Making the transition from family support for the elderly to social support for the elderly

China is in the midst of a major social transformation. "Providing support for the elderly" has become a growing public concern. Social transformations are bound to bring about changes in the old pattern of eldercare. Under these new historical conditions, the problem of how to build up a social eldercare-guarantees system that has Chinese characteristics and is in accordance with the socialist market economy is a matter of major significance.