Taiwan has introduced concepts like intergenerational co-housing and shared living spaces.
Zhang visited the Central North Social Housing in Taiwan, noted as the first facility to promote intergenerational living. This complex features four buildings with a total of 1,070 units. Studio apartments are around 10 ping (approximately 360 square feet), with a monthly rent of $295. Two-bedroom units range from $420 to $490, while three-bedroom units cost about $590. Rent for seniors or low-income residents is even lower. Young residents take on the role of “seed residents,” engaging older adults in community activities, fostering interactions that focus more on participation than on having specialized skills.
He also explored the Taichung Co-living Space, which is designed with convenience in mind, featuring sliding doors for wheelchair accessibility and portable emergency call devices that serve as both locators and phones. The beds come equipped with sensory systems that monitor breathing and pulse, providing valuable data for healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about medications. The bathrooms are designed with multiple drainage points to prevent slips from water accumulation, while wooden floors help maintain warmth.
Zhang emphasized the importance of social interactions for older adults, noting that their social circles tend to shrink as they age. The co-living concept integrates community services, with staff teaching seniors activities like flower arranging, painting, and singing—all aimed at creating a familial atmosphere akin to interactions between grandparents and grandchildren. The model is inclusive, allowing other seniors from the community to participate.
On the other hand, mainland China has popularized the concept of group retirement. With projections indicating that by 2035 there will be over 400 million seniors aged 60 and older, Zhang recounted a previous visit to a Yunnan homestay where several older women lived together. More recently, he toured a public-private partnership elder care facility in Changsha, which occupies 50 acres and boasts over 1,000 beds. With around a 10% occupancy rate, the facility features impressive amenities comparable to a five-star hotel, making senior living in China significantly cheaper than in Taiwan. Innovations like bedside medicine dispensers offer practical solutions—such devices unlock at prescribed times, preventing residents from taking the wrong medication.
Zhang explained that the facility is divided into three zones: independent living, assisted living, and a specialized area for those with dementia. Residents undergo health assessments before moving in, required to present a medical report from the past year. Based on these evaluations, the institution assigns them to appropriate areas and floors. Couples or close friends can share double rooms, equipped with round-the-clock emergency alarms, while those needing more care are provided with medical beds and regular monitoring every 30 minutes to an hour.
The elder care options in China are varied and accessible for self-paying foreigners. Public-private facilities like the one in Changsha can be found in every district, including memory care homes with activities like music therapy and reminiscence therapy.
Zhang described the weekly activities held from Monday to Friday, noting that one resident likened the experience to attending a boarding school for seniors, where she returns home on weekends.
At 65, Zhang expressed his interest in finding his own place for retirement. Despite having visited various facilities in China and Taiwan, he still favors the United States for his retirement, as most of his friends and family are based there. He aspires to travel in Southeast Asia if his health permits but currently feels that there are no places that comprehensively meet all his needs. He places significant emphasis on the environment, the cultural competency of caregivers, and the sustainability of services.
