Abstract:

Examining COVID-19 pandemic control practice based on the theory of “vulnerability/ anti-vulnerability”, this paper finds that the despite of the strong support due to fast reaction of Shanghai government and grassroots community, robust health care system and active involvements of various social groups, those elder people who lost their only child still show physical and emotional vulnerability when they rely on medical care, life care and psychological care during this pandemic. For this concern, this paper makes following suggestions. First, the government shall improve relevant laws and policies and ensure their accessibility. Second, we shall actively take advantage of the positive role of communities, empower and activate social organizations, and make full use of professional advantage of social workers. While strengthening the government’s responsibility to guarantee the basic needs, we shall establish the mechanism of the “joint efforts of communities, social organizations and social workers” so as to build a social support network system oriented by social resources supply, enhance the resilience of the elderly who have lost their only child and reduce the vulnerability of those older people during pandemic in the future.

Key words: COVID-19, the elderly who lost their only child, vulnerability theory, resilience, “joint efforts of communities, social organizations and social workers”