Can Public Elderly Care Services Promote Social Participation Among Rural Older Adults?

This study explores the impact of public elderly care services on social participation among rural older adults and examines the underlying mechanisms, providing empirical evidence for improving the rural elderly care system and promoting sustainable development in rural aging societies in China. Using four waves of panel data from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) (2014–2020), this research focuses on home- and community-based elderly care services. Employing a two-way fixed-effects model and an instrumental variable approach, the study finds that the accessibility of public elderly care services significantly promotes social participation among rural older adults. This result remains robust after conducting various checks, such as replacing outcome variables, altering measurement methods, and adjusting sample sizes. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effects are more pronounced among older adults with higher education, those co-residing with adult children, and those in more economically developed regions. The accessibility of public elderly care services primarily facilitates social participation by alleviating labor supply constraints, improving mental health, and strengthening the willingness to engage. The findings suggest that improving the accessibility of public elderly care services can significantly enhance social participation and recommend expanding service coverage as a core strategy to promote active aging in rural areas, with a focus on fostering localized models like rural mutual aid and neighborhood care. Additionally, addressing information asymmetry by establishing “village-level public elderly care information service stations” and creating time banks for mutual aid care at the township level could help foster a virtuous cycle of intergenerational support.