Addressing Elderly Care Challenges in Aging China: An Interdisciplinary Approach Through Policy and Vocational Education

China's aging population poses complex social challenges, driven by rapidly changing demographics, labor shortages, and increasing demand for elderly care services. This study uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining the Anderson behavioral model and path dependency theory, to analyze the emergence of new elderly care needs and the rigidity of China's policy and vocational education system. Quantitative methods are used to identify key factors affecting elderly care needs, while qualitative interviews with stakeholders reveal systemic barriers in policy implementation and vocational training. The findings highlight the serious mismatch between supply and demand of elderly care services, inadequate training of frontline caregivers, and social bias against vocational education. Recommendations include fostering an innovative vocational education system, addressing policy lags, and reshaping social perceptions to establish a sustainable elderly care framework.