Challenges of Development of Community-based Long-term Care: From Welfare Pluralism Perspective

Abstract

Local policies and pilot schemes of community-based long-term care for elderly have proliferated in China. It seems to create a vision that there would be the best choice for elderly to stay in community instead of moving to institutions to meet their long-term care need. And the goal of caring by community and caring for community will be achieved in the near future. However, the recent concerns about outcomes of community-based long-term care result in many doubts on that that vision and policy goal. From the perspective of welfare pluralism, the article conducted a case study of N district in Foshan City. Then the article points out problems and challenges of development of community-based long-term care in contemporary China. It is suggested that future development of community-based long-term care should provide supports to caregivers and facilitate social capital building in communities.