人口老龄化背景下国内农村互助养老路径探索

An Exploration of the Path of Mutual Assistance for the Aged in Rural China under the Population Ageing Background

摘要: 中国老龄化形势严峻，养老问题亟待解决，而农村养老问题又是重中之重。随着城镇化、工业化不断发展，大量青壮年进城务工并在城镇定居，农村空巢老人的养老问题日渐突出。在此背景下，农民和农村开始自下而上的农村互助养老实践探索，发展了如今“肥乡互助幸福院”、“时间银行”等多种互助养老模式。但随着农村互助养老模式的发展和试点，其效果却并不理想，重要原因之一就在于互助养老模式发展并没有置于村庄社会文化环境条件之下，与机构养老趋于相同。农村互助养老模式要发挥其独特作用，还需要加强顶层设计，强化法律监督及保障作用；加强村庄建设，完善相关基础设施；拓宽筹资渠道，丰富互助养老内容。只有多措并举、系统推进，农村互助养老才能在新时代谱写新的生机，继续彰显独特的社会价值。

Abstract: China is facing a severe aging crisis, with the issue of elder care demanding immediate attention. The challenge of elder care in rural areas is particularly acute. As urbanization and industrialization advance, a large number of young and middle-aged workers are moving to cities for employment opportunities and settling there, exacerbating the issue of elder care for the left-behind elderly in rural areas. In response, rural communities have started grassroots initiatives to explore mutual aid practices for elder care, leading to the development of various models like the “Fei Xiang Mutual Assistance Happiness Homes” and “Time Banks”. However, as these rural mutual assistance elder care models evolve and expand, their effectiveness has been less than satisfactory. A significant reason is that these models have not been adequately integrated into the social and cultural fabric of village life, tending instead to resemble institutional care. To truly leverage the unique benefits of rural mutual assistance elder care, a comprehensive approach is required. This includes enhancing top-level design, strengthening legal oversight and protections, improving village infrastructure, expanding financing channels, and enriching the content of rural mutual assistance elder care services. Only through a multifaceted and systematic approach can mutual assistance elder care in rural areas thrive in the new era, continuing to showcase its unique social value.