从“养儿防老”到“独立养老”：中国家庭养老观念的现代性转型与理论反思

From “Raising Children for Old-Age Support” to “Independent Aging”: Modernity Transition and Theoretical Reflection on Chinese Family Elderly Care Concepts

摘要: 人口老龄化已是我国当下突出国情，养老观念衔接民众养老选择与社会养老政策，梳理其演变逻辑极具现实意义。本文依托历史制度主义理论，探究家庭养老观念从传统养儿防老向现代独立养老的转变过程。传统养老观念依托代际反馈模式，凭借传统孝道与家庭邻里体系形成稳固养老格局。伴随社会现代化发展，社保体系完善弱化了子女经济养老责任，小型化家庭格局让日常居家照料难以实现，同时老年群体思想观念转变，不愿拖累晚辈，多重因素促使独立养老观念逐步普及。但独立养老模式仍存在弊端，本质上存在将老年脆弱性转嫁给个人的风险，也忽视了家庭无偿照护的价值。本文主张超越单纯依靠子女与依靠自己之间的二元对立，转而建立支持性养老范式。完善就地养老相关政策，树立良性代际相处理念，切实兼顾老年群体生活照料、精神关怀与晚年尊严。唯有如此融合，我们才能真正实现让老年人在晚年得到妥善照料、受到尊重和感到安全的有机统一。

Abstract: Population aging is already a prominent national condition in China. The concept of old-age care connects people’s choice of old-age care and social old-age care policy, and it is of great practical significance to sort out its evolution logic. Based on the theory of historical institutionalism, this paper explores the transformation process of family pension concept from traditional child support and old-age care to modern independent old-age care. The traditional concept of old-age care relies on the intergenerational feedback model, and forms a stable old-age care pattern with the traditional filial piety and family neighborhood system. With the development of social modernization, the improvement of the social security system has weakened the responsibility of children’s economic old-age care. The miniaturized family pattern makes it difficult to achieve daily home care. At the same time, the ideological concept of the elderly group has changed, and they are not willing to drag down the younger generation. Multiple factors have promoted the gradual popularization of the concept of independent old-age care. However, the independent pension model still has drawbacks. In essence, there is a risk of transferring the vulnerability of the elderly to individuals, and the value of family unpaid care is also ignored. This paper advocates transcending the binary opposition between relying solely on children and relying on themselves, and establishing a supportive old-age care paradigm. We will improve the relevant policies for local old-age care, establish a concept of benign intergenerational coexistence, and effectively take into account the life care, spiritual care and dignity of the elderly. Only in this way can we truly realize the organic unity of allowing the elderly to be properly cared for, respected and feel safe in their later years.