The narrative revolves around the challenges faced by Yu Yam in caring for her aging husband, Zhang Wei, amidst evolving social and cultural dynamics. With an aging population often referred to as the "
After caring for Zhang Wei as long as possible,
Yu Yam made the decision to move him into long-term care.
To afford to do this Yu Yam had to sell their home and move into a small shared living arrangement, just to ensure her husband received the care he needed, and she could still be close to him.
The daughters believed that
Zhang Wei should be placed in long-term care.
They stated to Yu Yan that she cannot afford the extra money it would cost to pay for support to help care for Zhang Wei.
The expansion of thing such as
for-profit insurance, long-term care,
and health insurance (Bow Valley, 2024, Mod. 3 slides PP).
Marketization of eldercare
Globalization and population aging
The younger owners of Zhang Wei's company believe
he is a burden to the company and they need to hire newer, younger workers.
They believe that they are paying for older persons to retire and making comments like "I've heard they are taking jobs that belong to younger workers!" and "Of course, we are paying for them to retire and when it is time for us to retire there will be no Old Age Pension left!"
Conflict between generations due to the thought
that the younger are burdened by the older generation
and paying for the burden (Bow Valley, 2024, Mod. 3 slides PP).
Inter-generational Conflict
The new owners of Zhang Wei's company
make comments such as "The aging population today is exploding. What do they call it? Oh, the 'silver tsunami'
Exaggerating the negative side
of the population aging (Funk, 2016).
Apocalyptic Demography
It is socially expected that by 65 years old a person will retire and be finacially stable enough to retire, like having their mortgage paid off and enough in the bank. But in Zhang Wei's case and many other older persons, they are not financially able to retire when society deems they should be.
Zhang Wei heard the new owners of his company discussing how they wished he would retire so that they could afford to hire a younger worker who is up to date on the latest technology. After hearing this he received less work orders and a new invoicing system and no help learning it forced him to retire at 69 years old, prior to when he was ready. Though the population is aging, still it seems to be an expectation that older persons will remove themselves from the workforce to make room for younger persons to enter.
Work/Career
Culture and Family
Changes in the subsystem's within society. These subsystems impact ones social experience and life (Bow Valley, 2024, Key Concepts PP).
Changes in the way that specific groups behave, from the socially normal standards and expectations that are had of them. (Bow Valley, 2024, Key Concepts PP).
With an aging population these socially normal expectations are changing.
The Social Institution of family and culture is changing in this case study, Yu Yam thought it was very important that their daughters were raised following the traditional ways of their culture. But now, their daughters are grown-ups, with children. They do not visit as often as their parents would like, they do not appreciate the way Yu Yan makes their children embrace their language and culture. They are unable to help care for Zhang Wei, due to their obligations of being parents and career goals. Though Yu Yam believes that it is hers and her daughters responsibility to honor and care for Zhang Wei.
The way that culture and social institutions change over time (Bow Valley, 2024, Mod. 3 slides PP).
It has previously been a norm to retire at age 65. But in the case study Zhang Wei has friends who are still working in their seventies.
Change in Social Institutions
Social Change
Changes in Social Norms
Populations aging in industrialized
societies due to the shift from high fertility and mortality to low fertility and mortality (Funk, 2016).