When home becomes a prison
Elegantly adorned with three rings, a pearl necklace and a watch encrusted with diamonds that indicate material well-being, Bao Meiyuan said her life is boring and intellectually poor. The 86-year-old Shanghai resident, who has four children, six grandchildren and two great-grand children, is desperate for someone to talk to.
As Chinese society becomes increasingly older and the pace of aging accelerates, many elderly people are enduring loneliness. They adhere to traditional notions of family, centered around their children, but the original "big family" structure is changing and gradually disappearing.
Two years ago, when her husband died, Bao accepted her son's offer to live in a lavishly furnished villa he owns. Her son also hired a carer to provide 24-hour assistance, even though Bao has no major health problems.
