We ask too much of our parents

Zhao Wei, 39, an insurance company manager in Chengdu, Sichuan province

In 2007, my parents moved south from Shenyang, Liaoning province, to help take care of my daughter. They were used to life in the north, and were uncomfortable in Chengdu because of the high humidity and the lack of heating in winter.

To make matters worse, my father was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, but his medical insurance wasn't valid in Chengdu, and my parents had to travel back to Shenyang so he could have surgery. They returned to Chengdu after the operation, but it was obvious dad's health wasn't as good as before. We became frequent visitors to the hospital, and the medical fees left us in debt.