Elderly Chinese Woman Offers Apartment and Monthly Salary to Hire a Surrogate Daughter for Care and Companionship

An elderly woman in Henan province, central China, has attracted considerable attention online for her unusual search for a surrogate "daughter." She is offering an apartment, her possessions, and a monthly stipend of 3,000 yuan (approximately US$420) in exchange for elderly care, according to South China Morning Post.

The woman, identified only by her surname Ma, appeared on local television on November 19 to share her difficult situation. She suffers from asthma that severely limits her mobility, making it challenging to walk even 100 meters. Despite having two biological daughters, Ma feels abandoned. Her elder daughter wishes to sever ties due to family disagreements regarding her granddaughter's upbringing, while her younger daughter has a mental disability that prevents her from caring for herself or her mother.

Ma divorced her husband early in life and has lost connection with most of her relatives. She hopes to find a compassionate woman who can provide daily assistance, accompany her to medical appointments, and offer emotional warmth. With savings of 400,000 yuan (US$56,000), Ma plans to leave her second flat to her mentally disabled daughter, while offering her first apartment to the person who accepts the role of surrogate daughter. She is willing to formalize this arrangement through a legal contract.

The proposal has sparked mixed reactions online. While some internet users expressed interest, others questioned the practicality of the arrangement. Critics noted that with declining property values, Ma's offer might not adequately compensate someone who would essentially be providing full-time care for both Ma and her disabled daughter. Some speculated that Ma might expect the surrogate to also care for her younger child, while others wondered if she would treat a new "daughter" well given her strained relationship with her elder biological daughter.

A lawyer from Henan Zhongdi Law Firm pointed out that Ma's biological elder daughter has a legal obligation to support her mother, which cannot be avoided by renouncing inheritance. The lawyer advised that any surrogate arrangement should involve a proper legacy support contract.

This unusual situation highlights China's growing crisis of elderly isolation. A 2021 survey by the Ministry of Civil Affairs revealed that nearly 60% of people over 60 are "empty nesters" without family living nearby. The phenomenon has given rise to a niche industry of paid "surrogate children" who provide temporary emotional and practical support, such as accompanying elderly people to medical appointments or helping resolve caregiver conflicts, charging between 500 and 2,500 yuan (US$70-350) per visit.