养老院，收养没有法定赡养人或因其他原因而不能在家生活的老年人。养老院的全部费用由国家负担，个人还可以按规定领取原来享受的养老金或抚恤金的一部分。中国的敬老院是在农村"五保户"的基础上发展起来的。1956年农业合作化时期，农业生产合作社对缺乏劳动能力、生活没有依靠的鳏、寡、孤、独者，实行保吃、保穿、保烧、保医、保葬(儿童则为保教)，简称"五保"。1958年人民公社化时期，对五保户实行集中供养，在全国各地兴办了一批敬老院。1978年以来，随着农村实行联产承包责任制和集体经济的发展，敬老院得到进一步的巩固和发展。1988年，全国农村已有敬老院36665所，有756个县(县级市)在乡镇普遍办了敬老院。城市街道也办起了敬老院。
Nursing home, to adopt the elderly without legal support or who cannot live at home for other reasons. All the expenses of the nursing home shall be borne by the state, and individuals can also receive part of the old-age pension or pension they originally enjoyed according to regulations. China's nursing homes have been developed on the basis of "Five Guarantees" in rural areas. During the period of agricultural cooperation in 1956, agricultural production cooperatives implemented food, clothing, burning, medical care and burial protection for widows, widows, orphans and orphans who lacked the ability to work and had no support for life (children are protected for Education), which is referred to as "Five Guarantees". In 1958, a group of people's communes were established throughout the country to support the elderly. Since 1978, with the implementation of the rural contract responsibility system and the development of the collective economy, the nursing home has been further consolidated and developed. In 1988, there were 36665 homes for the elderly in rural areas, and 756 counties (county-level cities) generally set up homes for the elderly in villages and towns. City streets have also set up nursing homes for the elderly.