Only Daughter Quits Job to Care for Disabled Mother, Draining Savings; 45 Million Face Care Deficit
Zhang Wei, an only child, quit her job three years ago to care for her disabled mother, exhausting her retirement savings and suffering irreversible career setbacks. She has not had a full night's sleep since, as the 24-hour care burden falls solely on her. China has about 45 million disabled people, and the gap between care needs and available support remains significant, leaving many middle-aged only children overwhelmed.
At 3:05 a. m. , Zhang Wei got up to change her mother's diaper for the third time that night. Heavy drowsiness enveloped her, and she could only hope this would be the last time her mother woke her. Since quitting her job three years ago to care for her mother full-time, she has not slept through a single night. This round-the-clock caregiving burden falls on no one else—she is the family's only child.
The financial toll and irreversible career disruption from caring for a disabled parent are draining the retirement savings of only children. With no one to share the load and a lack of institutional support, these middle-aged individuals are buckling under the strain. China has approximately 45 million disabled people, and there is a significant shortfall between their care needs and the available supply.