Lawmakers, Political Advisors Debate How to Protect People Living Alone

Lawmakers at the Shanghai People's Congress spent days debating how the city should protect people who live alone, as family structures continue to change and more residents live on their own.

The discussion focused on guardianship, emergency medical decisions and what happens after sudden illness or death when no family members are available.

"These situations are becoming more common," according to Chen Chao, a Shanghai People's Congress deputy from Hongkou District. "But our systems are still not fully ready."

She said lawmakers repeatedly discussed how recent emergency cases were handled and what should be improved.

Chen called for clearer rules on temporary guardianship, faster court procedures and better coordination between hospitals, courts and civil affairs departments.

She also urged the city to expand pilot programs that allow residents to name intended guardians in advance. "Living alone is a personal choice. But the city must still give people a sense of safety."

Another key issue came from Jin Ying, a legislator and also a senior lawyer.

"I may be named as a guardian," Jin said during a discussion. "But when I go to a bank or hospital, who proves that I am the guardian?"

Jin noted that there is no single, official system to verify guardianship status in daily life. This can delay medical care or block access to finances.

She proposed a citywide guardianship information platform that could issue official proof recognized by banks and hospitals.

What if this happened to me?

Much of the debate was shaped by the widely discussed case of Jiang Ting, a 46-year-old woman who lived alone in Shanghai.

Jiang was unmarried and had no close relatives. She suffered a massive brain hemorrhage in October and died on December 14. She left no will and had not named a guardian.

Her death raised urgent questions about who could make medical decisions, arrange her funeral and manage her assets.

In late December, the Hongkou People's Court appointed the district's civil affairs bureau as her estate manager after confirming she had no legal heirs. Officials later said her funeral costs could be paid from her estate, easing public concern.

"She was only 46," Chen told Shanghai Daily. "Many people asked themselves, 'If this were me, what would happen?'"

While Jiang's case was handled, lawmakers observed that it also exposed legal gaps, especially around funeral arrangements.

Zhang Yuxia, another lawyer and a political advisor, said the law is unclear about who is responsible for funerals when civil affairs departments act as estate managers.

She said there are also no clear standards for funeral costs. "Is it 100,000 yuan (US$14,405) or 200,000? Burial or sea burial? There are no rules," she noted.

Another problem is timing. "Funerals must be arranged quickly. But court procedures can take weeks. That gap creates real difficulty."

Zhang urged the city to clearly define who handles funeral arrangements, how much can be spent and where the money comes from.

She suggested allowing funeral costs to be paid quickly, either from the estate or through a temporary government advance.

Shanghai's civil affairs department said it is working with other agencies to study faster payment and coordination mechanisms.

The Shanghai High People's Court said it is also considering mediation for uncontested cases which is make the process faster.