The Localization, Practice and Innovation of Time Banking——On a New Approach to China's Aging Population

In the context of an aging population, the promotion of time banking as a new model of voluntary service can help alleviate the ever–increasing pressures for elderly care and services in China. The development of time banking in China has successively undergone the stage of traditional practice, the stage of infancy and exploration, as well as the stage of accelerated growth. Meanwhile, this process has also witnessed the formation of many localized innovations. To further the localization and innovation of time banking, this paper analyzes its basis in traditional culture, summarizes its process of practice and explores new directions of future innovation. Based on the summary of existing problems, this paper proposes to enhance the recognition of time banking among the public, facilitate localized innovation of time banking, promote its informatization, and involve the participation of young people, particularly college students.