Zhang Guihua, 76, lives alone in the eastern suburbs of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, with only a 22-year-old servant to keep her company.
Her son, who gets to see his mother just once a month because of work, hired Liu Juye from Gansu province five years ago to look after her.
Liu said the situation is complicated.
"I think elderly people are alone both in their daily and spiritual lives," Liu explained.
"In 2006, I had to go home for the summer harvest, but Mrs Zhang did not want me to go, so now I take her with me."
Zhang said she does not blame her son.
"I feel so lonely, but I understand my son. He works hard and has to build a career," she said.
Zhang's situation is not unique in Shaanxi, which is home to 3.75 million people over the age of 60, or 10.2 percent of its population.
The struggles facing empty nesters, or elderly people who live alone, have inspired members of the provincial advisory body to call for more community services.
Dong Jiayi, a member of the Chinese People's Political and Consultative Conference Shaanxi Committee, this week submitted a proposal on how to develop such services to the local annual conference, which opened on Monday.
He said the top four obstacles are: A lack of concern about developing services for old people; a general shortage of funds to pay for such services; a shortage of experienced professionals to oversee them; and poor management.
"The most common form of care for empty nesters is for their families to hire maids for them, but that's not a viable solution," Dong said.
The proposal calls for local governments to pay for services for the elderly and draw up policies to encourage the private sector to invest in programs and housing for these empty nesters.
"And we should train more management personnel and establish managing bodies to promote and improve services," the proposal said.
There is a clear need for such services, local officials said.
Tian Yiquan, director of the Xi'an aging committee, said: "The aging population in Xi'an is more than 10 percent of the total population, but few of them want to live in seniors homes."
Wang Yumin, 70, a Xi'an resident, said he has been living in his home for more than 30 years and is familiar with his neighbors and surroundings.
"It's convenient for me to live here. I know where the supermarket is. I know where I can catch the bus and I have friends with whom I chat and play cards. I don't want to live in a seniors' home where I don't know anyone," Wang said.
He added he has enough money to survive, but no one to talk to or interact with.
The situation is worse for the elderly in rural areas, where poverty is common, said Ai Xiangdong, deputy director of the Shaanxi provincial aging committee.
（英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津 Celene 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
