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Article: China's `Raging Silver Wave'; Rapidly Aging Population Strains Society
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 7, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Xi Yuke lies in bed, cheeks sunken, cigarettes by his side and a
tumor the size of a Ping-Pong ball on his collarbone. As he reaches
to shake hands, the 84-year-old former bus company manager trembles
and stares with the frightened certainty of what lies ahead.
Xi is one of the lucky ones. He has been in Beijing's only hospice
for four months, and his work unit is footing the bill. His son, too
busy working to take care of Xi during the week, visits dutifully on
Sundays.
Xi's situation is rare because China has no old-age homes,
virtually no pension funds or social security insurance and an
already heavily burdened health care system. Moreover, in China's
rush to a more market-oriented ...