Choosing "Respite Services" during Spring Festival allows children to breathe easier | Beijing News Quick Review

During the Spring Festival, a senior care community in Jinan launched a “Respite Care Program.” Photo/IC

According to Yicai, during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, families reunite. But for many families with disabled or elderly seniors, the holiday means a break in the care chain—live-in nannies returning home, hourly workers taking time off, children traveling or unable to be present due to work. Who will care for the elderly at home? This perennial problem every Spring Festival is giving rise to a new demand for senior care services: respite care.

This short-term holiday care service allows children, who bear the long-term burden of caregiving, to take a break, but it also faces some criticism, with some claiming it shows filial piety is lacking or that children are unwilling to accompany their elders. In fact, such views overlook the harsh realities and misunderstand the true meaning of filial piety.

Filial piety is not a rigid formality, nor does it mean children must exhaust themselves. We often measure children’s love for their elders by their constant proximity, but forget that caring for the elderly long-term is a marathon, not something that can be sustained solely by heartfelt devotion.

For some families, having live-in nannies or hourly workers helps balance work and caregiving. But during the Spring Festival, when nannies return home and hourly workers take time off, the entire caregiving burden suddenly falls on the children.

During the holiday, children either stay on duty at their jobs or juggle visiting relatives, socializing, and caring for their own children—making it difficult to do everything. It’s not that they don’t want to stay with their elders; reality simply doesn’t allow.

Imagine a middle-aged child with parents in their eighties or nineties needing dedicated care, children eager to reunite for the holiday, and work commitments pressing down. The constant hustle and bustle can leave them exhausted physically and mentally, with even basic rest becoming a luxury. In such cases, “respite care” is not about shirking responsibility but providing children with a buffer—an opportunity to catch their breath and recharge—so they can better care for their elders and fulfill their duties.

Moreover, “respite care” is not only about easing the burden on children but also about being responsible to the elders. Many children lack professional caregiving knowledge and feel overwhelmed managing daily routines and medication for seniors with disabilities or dementia.

Professional caregivers in senior care institutions can provide more attentive and scientifically based care, ensuring elders are well looked after during the holiday. They can also help seniors connect with peers, alleviating loneliness. Instead of children bearing the pressure and struggling to care for their elders, entrusting professionals to do what they do best can actually improve the quality of life for the elderly.

For a long time, we have been constrained by traditional ideas like “raising children to support old age” and “children should personally care for their parents,” but we have forgotten that times are changing, and eldercare methods should evolve accordingly. As the aging population grows, the pressure on family caregiving increases, and relying solely on children is no longer feasible. The emergence of “respite care” represents a social advancement in eldercare, filling the gaps in family-based care.

Filial piety is not superficial companionship but genuine concern and responsible action from the heart. Choosing “respite care” during the Spring Festival is not a sign of unfilial behavior but a rational, scientific way for children to fulfill their filial duties amid practical difficulties.

Written by / Guo Baozhe (Nantong University of Technology)

Edited by / Chi Daohua

Proofread by / Wang Xin