China's Grandparents: Struggling in the Big Cities

Family structures are undergoing a rapid change in modern China. More and more grandparents are finding themselves pressured to leave their homes in the country to look after their grandchildren in the cities. They are known as the "Lao piao zu". And they dedicate themselves to child-rearing for many years in an unfamiliar environment where they have no friends. However, this can put unnecessary stress on the elderly people leading to a sense of isolation, sometimes resulting in mental illness. We take a look at changing values in China and the steps being taken to encourage China's caring grandparents.