Families in North-East Asia

The purpose of this paper is to clarify similarities and differences in the family of older people in North-East Asia where there is a common tradition of filial piety based on Confucianism and also now the experience of rapid population aging. Compared with Western countries, in this region many older people are still living with their children. However, the ratio of cohabitation has been declining. Changes in living arrangements affect family relations and family functions. Though older people are still maintaining close relationships with their children, it is getting difficult to rely on children when they become frail. In North-East Asia, the core family caregiver is still a daughter-in-law but the increase in employment and the changing attitudes of women make it difficult to secure family caregivers, and so social services outside the home became inevitable. Now facing population aging and financial difficulties, each country is trying to find an optimum balance between social services and family care in order to maintain a sustainable social security system.