‘I’d talk to the TV’: The paid companions bringing warmth to China’s lonely
A paid companionship service in Beijing is helping older people who live alone with meals, household repairs and regular human contact. Its work reflects the growing challenge of loneliness in China, where migration and changing lifestyles can leave people far from family and established support networks.
Ninety-one-year-old Yang says the visits transformed daily life after her husband died and failing eyesight made simple tasks difficult. Wang Yingwei’s team visits twice a day and charges less than half the cost of a caregiver; his small business has four employees. Although reliable figures on the sector are scarce, Sinolink valued China’s “loneliness industry” at about $7.4 billion in 2025.
- Beijing’s paid companions bring meals, practical help and human contact to older residents.
- The service costs less than half as much as hiring a caregiver.
- Sinolink valued China’s loneliness industry at about $7.4 billion in 2025.
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China’s population is ageing, while people moving away for work and changing family patterns can leave some older people living far from relatives. For those who live alone, everyday tasks and regular social contact can become harder to manage.
Paid companions offer practical help, such as preparing meals or fixing things around the home, alongside conversation and visits. They are one form of support among a wider mix that can include family, neighbours and formal care services.
Demand for companionship services is linked to concerns about loneliness and gaps in support for older people. The sector is difficult to measure, so estimates of its size provide only an indication of how much activity it may involve.