More than 1,300 elderly Chinese people go missing every day

An investigation report in China says that about 1,370 elderly Chinese people go missing every day, most of them suffering from dementia.

According to the Telegraph, this reality is posing a worrying problem for the Chinese government as the country's population is aging, and the elderly are increasingly living alone as their children and grandchildren have to leave to work in big cities.

Elderly Chinese people. Photo: Reuters.

According to an investigation report by the Zhongmin Social Assistance Institute, about 500,000 elderly people in China go missing every year, equivalent to about 1,370 people per day.

This situation occurs mostly in rural areas and small cities, areas where most young workers leave their hometowns to go to the city to find work.

More than 80% of missing elderly people are found in big cities but only 50% are found in rural areas.

Many of the missing had mental illness, 72% had memory problems, 25% were diagnosed with dementia.

After four decades of implementing a harsh one-child policy, China is facing the consequences of a small labor force and a rapidly aging population.

In 2013, Beijing passed a law requiring adult children to visit their elderly parents. The law also requires children to provide spiritual support to their parents.

According to UN estimates, by 2050, 30% of China's population will be aged 60 and over./.

According to VOV