The absent role of the State: analysis of social support to older people with disability in rural China
Karen Fisher, Xiaoyuan Shang and Li Zhengang
Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW
Contact Email:   karen.fisherunsw.edu.au

China is experiencing rapid population ageing. Already it has 44 million older people with disability (OPWD aged over 59 years) (OSCNSSD 2007). Social support of OPWD in China has not been systematically researched inside or outside China. This paper will apply a disability rights framework in four domains (right to protection; economic security; social support; and social participation) to analyse local cases from South China.

The main argument is that although the family is still the main provider of economic and care support to older people with disabilities, the absent role of the state in welfare provision to older people with disability in rural China has negative impacts the wellbeing of rural families, both on the older and younger generation. The social rights of OPWDs cannot be realized without the support from the state. Because older people heavily rely on the financial and care support from their children, the family of the younger generation is over burdened in their financial situation, and physical and mental health. The ageing population in China requires a new development of welfare state in China through a strengthening role of the state in old age and disability support in rural China.

The research is based on the field investigation with older people over 80s in a Shanxi county. The research methods include a small scale of questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews with over 80 old people, most of whom are disabled.

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