Old people in China, adapting to the country´s rapid development : An interview study conducted in Shenzhen, China

Abstract: China is the world´s most populated country with a high percentage of old people. The happiness of old people in Eastern countries is related to the living situation and the family concept. China´s sprit of filial piety and the rules from the government are saying that care for old people is the responsibility of adults in China. Given the country´s rapid development and skewed population growth, Chinese adults have a hard time balancing expectations from their old parents and the demands from the modern society.  The aim of this study was to explore Chinese adults´ perceptions of old Chinese people and the traditional care taking of old people in China today. This is a qualitative study, with four semi-structured interviews with four back-office Chinese adult workers aged between 25-40 years. The interview was conducted in a manufacturing company in Shenzhen and lasted between 25-35 minutes. In the analysing of the data a qualitative content analysis by Yin (2013) was used.  The resultat of this study shows that the respect for the culture is important for the well-being of the old people in China. Old Chinese people consider the financial support from the sons as a proof of a successful Chinese family and that the Chinese people are forced to adapt to the rapid development even within the care taking of old people in China. The result discussion is based on the context of the human being and the theory, Transcultural Care, of Madeleine Leininger and with reflections from previous research. Brought to attention from the discussion was that old people felt a strong need of having their culture respected and valued in order to perceive themselves and to be perceived by others as a valuable human being.  A nurse needs to understand that cultures are inconsistent and at the same time respect the cultural heritage of a patient, and thereby understand the patient as cultural being. The individual culture emerge in a patient when the nurse understands the patient as the individual he/she is. Only then can the nurse offer care which leads to individual well-being, for both old and young people.