Exploring the Role of Elderly Adults’ Internet Usage in Urban China

This study attempts to explore if obstacles and advantages of elderly internet usage models from developed countries could be replicated in the existing Chinese urban elderly care systems. In the past 30 years, China’s elderly population has increased rapidly. The traditional pattern of elderly care is encountering a severe challenge linked to current 4-2-1 family structure (four grandparents, two parents, and one child) (Zhang, Gu, & Luo, 2014), due to rapid urbanization, and diminishing government assistance. The topic of elderly care in the changing socioeconomic context of China is a neglected subject. In this paper perspectives and needs of elderly are clarified by analyzing existing urban elderly care models in China. The paper points out that internet usage satisfies social network and health information needs of elderly adults who are relatively healthy, both mentally and physically. The data suggests a combination of family-based support, a community-based support, and an elderly health insurance by the Chinese government significantly impact development of wellbeing policies of elderly in China