China’s First Generation of Leftover Women Has Entered Nursing Homes. What Happened to Them?

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:03]Today I read a heartbreaking article that profoundly impacted me.

[00:00:08]It talked about the first batch of leftover women in Guangdong who have moved into nursing homes.

[00:00:15]The article mentioned that their biggest regret was not having children.

[00:00:20]Now, they can only chat with other elderly people in the nursing home, talking about life and sharing fears.

[00:00:28]What they all fear most is the inevitability of death as they frequently witness fellow residents passing away. They say that in the limited time they have left, they really want to adopt godsons or goddaughters to fill the emotional void inside them.

[00:00:45]Even if it costs a lot of money, even if they might be deceived, it doesn't matter anymore.

[00:00:52]Reading this report left me feeling extremely sad.

[00:00:56]It also made me think about my own situation.

[00:00:59]45 years old, unmarried, childless, and without a partner.

[00:01:06]The thought of ending up like that is terrifying, but I don't know what to do.

[00:01:15]What has happened to the first batch of women who never married?

[00:01:19]It is said that the first group of lifelong unmarried women has already moved into nursing homes. They once enjoyed freedom and independence, relishing their single lives for half of their years.

[00:01:31]But as they aged, did they start to regret their earlier choices?

[00:01:35]A journalist interviewed one of these women. She said, "When I was young, I was the campus belle."

[00:01:41]She showed the journalist an old photo of herself.

[00:01:44]At the time, she was proud and ambitious, believing that no man in the world was worthy of her.

[00:01:50]Even during matchmaking events, no one ever caught her eye.

[00:01:54]Later, she lived a carefree life alone, feeling that whether she had a man in her life or not didn't matter.

[00:02:00]She thought she could buy a car and a house on her own, and that was enough.

[00:02:04]However, as time went on, she realized that no amount of money could replace the role a partner plays in one's life.

[00:02:11]A few years ago, many of her single friends started to get married and have children one after another, but she remained alone, living her entire life without marrying or having children.

[00:02:22]During her busy working years, she quite enjoyed the solitude, but now, in the nursing home, where residents frequently pass away, she finds it heartbreaking.

[00:02:33]More than anything, she wishes she could have what other elderly residents do, family, children, and grandchildren who visit and accompany her.

[00:02:43]But by the time she came to understand this, it was already too late. So to those in their 20s and early 30s who keep declaring they won't get married, are you truly prepared to grow old alone?

[00:02:57]Recently, I came across a very heartbreaking article about the first batch of leftover women in Guangdong who have moved into nursing homes.

[00:03:05]According to media interviews, their biggest regret is not having children to carry on their legacy or to be there for them in old age. After moving into the nursing home, their greatest hope is to have someone visit them regularly.

[00:03:18]Once they felt proud of their achievements and believed they had every reason to be um their their proud lives were spent searching for true love, refusing to settle for less, but year after year, time slipped by and suddenly they found themselves at this stage of life.

[00:03:33]What is life like for them now? It's a monotonous routine of eating, sleeping, and chatting with other elderly residents.

[00:03:40]But what they fear most is watching people around them pass away every few days.

[00:03:46]In these moments, they deeply long for the presence of family, someone to accompany them through the final stretch of life.

[00:03:53]They often express their desire to adopt godsons or goddaughters in their remaining days to fill the emotional void in their hearts. They say they'd even be willing to spend a lot of money or risk being deceived just to feel that sense of family.

[00:04:07]Reading this article really tugs at the heart.

[00:04:10]As someone who has experienced marriage, I believe having a marriage is far better than growing old alone.

[00:04:16]Marriage may not always be perfect, but at least it's a partnership, someone to accompany and comfort a lonely heart, and let's not forget children who bring hope into our lives and give us a reason to keep going.

[00:04:28]So at the right age, find the right partner and get married. Life has its seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and we shouldn't miss out on any of them.

[00:04:40]In Hangzhou, the first batch of older leftover women has already entered such nursing homes. Only after moving in did they realize it wasn't as good as they had imagined. Back then, they were highly educated, high impulse, and had high standards, just like many of you might think today.

[00:04:57]In their youth, they were carefree and bold, but after entering the nursing home, they realized how much they regretted not having children when they were younger. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in this situation now with no family members by their side and facing the prospect of spending their later years alone, even in a nursing home.

[00:05:18]Many fans often express concern about my retirement plans.

[00:05:23]So this morning, I decided to visit a nursing home in Shanghai.

[00:05:28]How's the environment there? Families, are you satisfied with these conditions?

[00:05:34]Such a spacious living room. It feels great to live here alone.

[00:05:39]My bed is quite nice, too. The lighting on the balcony is fantastic. The gym is well equipped, so I can even save on a membership fee. Have you ever seen such a beautiful dining hall?

[00:05:51]All this for just 53 yuan per meal, and there's entertainment afterward.

[00:05:57]There's also a swimming pool, a hair cutting area, and a spa zone.

[00:06:02]It's so relaxing. And yes, even a cinema.

[00:06:07]At this kind of nursing home, would you still cry under the covers at night?

[00:06:15]See that aunt sitting over there?

[00:06:17]Look how lonely she is.

[00:06:19]She's part of the first batch of older single women who moved into a nursing home. This is truly the reality now.

[00:06:26]Both older single women and men have started living in nursing homes. Today, I chatted with them, and they said it was only after moving into the nursing home that they realized life there isn't as great as they had imagined. You can see it's actually quite lonely.

[00:06:43]These were once high-achieving, highly educated, and highly demanding individuals.

[00:06:49]In their youth, they were admired and envied by everyone. But now, after entering nursing homes, they've come to understand the deep regret and loneliness that fills their hearts.

[00:07:00]When they were younger, they didn't choose to have children.

[00:07:03]Now, there's not a single family member by their side.

[00:07:07]They've even thought about adopting godsons or goddaughters, but the reality is that no amount of money can buy the kind of closeness and bond that comes from family. That's why, when people grow old, they rarely regret what they did in their youth. They regret what they didn't do.

[00:07:23]But by the time you realize this, it's already too late.

[00:07:28]So getting married, finding a partner, and having children, these things must be done early.

[00:07:34]Don't wait until it's too late to regret it.

[00:07:41]Recently, a news report caught everyone's attention. The first batch of leftover women in China has moved into nursing homes in Guangzhou. According to statistics about the first batch of leftover women in nursing homes, most of them expressed deep regret. They said they were brainwashed by media and societal narratives in their youth, missing the window for love and marriage. Suddenly, they feel as if they went straight from being young to old without truly growing up. Now they live a lonely life in nursing homes, having never experienced the joys of love, marriage, or raising children.

[00:08:18]But no matter how much they regret it now, it's too late. There's no medicine for regret.

[00:08:24]Many young people today still believe that having children is a burden or a nuisance.

[00:08:30]But those of us who have raised children know that having kids brings immeasurable joy, much like raising pets, but amplified many times over.

[00:08:40]I have a friend who married and had children later in life. This year, they had their first baby. The child is just a few months old, but my friend told me they can't resist showing off their baby. They share photos with us, and we're all thrilled for them. The baby is adorable. My friend said, "Even though sleepless nights are tough, just looking at their child fills them with happiness." That kind of joy is indescribable.

[00:09:05]As for love, many older single women in their 40s and 50s still hope to find love. But let me ask, if we couldn't find love in our teens and 20s, what makes us think we'll find it in our 40s or 50s?

[00:09:20]Ladies, if you had even a little understanding of men, you wouldn't have such fantasies.

[00:09:27]Do you know what men value most in women?

[00:09:30]There are two things, sexual appeal and fertility.

[00:09:35]They prefer youth and beauty. There's even a joke that men are the most consistent creatures in the world.

[00:09:41]Whether they're 20 or 18 years old, they'll always be attracted to 18-year-old girls.

[00:09:47]Secondly, men highly value women's ability to have children. After a certain age, especially past 35, women lose both their fertility and sexual appeal in the eyes of most men, rendering them worthless in their view.

[00:10:01]So, do you think men will still offer love at that age?

[00:10:04]It's unlikely. If a man claims to love you for who you are at 35 or 45, it's either an extreme exception or a potential trap.

[00:10:14]Many older women who didn't date in their youth end up being deceived by scams or pig butchering schemes when they're in their 40s or 50s.

[00:10:24]In reality, many women who choose to remain single in their youth believe that being alone is more fulfilling, but by the time they reach their 40s, they crave love, marriage, and even the chance to raise children. At that point, it's often too late.

[00:10:39]Don't be fooled by narratives that claim children are nothing but trouble or that marriage is a burden. These are the most toxic ideas one can believe.

[00:10:48]Time flies, and before you know it, you may find yourself alone, preparing to move into a nursing home.

[00:10:55]Looking back on your life, you may realize it's mostly empty, filled with no lasting relationships or emotional fulfillment.

[00:11:03]Think about it.

[00:11:05]Didn't we waste the best years of our lives, those beautiful moments of youth, for nothing?

[00:11:16]I will never go to a nursing home. My cousin once lived in a nursing home, and she never married or had children in her life.

[00:11:24]At first, she thought she could accept this lifestyle, but as time went by, she felt increasingly lonely, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.

[00:11:32]There was a time when she didn't even want to live anymore, falling into deep despair, which eventually led to severe depression.

[00:11:40]She had severe mental issues, and she had to be hospitalized for treatment.

[00:11:45]After she was discharged, she never wanted to return to the nursing home, and no matter what, she refused to go back.

[00:11:52]I'm 80 years old this year.

[00:11:55]Now, my monthly pension is about more than 7,000 yuan. I will never go to a nursing home. Why?

[00:12:02]Because during my previous work in journalism, I interviewed nursing homes many times and visited the elderly there.

[00:12:09]I saw many different kinds of elderly people. The elderly in nursing homes often have very different personalities, life experiences, and growing environments, and each person has their own unique thoughts and behaviors. So, it's not easy to live harmoniously in such an environment.

[00:12:26]Not only that, but my cousin also personally experienced life in a nursing home.

[00:12:32]She lived in a two-person room, and at first, she was somewhat adapted to it.

[00:12:37]Her neighbor was a strange-tempered old lady.

[00:12:40]Every time I visited my cousin, I would bring some food and necessities for her.

[00:12:45]However, this old lady always made various demands of us, and when her needs weren't met, she would verbally abuse us. She would often pour dirty water near my cousin's bed, and eventually, my cousin couldn't take it anymore and had to move to another room.

[00:13:00]Even so, this old lady would still stare at her through the door and continue asking her for things.

[00:13:07]If she didn't get what she wanted, she would curse at her.

[00:13:10]This kind of life made my cousin very uncomfortable.

[00:13:13]Originally, she thought the nursing home would be a peaceful place for the elderly, but it turned out to be full of conflicts and disharmony.

[00:13:21]My cousin eventually decided not to live in the nursing home anymore.

[00:13:25]She moved back home for a while, but since she had always been single, she still felt extremely lonely at home, as if she had been abandoned by the world.

[00:13:34]For a period of time, she even lost interest in life and no longer wanted to live. Later, this led to some mental problems, and she was sent to the hospital.

[00:13:43]After she recovered, she refused to return to the nursing home, no matter what.

[00:13:48]This is a real experience for my own family, and it's one of the reasons I firmly refuse to go to a nursing home.

[00:13:55]Moreover, our neighbor's elderly family members also lived in a nursing home.

[00:14:00]Once I asked them how they felt about it, the couple who lived there said one sentence to me, "We're just waiting to die there."

[00:14:07]This sentence left a deep impression on me.

[00:14:11]The environment in the nursing home made them feel that life was hopeless, as if they were just waiting for the end of their lives.

[00:14:18]Some of my classmates who have been single their whole lives live in relatively high-end nursing homes, but even so, the photos of food they sent during the Spring Festival didn't look comparable to what we have at home.

[00:14:31]Besides, the cost of such high-end nursing homes is extremely expensive, and ordinary people simply can't afford it. What if one day I can't take care of myself?

[00:14:40]I think even if that day comes, I will still choose to stay at home.

[00:14:45]I have two children, and they are both very filial and have already retired, so they can take care of me.

[00:14:51]I'm very reassured about this.

[00:14:54]I will advise my friends and relatives never to go to a nursing home, because from these first-hand experiences, I deeply feel that nursing homes are not the best option for the elderly.

[00:15:05]Especially with so many older single women in society now, I sincerely advise you young ladies to carefully consider marriage, and don't think it will be good to rely on nursing homes when you're old.

[00:15:18]If you have no children and you go to a nursing home, there's no one to protect you.

[00:15:23]For those who have children, if they go to a nursing home, who would dare to bully them? Their children would step in and address any issues. Isn't that possible?

[00:15:33]Of course, it is. Children would take care of it.

[00:15:37]Recently, many fans have told me, "When I get old, I'll just go to a nursing home." It's an option, but is it really that simple? Who goes to a nursing home and comes back saying it's great? Honestly, I don't think it's ideal even when you're old. Do you really want to go to a nursing home?

[00:15:56]Some people think nursing homes are a solution, but they don't realize how hard it can be.

[00:16:03]If you're considering this option, you need to first understand what it truly entails. Don't aim too high and settle too low when looking for a partner. If nothing else works out, consider someone divorced or with children. In modern times, both parents often provide financial support, so the burden isn't as heavy.

[00:16:24]If you marry someone with kids, you'll have family to rely on. I've been saying this for half my life. It's frustrating that people still don't realize it.

[00:16:33]If you think nursing homes are great, remember, they are not as good as you imagine. If you're alone in a room, there's no one to talk to. And do you think the government will cover all your expenses? No, that's not how it works.

[00:16:49]Nursing homes are expensive, and you'll need your own money to pay for them.

[00:16:53]Without family or children, who will stand up for you if something happens?

[00:16:58]Don't assume it's a warm, family-like environment where you can get whatever you want.

[00:17:03]It's not that easy.

[00:17:05]Do you think your savings will last long enough to stay in a nursing home for years? In 2 years, your money might be gone, and then what?

[00:17:14]There's no such thing as free care.

[00:17:17]Instead of dreaming about nursing homes, lower your expectations for a partner.

[00:17:22]Look for someone reliable and kind-hearted. Wealth doesn't matter.

[00:17:26]What's important is having someone who will stand by your side. Extravagance won't bring happiness. Simplicity and mutual understanding will. Many people find this way of living much more fulfilling.

[00:17:39]Right now, many couples with grown-up children put their elderly parents in nursing homes, but those with children have someone to check in on them, ensuring they're safe.

[00:17:50]If you're childless and alone, who will defend you?

[00:17:54]People with children don't face the same risks.

[00:17:57]They have someone who cares.

[00:18:00]So, stop dwelling on the idea of nursing homes. Your top priority now should be finding a partner. Don't hesitate. Time is of the essence.

[00:18:09]Share your thoughts on social media, reach out to friends, and actively look for opportunities. There's no time to waste. Take action now.

[00:18:19]In today's society, many older single women are choosing not to marry, and surprisingly, the people most concerned about this are not their close friends or peers, it's their parents who are the most worried.

[00:18:28]Parents who urge their children to marry are doing so out of genuine love and concern.

[00:18:34]While the younger generations, especially those born in the '90s and 2000s, often resist this pressure, labeling it as intrusive, we need to understand the root of their concern.

[00:18:43]Many young women today are influenced by negative online narratives or consumer-driven ideals, which shape their perceptions of marriage and lead them to prioritize independence over traditional family structures.

[00:18:54]If there comes a day when your parents stop pushing you to get married, take a moment to reflect. It might mean they've given up on their expectations for you, not out of apathy, but because they no longer see hope in convincing you.

[00:19:05]Remember, your parents are likely the only people in this world who care about your happiness without expecting anything in return.

[00:19:10]Their insistence on marriage is not about controlling your life, but about ensuring you have a partner and family to support you in your future.

[00:19:16]Whether or not you choose to marry is ultimately your decision, but your parents worry because they envision a future where they are no longer around to support you.

[00:19:24]They fear that in your later years, when you might face illness or immobility, you'll have no one to take care of you or provide emotional companionship.

[00:19:31]They don't want to leave this world still burdened by worries about your well-being.

[00:19:36]Many young people justify staying single by saying they're too focused on work, earning money, or that raising children is too exhausting.

[00:19:43]These challenges are real, but past generations have faced them, too, and they've managed to find happiness despite the struggles.

[00:19:50]The truth is, when you're old, sick, and unable to care for yourself, money alone won't solve all your problems.

[00:19:56]You might argue that money can buy care, hire a nurse, pay for a nursing home, or even secure premium services, but genuine care and emotional companionship can't be bought.

[00:20:04]Love and connection come from people who truly care for you, not from transactions.

[00:20:09]And even if you have money in the future, it may not entirely belong to you.

[00:20:13]It could be tied up in responsibilities, health expenses, or other unforeseen circumstances.

[00:20:18]Parents, through their life experiences, understand this deeply.

[00:20:21]Their advice, rooted in wisdom and love, is not meant to harm you, but to protect you.

[00:20:27]Does this perspective resonate with you?

[00:20:29]Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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