The concept of "shared children" or "outsourced children" is emerging as a novel solution to provide care for the elderly, blending companionship with a range of support services. This trend sees young people stepping in to assist seniors, either through paid arrangements or voluntary goodwill, as traditional family-based care models face increasing strain.
A university student in Zhengzhou, known by the pseudonym Zhang Ping, first met a senior named Aunt Li four years ago while walking her dog. She now regularly visits, helping with tasks like walking the dog or collecting parcels, and in return, she receives home-cooked meals. "She treats me like family, and we look out for each other," Zhang Ping said. This growing practice encompasses both services purchased by the elderly or their children and unpaid reciprocal care, with experts noting it as a supplementary approach to home-based care as the role of traditional family support diminishes.
From Warm Companionship to Paid Services
Zhang Ping currently takes on paid tasks from social media platforms, where children of empty-nest seniors often post requests for help with errands like accompanying a parent to a bank or government office, or assisting with mobile app registration. "Initially, most seniors are surprised to see a stranger, but they are usually welcoming once they learn it was arranged by their child," she explained. These services, advertised under keywords like "shared children," "outsourced children," or "community children," have gained significant traction, with one platform noting over 360,000 views on related posts. Prices typically range from 30 to 100 yuan per hour, with per-task costs between 200 and 1,000 yuan.
Beyond individual freelancers, businesses and online platforms are also exploring this model. Since 2023, cities like Shijiazhuang, Zibo, and Dingxi have established "community children" service stations, where government-provided spaces and policy incentives encourage partnership with aged care providers. Zhang Hongyu, chairman of Shijiazhuang Aichao Old-Age Service Co., Ltd., explained that a simple phone call can dispatch a staff member to visit and care for a community elder. Researcher Zhao Menghan from Renmin University of China noted that while China's aging population faces challenges like a shortage of professional long-term care resources and regional imbalances, these "shared children" models effectively support home-based care. "By packaging needs like companionship, medical appointments, and conflict mediation into service products, they provide immediate, efficient help and offer daily emotional support, serving as a crucial complement to traditional family care," she said.
Navigating Trust and Boundaries
A major hurdle for these services is building trust and defining clear boundaries. A woman from Guangdong, surnamed Su, shared that her parents were uncomfortable with a hired "shared child" when her father was hospitalized in 2025. "They only accepted it when I said it was a friend helping out," she recounted. Another practitioner, Xiao Jiang from Jiangsu, lost a client after three years of service when she sent a gift of local produce to an elderly woman she had assisted. The senior's daughter, feeling the relationship had become too close, terminated all contact and reported Xiao Jiang to the platform.
Community-based service providers face similar ambiguities. Zhang Hongyu pointed out that the legal relationship between "community children" and seniors is not clearly defined, creating risks if disputes arise. If staff wear body cameras to protect themselves, it may infringe on the elderly's privacy. Researcher Zhao Menghan cautioned that using the term "children" blurs the line between familial and service relationships, complicating legal and ethical boundaries. She also highlighted the high turnover of service providers, which conflicts with seniors' need for stable, long-term companionship, potentially causing additional psychological distress. "Without unified service standards and training requirements, the quality of care varies significantly across different communities," she added.
Standardizing the Path Forward
Community-based mutual care models have existed for over a decade, with early examples like a volunteer team in Ningbo formed in 2012. Innovations such as the "time bank" model in Nanjing, where low-income seniors earn credits by helping older peers, have also gained traction. To ensure the sustainable development of "shared children" and "community children" models, experts recommend several key steps. First, clear legal contracts and service agreements are needed to define the rights and duties of both parties. Second, risk warning and emergency response mechanisms, including accident insurance for both workers and seniors, should be established. Zhang Hongyu also urged governments to allocate more land for senior-friendly facilities in community complexes, such as daycare centers, healthcare services, and cultural activity centers.
To address the issue of high staff turnover, Zhao Menghan suggested using fixed pairing arrangements to ensure consistent care and reduce adjustment costs for seniors. She also called for national or regional standards for service content, frequency, and quality, along with improved training and clear career pathways. "By creating professional recognition and incentives, we can enhance the attractiveness and identity of the elderly care service industry, ensuring it can meet the growing demand," she concluded.