Background: Receiving care from family members, particularly adult children, is traditionally the most common care expectation among older adults in Chinese society. However, amid declining fertility and rising non-marriage, little is known about how older adults without children plan for their future care needs.
Methods: This qualitative study adopted a narrative inquiry with 33 childless older adults aged over 50 in Hong Kong. Participants took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews that explored the perceptions of ageing without children, emotional responses, and anticipated care plannings. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically through iterative coding, constant comparison, and peer debriefing to enhance credibility and reflexivity.
Results: Emotionally, participants reported pervasive anxiety about an uncertain future, rooted in the absence of a dependable support network and fears of becoming functionally dependent. Many perceived a weakening of kin-based obligations and filial piety norms. Practically, they actively expanded non-kin networks, sought connections with childless peers for emotional support and information, and engaged in early planning for care. Several respondents regarded institutional care, including options outside Hong Kong, as a realistic, though ambivalent, strategy when intensive assistance becomes necessary.
Discussion: The findings reveal how childless older adults negotiate care expectations. Their strategies highlight the growing importance of non-kin ties, peer support, and cross-border institutional care in later-life planning. Policies that strengthen community-based networks, improve access to affordable residential care, and explicitly recognize the needs of childless older adults are crucial for promoting dignified and secure ageing in rapidly changing Chinese societies.

Authors:
Jiajia Zhou, Hong Kong Baptist University, China
Rui Kang, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. ZHOU Jiajia currently is a research assistant profesor in the Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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