Latest update:
The woman, known as Ma, offered one of her two apartments and a monthly stipend of $420 to a woman who could take care of her and keep her warm like her own daughter.
The elderly woman made an unusual appeal to hire a “daughter.” (Image generated by artificial intelligence)
In a strange piece of news, an elderly Chinese woman has offered an apartment and a monthly salary of $420 (about Rs 37,550) to “hire” a daughter to take care of her instead of her biological daughters.
the South China Morning Post The woman, identified as Ma from Henan province, shared her motives behind the strange search for a daughter on a local TV show, prompting mixed reactions from the Chinese public.
Ma said that she has two biological daughters, one of whom she wants to cut off all ties with, while the other suffers from a mental disability and is unable to take care of herself. Her eldest daughter has distanced herself from her mother due to disagreements over raising a granddaughter.
The eldest daughter claimed to be unemployed and unable to care for her mother, stating that decisions were “not her business.” Moreover, Ma also divorced her father at a young age and lost contact with most of her relatives.
Suffering from asthma and limited mobility, Ma is looking for a woman who can take care of her, support her during medical visits, and treat her with the warmth of a daughter. She also agreed to offer this “daughter” one of her two apartments, as well as her property and a monthly pension of 3,000 yuan ($420) per month. She is also open to signing a formal contract to confirm the arrangement
Ma’s search for a daughter received mixed reactions from the online community. While some users expressed interest in applying, others raised concerns about the feasibility of the arrangement, according to SCMP. One user said: “It seems to me that she is looking for someone to take care of herself and her younger daughter.”
“With housing prices so low, an apartment and the cash it offers may not be enough to cover the costs of a nanny for two,” a third person commented.
However, one lawyer stated that the eldest daughter had a legal obligation to support her mother, which she could not escape by giving up her inheritance rights, and any alternative arrangement should include an appropriate succession support agreement.
This bizarre request has highlighted China’s growing elderly isolation crisis. A nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in 2021 found that nearly 60% of mainland Chinese residents aged 60 and above live alone. This situation has strengthened the “baby” employment industry, which includes individuals hired to work as companions for the elderly.
Avik Banerjee is Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida, Avik holds a Master’s degree in Global Studies, has over three years of experience in digital media and news curation, and specializes in international affairs… Read more
27 November 2025 at 10:06 PM IST
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