• Elderly Woman seeks “daughter” to care for her in exchange for apartment and monthly salary
• Legal and social debate surrounds arrangement

An elderly woman from Henan province in central China turned to the internet to find a new “daughter” to look after her in place of her biological daughters, offering an apartment and a monthly salary in return.

During a local TV program aired on November 19, the woman, known by the surname Ma, explained her reasons for the search.

She said she has two biological daughters: one wants to cut ties with her, while the other is ill and unable to care for herself.

Ma suffers from asthma and can barely walk 100 meters. She is looking for a woman who can care for her, accompany her to medical appointments, and treat her with warmth and affection like a daughter.

She is willing to offer the “daughter” one of her two apartments, along with her belongings and her monthly pension of 3,000 yuan (about US$420).

Chinese media reported that Ma also has additional savings of 400,000 yuan (about US$56,000), while she plans to leave the other apartment to her younger daughter.

Reports indicate that her elder daughter has distanced herself over disagreements regarding the upbringing of Ma’s granddaughter, claiming she is unemployed and unable to care for her mother, and stating that Ma’s decisions are “none of her business.”

Ma divorced her children’s father at an early age and has lost contact with most of her relatives.

She said she is willing to sign an official contract with her future “daughter.”

Reactions online have been mixed, with some users expressing interest in applying, while others questioned the practicality of the arrangement.

Lawyer Xi Junqi from Henan Zhongdi Law Firm stated that Ma’s elder daughter is legally obligated to support her mother and cannot avoid this duty by renouncing her inheritance rights. He added that anyone agreeing to become Ma’s “daughter” would need to enter a formal legacy support agreement.

On a broader scale, a 2021 national survey by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs found that nearly 60% of people aged 60 and over live in empty-nest households.

This situation has fueled a growing industry of hiring “temporary children”—individuals paid to accompany elderly people to medical appointments and assist with daily challenges, including resolving disputes with caretakers.

These companions reportedly charge between 500 and 2,500 yuan (US$70–350) per visit, depending on the duration of service.