Chao Guo, Charlotte Ren, and John J. DiIulio. December 11, 2025. The Conversation. https://doi.org/10.64628/AAI.yha4vd9cs

We are a diverse team of researchers who believe the global elder care crisis cannot be addressed by the market or the state alone. In this article, we explore how time banks—systems in which people exchange services hour-for-hour—could help ease the growing burden of elder care. As aging populations strain families and formal care systems, time banks offer a community-based model that expands support and strengthens social ties. Members earn credits by helping others and use them when they need care. With effective coordination and institutional backing, time banking could meaningfully complement traditional elder-care systems.

Note: This is an editor-reviewed article.