Journalism of Courage
An elderly woman from central China has taken the unusual step of searching online for a “new daughter” to care for her in her final years, offering a flat, her belongings, and a monthly salary in exchange for companionship and support.
The woman, identified by her surname Ma and hailing from Henan province, shared her situation on a local TV programme on 19 November, South China Morning Post reported. Ma revealed that despite having two biological daughters, she has no one to rely on: her elder daughter wants to cut ties, while her younger daughter lives with a mental disability and cannot care for herself.
Now struggling with asthma and unable to walk more than 100 metres, Ma says all she wants is someone who can take her to medical appointments, help with daily tasks, and treat her “with the warmth of a daughter”.
To the right person, she is willing to offer one of her two apartments, her possessions, and her monthly pension of US$420 (Rs 37,500) as a salary. Local reports say she also has savings of about 400,000 yuan ( nearly 50 lakh rupees). Her second apartment, she says, will eventually go to her younger daughter.
Ties with her elder daughter frayed over disagreements about raising Ma’s granddaughter. The daughter, who says she is unemployed, reportedly told her mother that her life choices are “none of my business”. After divorcing her husband decades ago and losing contact with most of her relatives, Ma now faces old age largely on her own.
As per the SCMP report, Ma has also made it clear that she will not enter a nursing home and would prefer to sign a formal contract with anyone willing to take on the role of a “daughter”.
As per the SCMP report, lawyer, Xi Junqi of Henan Zhongdi Law Firm, clarified that under Chinese law, Ma’s elder daughter still carries a legal responsibility to support her mother, regardless of inheritance disputes. Anyone who accepts Ma’s proposal, he added, would need to sign a legacy support agreement to ensure clarity and protection for both parties.
Her story has tapped into a broader trend in China’s rapidly ageing society. Nearly 60 per cent of people aged 60 and above now live alone, according to a 2021 nationwide survey by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This loneliness has fuelled a growing industry in which elderly people hire “children” – companions who visit them, help with hospital appointments, mediate disputes with caregivers, and offer emotional support. These services can cost anywhere between 500 and 2,500 yuan (US$70 to US$350) per visit.
