Study and Comparison of Elderly Care System in Germany and China

Abstract

In the context of globalization and information revolution, the interactions in terms of knowledge exchange between developed and developing countries in the world have became more and more intensified in many aspects. This thesis focuses on the analytic study and bilateral comparison of elderly care systems in Germany and China. As one of the most important social security components, elderly care has a huge impact on the social stability and sustainability. Thus, many countries have put it on a strategic position and strive for an ideal, efficient, sustainable and adaptive solution to confront the challenges brought by population aging. Germany, as one of the most developed countries in the world, has established a solid and comprehensive elderly care system based on its social welfare foundation. China, as one of the most rapid developing and populous countries, has undergone a radical demographic change and a rapid aging process in the last several decades, which pose massive challenges for contemporary China. Therefore, a comprehensive study and comparison of the elderly care systems in both countries are of great scientific value for transferring theoretical and practical experiences. In the work, firstly a brief review and comparison of background information with respects to population development and living situation of the elderly in Germany and China are given. Then, the analysis of elderly care system is dissected in the following major dimensions: long-term care insurance (LTCI), forms of elderly care, and nursing education. Establishing a stable and sustainable long-term care insurance is imperative for elderly care system. The construction and development of LTCI in both countries are discussed and bilateral compared. The major forms of elderly care in the two countries, consisting of home care, community care, ambulant care and institutional care, are analyzed. Additionally, the insights of practical and academic nursing education systems in the two countries are depicted as well, such as the present status and future reforms. In the end, the knowledge transfer and potential collaborations are addressed.