Evaluating community‐embedded elder care: A case study of supply and demand in Hangzhou, China

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionWith China's urbanization and demographic shifts significantly affecting elder care, this study examines the alignment of community‐based elder care services in Hangzhou's Hemu Community. It addresses the gap in understanding how these services meet the needs of an aging population in a rapidly changing social context.MethodsA comprehensive mixed‐methods approach was utilized, involving interviews with community residents, observations of elder care service operations and thorough document analysis. The objective was to evaluate the adequacy, utilization and satisfaction levels concerning these elder care services.ResultsThe research identified that, although the services generally meet the community's needs, there are notable challenges in content specificity, quality assurance and promotional efforts. These challenges lead to resistance among older adults. Additionally, issues with service visibility and the lack of robust feedback mechanisms were noted.ConclusionThis study highlights the critical need for a cooperative strategy involving government, community organizations, social entities and businesses in enhancing elder care services. It suggests that improvements in service visibility, content quality and targeted promotion are crucial to address the evolving needs of the aging population and to reduce reluctance in service utilization.