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Vulnerable Older Adults’ Identification, Geographic Distribution, and Policy Implications in China

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  • Xiaoyi Jin

    (School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Yanjun Liu

    (School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Zhaoyuan Hu

    (School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Wei Du

    (School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China)

Abstract

With the population aging and urbanization in China, vulnerable older adults tend to show more complex characteristics, bringing great challenges to public health policies. Using China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey data 2014, this paper builds a comprehensive index system for the identification of vulnerable older adults from three dimensions, including health, economy, and social support, then divides older adults into four support levels and six small classes by using the typological method. The results show that older adults in urgent need of assistance or priority are those poor in health and economic conditions, 1.46% of them are highly vulnerable because of the lack of social support; 12.76% of them obtain a certain social support are moderately vulnerable; and 34.72% of them are slightly vulnerable with disadvantage in only one dimension. The geographic distribution of different types of vulnerable older adults varies significantly. The paper provides evidence to design more feasible and specific policies with comprehensive considerations for different types of vulnerable older adults residing in different regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyi Jin & Yanjun Liu & Zhaoyuan Hu & Wei Du, 2021. "Vulnerable Older Adults’ Identification, Geographic Distribution, and Policy Implications in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10642-:d:653715
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ye Luo & Linda J. Waite, 2014. "Loneliness and Mortality Among Older Adults in China," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(4), pages 633-645.
    2. Delor, François & Hubert, Michel, 2000. "Revisiting the concept of 'vulnerability'," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 50(11), pages 1557-1570, June.
    3. Khaksar, Seyed Mohammad Sadegh & Khosla, Rajiv & Chu, Mei Tai & Shahmehr, Fatemeh S., 2016. "Service Innovation Using Social Robot to Reduce Social Vulnerability among Older People in Residential Care Facilities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 438-453.
    4. Steven Bunt & Nardi Steverink & Melissa K. Andrew & Cees P. van der Schans & Hans Hobbelen, 2017. "Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Social Vulnerability Index for Use in the Dutch Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-13, November.
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