Analysis on Endowment of Empty Nesters in Tulu Village of Hunchun City in Jilin Province

Yuji JIN，Meina JIANG

Agricultural College of Yanbian University，Yanji133002，China

In the context of aging and urbanization，the young and middleaged people going outside from Tulu Village in Hunchun City have reached 42.01%of its total population and the population of empty nesters accounts for 87.66%of total aged people.Derivative problem incurred therefrom has become a social issue urgently to be solved.Thus，it becomes particularly important to focus on empty nesters and come up with recommendations for constantly solving endowment problem of rural empty nesters.In this paper，empty nesters mainly refer to people live lonely older than 60 years old with rural household registration and children living hometown for a long time.

1 Analysis of current situations of endowment of empty nesters in Tulu Village

By means of questionnaire and interview，we selected 277 old people in Tulu Village as study objects in December 2013 to April 2014.Wemainly surveyed basic situations，economic level，physical health，life care，and spirit situation of empty nesters.We issued 277 copies of questionnaire and received 277 copies.

1.1 Current situations of population in Tulu VillageTulu Village is situated in Hunchun City of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.In this village，there are two village-run enterprises，mainly engaged in grain processing and carton processing.The annual income of Tulu Village is about60000 yuan.Crop cultivation in Tulu Village is mainly corn，soybean，and rice；breeding is mainly pig，chicken，and duck.The total area of Tulu Village is9.2 km2，including 246.74 hm2 farmland.In the village，there are 9 villager communities，each community holds about40 households.In 2014，total population was 1364，including 152 people younger than 18，395 people of18－30 years old，501 people of 31－59 years old，and 316 people of older than 60.573 people go outside，accounting for 42.01%of total population.Among old people，39 people live together with their children，and the rest277 are empty nesters，accounting for87.66%of total old people.

1.2 Basic situations of empty nesters in Tulu VillageAs shown in Table 1，among old people，39 people live together with their children，and the rest277 are empty nesters，accounting for 87.66%of to talold people.137 people are60－69 year sold，accounting for 49.5%of total old people；102 people are 70－79 years old，accounting for 35.5%；38 people are old than 80，accounting for 15.3%；the oldestman is 84 years old，and the oldest woman is87 years old.Survey results indicate that age is inversely proportional to rate of empty nest：the younger the age，the higher the rate of empty nest；the older the age，the lower the rate of empty nest.This is consistent with actual situations of old people.As to sex composition，130 old people are men，accounting for46.93%of totalempty nesters；147 are women，accounting for 53.07%of total empty nesters，indicating that the proportion of women empty nesters is slightly higher than men empty nesters.

Table 1 Age structure of empty nesters in Tulu Village（Unit：people，%）

From Table 2，we can see that educational level of empty nesters in Tulu Village is relatively low.84.1%empty nesters have education level of primary school or below，and some empty nesters（45%）are illiterate.As to the occupation，in the277 empty nesters，234 are farmers，accounting for84.5%；15.5%empty nesters have original occupation ofworker or teacher.

Table 2 Educational level and occupation of empty nesters in Tulu Village（Unit：people，%）

As listed in Table3，41 old people become empty nesters because of the death of spouse or divorce，accounting for 14.8%；36 old people live together with children and grandchildren，accounting for 13%；70 old people live together with their spouses，accounting for25.2%；and 130 old people live together with their spouses and children and grandchildren，accounting for 47%.

Table 3 Living types of empty nesters　　（Unit：people，%）

1.3 Economic level of empty nesters in Tulu Village

1.3.1 Major sources of economic income of empty nesters.With growth of age and decline of physical function，the ability of empty nesters creating economic income decreases greatly.From Table 4，in the 177 empty nest families，15 families have monthly income below 500 yuan and above 300 yuan；52 families have monthly income of 500－1000 yuan，accounting for 29.4%；83 families have monthly income of1000－2000 yuan，accounting for 46.9%yuan；27 families have monthly income of 2000－3000 yuan，accounting for 15.3%.

In 277 empty nesters，82 old people have normal working ability，accounting for29.6%，72 old people do not have working ability，accounting for 26%，and the rest123 people can do some light jobs，accounting for 44.4%of total empty nesters.Since their labor fails to satisfy their living demands，they have to obtain economic support from their children，relatives，friends and government.Among the277 empty nesters，160 empty nesters rely on their children，accounting for 57.8%，37 empty nesters rely on their labor and retired benefit，accounting for 13.4%，and 80 old people rely on minimum living security，government subsidy，relatives，and friends，accounting for 28.8%.Our survey indicates that17%empty nesters think their economic living can cover living costs，while 83%people think that it is not enough.Through our survey，we found that economic source of empty nesters in Tulu Village mainly comes from children and personal working，and there is no security for their economic income.

1.3.2 Expenses of empty nesters.We surveyed which expense that empty nesters consider the most important.Results indicate that30%empty nesters selected family living expenses，followed by education input，about 34%.This is because old people pay closer and closer attention to education and skills and hobbies of their children.Medical care accounts for 23%.64 empty nesters considered that medical care takes up the largest portion in their expenses，as listed in Table 5.

Table 4 Economic income and main support of empty nesters in Tulu Village　　（Unit：people，%）

In the 277 empty nesters，58%have medical care security，but most are rural cooperative medical care，and endowment insurance only takes up a small portion，and 42%empty nesters have no medical care security.In human relation and recreation expenses and chemical fertilizer expenses，the proportion is 10%and 3%respectively.At current stage，the blind rising of medical care expenses is faster compared with actual income level of rural old people.Besides，according to existing provisions，once the old people get hospitalized，the expenses can not be reimbursed firstly.This brings great pressure to empty nesters.According to our survey，193 empty nesters have their children assume their medical care expenses，40 empty nesters assume their medical care expenses by their spouse or themselves，and the rest44 empty nesters rely on insurance.

Table 5 Expenses of empty nesters　　（Unit：people，%）

1.4 Physical health of empty nesters in Tulu VillageAccording to questionnaire received，empty nesters in Tulu Village are very pessimistic about their health condition.Our survey indicates that only 59 empty nesters selected no disease and healthy，accounting for 21.3%of the whole empty nesters，71 empty nesters selected sickness and generally healthy，accounting for 25.6%，and about147 empty nesters selected disease，accounting for more than a half of all empty nesters.The annual two times of medical care and health service of Tulu Village indicates that most empty nesters have high blood pressure，heart disease，and arthralgia.According to their physical conditions，98 empty nesters can take care of themselves，135 empty nesters have difficulty in caring about themselves，and 44 empty nesters have to depend on others completely，accounting for 15.9%.

1.5 Living care situation of empty nesters in Tulu Village

Old people care about who will care them and who will bear their medical care expenses.These problems concern whether they can live well in their remaining years.With growth of age，people's physical restoration ability becomes slower and slower，and sickness is unavoidable.Old people need care and concern.Therefore，for old people，who will care them is a practical problem.Our survey indicates that48 empty nesters selected care by themselves，accounting for 17%，39 empty nesters selected care by children or grandchildren，accounting for 14%，and 130 empty nesters selected care by spouses，neighbors，and relatives.Data indicate that spouses of patients undertake most parts of caring，while children fail to undertake caring responsibilities well，because most children are working outside.Besides，most diseases of old people are chronic and need a long time of caring and cure.Children have to earn money to support the medical care expenses and so they can not stay home to accompany their parents.

1.6 Spirit situation of empty nesters in Tulu Village

1.6.1 Sense of loneliness of empty nesters.Spiritual health is an essential mark of living quality，but people often neglect psychological demands.Most empty nesters have sense of loneliness，which in fact is a psychological problem.Such state worsens sense of missing，fear，helplessness，thus empty nesters easily getmelancholia.Our survey results indicate that most children go home one time every three months or six months or one year，some children even have not been home for more than one year.About80%empty nesters in Tulu Village feel lonely，12%empty nesters selected not lonely and not happy，and only 8%empty nesters selected happy.Our survey shows that empty nesters miss their children very much，and other people in the family system fail to satisfy their demand for missing their children.

1.6.2 Cultural life of empty nesters.Through survey and indepth interview，we found that cultural life of empty nesters is relatively simple.They play croquetsormahjong or watch TV inmost times，and 10%empty nesters go to activity rooms.This is partly because most rural old people have low educational level and they do not read newspaper or magazines，and partly because Korean people and Han people take up half separately in Tulu Village，and language communication is a big obstacle.

2 Major existing problems in endowment of empty nesters in Tulu Village

2.1 Limited economic support for empty nestersFrom survey，we found that economic source of empty nesters in Tulu Village lacks guarantee.Among 277 empty nesters in Tulu Village，only a small portion has normal working ability，while most parts do not have working ability.Therefore，their income mainly comes from their children，relatives，friends，and government subsidies.However，money from relatives，friends，and government subsidies is little，and most parts of their economic sources come from their children.With development of society，family economic burden of children becomes heavy and heavy.They have to care parents and children，and they have to care about their future.These indicate that income of children is limited，so their economic caring ability for parents is also limited.Only a small portion of empty nesters use minimum living security and government subsidies to support their living.With increase of consumption level，the minimum living security and government subsidies will fail to solve economic problem of empty nesters.With development of society，rural medical care security system is difficult to adapt to various demands of old people at current stage.Through this survey，we found that most medical care expenses are undertaken by children of empty nesters and few empty nesters choose medical care insurance.Some old people have difficulty in reimbursing their expenses for hospitalization.

In the survey，we found that daily life expenses and educational expenses of empty nesters in Tulu Village account for 64%of their total expenses，and medical care expenses account for 23%.In fact，their economic income is very limited，but more than a half of their money is left for children.Littlemoney of them is spent for themselves.Many old people worry about nomoney to expend in the event of getting sick.Our survey indicates that17%empty nesters think their economic living can cover living costs，while 83%people think that it is not enough.

2.2 Physical health conditions of empty nesters is not optimisticEmpty nesters in Tulu Village are very pessimistic about their physical health.Most of them have physical health problem and some of them have great difficulty in caring by themselves.With growth of age，disease is unavoidable.Through this survey，we found that spouses undertake most caring works，be cause most medical care expenses are assumed by their children and their children have to earnmoney and do nothave much time.Besides，the old people are unwilling to rely on their children.The couples of empty nesters are not well healthy and have to care for patients.As a result，a lot of empty nesters have diseases such as diabetes and high pressure blood.In addition，neighbors and relatives care little for old people and their caring is temporary.However，in emergency，empty nesters badly need help of neighbors and relatives.In the interview，we got known that empty nesters pay little attention to sickness and some lead to serious diseases due to not seeking medical care service in time.

2.3 Life caring ability of empty nesters is lowRural environment is obviously worse than urban environment，such as in traffic，toilet，and buying of articles for daily use.Empty nesters in Tulu Village have great difficulty in life caring.Tulu Village is far from market.What's worse，high age and weak physical strength make them difficult to care the mselves well.In the interview，empty nesters in Tulu Village get perplexed with buying articles for daily use，especially half paralyzed empty nesters or those with cerebral thrombus.Compared with normal old people，empty nesters have greater difficulty in life care.

2.4 Empty nesters have strong sense of loneliness and sense of lossAccording to our survey，interaction circle of empty nesters is relatively small.They have little contact with others.In addition，they have sense of missing for their children，sense of fear，and helplessness，and sense of loneliness.Long time of living alone brings empty nesters with sense of loneliness and sense of loss.What's worse，the recreation and leisure are single.Empty nesters seldom communicate with others.Their life is dull and monotonous.This makes empty nesters feel very lonely.These are mainly because old people are not like dropping in and chatting and they feel lonely due to not living together with their children.These problems are difficulties faced by empty nesters in Tulu Village.

3 Major recommendations for endowment of empty nesters in Tulu Village

Rural empty nesting problem is a prevailing situation in rural areas of China.It is a social problem in the process of urbanization and transfer of rural surplus labor.Rural endowment of empty nesters is not merely a family problem，but a social problem.It is also a big issue in the process of building new socialist countryside.Therefore，empty nesters and their children should consider this problem.Village and government departments should attach great importance to this issue，to promote harmonious development of rural areas and accelerate building new socialist countryside.

3.1 Strengthening family endowment ability and improving socialized endowment serviceFor economic problem，children of empty nesters have great pressure，for example，it is difficult for them to bear expenses for endowment.Because most existing nursing homes for the aged are for commercial purpose.In line with this situation，government should establish rural socialized service organizations with low threshold，reasonable charge，professional workers，and complete facilities.In addition，government should energetically implement positive employment policies，constantly expand employment channels through focusing on pillar industries and major industries，and carefully organize rural surplus labor. Besides， government should energetically support students and migrant workers to come back to hometown for starting an undertaking.This can reduce burden of children for endowment expenses［1］.

With development of society，rural medical care security system is difficult to adapt to various demands of old people at current stage.Government should increase input in the minimum living security and social insurance.Specifically，it is recommended to improve people's livelihood infrastructure in Tulu Village，satisfy demands of empty nesters，and constantly raise happiness index of villagers.

Our survey indicates that empty nesters spend much in children education and daily life expenses.Children of empty nesters should make clear of money purpose，for example，the specific amount in children education and human relation.Once the old people get sick，children should remit money in time，do not make the old people to worry about money.Empty nesters should use money in themselves，such as seeking medical service，buying medicines，and eating things.

3.2 Strengthening practical living ability of empty nesters

Empty nesters in Tulu Village should pay more attention to their health.It is recommended to encourage them to care themselves.For example，they can make some simple and necessary house work，test blood pressure，take medicines，and prevent cerebral thrombus.Empty nesters should change ideas，overcome the psychology of empty nest，and cultivate the feeling of happy remaining years are not relying on others but created by themselves.We should convey the idea of independent living and space to empty nesters.After growing up，children will go to a better place for better development，and old people should feel proud and happy.Empty nesters in Tulu Village have to care for their children and grandchildren.They have to care about learning and skills of their children and grandchildren.Nevertheless，children may feel unhappy and can not concentrate on learning when their empty nest grandparents.Therefore，empty nesters should improve their practical life caring ability［2］.

3.3 Improving life care ability with family endowment as primary and community endowment as auxiliary partIt is recommended to bring into full play functions of the big family of the village and coordinate with every household to do well in endowment mutual assistance.For example，empty nesters can look after grandchildren for young people，while young people can help empty nesters do some housework or some logistic work.Children should get in touch with old people more frequently，and care for old people when they get sick，even though only for several days.Old people need care and looking after.

Children should not care about earning money only，but should care for old people.Children are obliged to look after their parents.Sometimes，they may hire nurses or housekeepers to look after their parents［3］.Many old people in Tulu Village live together with their grandchildren.On the one hand，grandchildren can look after old people.On the other hand，it can help old people and reduce worry and pressure of parents in looking after old people.

3.4 Expanding amusement and recreation ways of empty nesters Empty nesters in Tulu Village have economic demand，as well as emotional demand.Although most empty nesters do not have high level of material life and their health level is relatively low，the spiritual comfort is of great significance for them.According to analysis，old people should communicate with other villagers more frequently.This on the one hand can reduce their sense of loneliness and sense of loss，and on the other hand neighbors will help them when they need assistance.

Our survey indicates that amusement and recreation ways of empty nesters in Tulu Village are dull and monotonous.Thus，empty nesters should read more books，newspapers and magazines.This not only strengthens their intelligence，but also enri-ches their spiritual world.Tulu Village may hold some cultural and recreational activities，as well as sports meeting.It is expected to make villagers interact with each other more frequently，and cultivate them to remove language obstacles and sense of loneliness.Since they have common living environment and common topics，they will have more emotional exchanges［4］.Tulu Village should create harmonious atmosphere for empty nesters to help them live happy remaining years.Children and grandchildren living together with old people can talk about some funny things or take more interesting chatting，to reduce sense of loneliness and improve melancholy feeling of empty nesters.

［1］LIL.Study on Chinese elderly's life patterns in empty nest family and the countermeasures［J］.Guide to Business，2012（13）：3－21.（in Chinese）.

［2］ZHOU LP.Study on health evaluation indicators system of elderly population［M］.Beijing：Beijing People's Publishing House，2013.（in Chinese）.

［3］［USA］Hal.Candy.Family support for the elderly：the international experience［M］.China Labour＆Social Security Publishing House，2013：89－92.（in Chinese）.

［4］MU GZ.The challenge of loneliness—empty nest［M］.Shijiangzhuang：Hebei People's Publishing House，2012：23－34.（in Chinese）.