Nearly 90 percent of the elderly respondents to a recent survey
in Shanghai said they were satisfied with the way they are treated
by their children and half of them were happy to act as domestic
helpers, the Labor Daily reported today.
Citizens' Mailbox, a city government-run e-mail system that
often conducts unscientific online surveys, announced the finding
based on feedback from 4,400 young and elderly city residents, the
report said.
The poll found the elderly have largely become "ayis," taking
care of 47 percent of the housework such as shopping, cooking, and
doing the laundry, compared with 35 percent done by the younger
generation, the report said.
The poll was conducted before the annual Chongyang Festival, or
Double Ninth Festival that falls on the ninth day of the ninth
lunar month, which is today this year. On this traditional holiday
for the elderly, people customarily climb mountains or high
towers.
The poll suggests 40 percent of the elderly are "relatively
satisfied" with the care given by their children while 41 percent
are "basically satisfied" and nine percent are "very satisfied."
Only a 10 percent replied "not satisfied," the report said.
The poll indicates that just 12 percent of the elderly are
willing to live with their children. About 58 percent said they
preferred to live separately from their children but not far away
from each other so that they can be taken care of by their children
but get more privacy at the same time, the report said.
The poll also said 65 percent of young people admitted to
behaving churlishly toward their parents, such as yelling at them
or losing temper over small matters, on at least one occasions.
About 28 percent said they always treated their parents well. Some
expressed shame and regret for their rude attitude, the report
said.
During the elderly festival, a snack called Chongyang Gao (cake)
is served. In Chinese, the pinyin "Gao"(cake) has the same
pronunciation as "Gao." (height) These activities reflect the hope
that the elderly will enjoy more progress in their lives.
(Shanghai Daily October 19, 2007)