By Zhang Yunhua & Wu Zhenjun, Research Department of Rural Economy, DRC & Gao Qiang, Nanjing Forestry University

Research Report, No. 75, 2020 (Total 5819) 2020-4-8

Abstract: Nowadays, people would find that after the young people in rural areas move to work in urban areas, the elder members of the family would be left alone at home and many of them face the difficulty of preparing food by themselves and having regular meals. To solve this issue, the local government of Fengcheng city in Jiangxi province has built Happy Elders’ Cafeterias with the funds raised through government purchase, township fiscal support and social donations and a small share is born by the elders based on their willingness. However, due to the shortage of funds, these cafeterias cannot run properly, making it hard to meet the rural elders’ satisfaction for regular meals. Providing old people with adequate and proper meals should be regarded as a key issue in improving rural old-age care services. The local governments in China need to take this issue as a crucial project affecting people’s livelihood in rural areas. The issue could be addressed through a moderately increased ratio of welfare lottery public funds retained in local areas plus local financial support. The rural governments also need to tap into advantages of the collective economy, strive to enhance old farmers’ living conditions and relieve their anxiety and depression on the cooking of daily meals.

Key words: rural old-age care, meals, projects relating to people’s livelihood, Fengcheng city