The loss of an only child ((in Chinese, Shidu) creates profound emotional trauma and structural vulnerabilities for elderly parents in China, especially those who are frail and living without reliable family-based care. Despite growing recognition of their plight, little is known about the multidimensional caregiving challenges they face in urban contexts. This study aims to explore the lived experiences and caregiving difficulties of frail elderly who have lost their only child in Chongqing, a rapidly aging municipality. A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted to capture the subjective realities of this vulnerable group. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 11 frail elderly who have lost their only child from two urban communities, and data were collected through in-depth interviews. The transcripts were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework. The findings reveal five interrelated caregiving challenges:  economic stability with lingering risks, physical decline and chronic illness, emotional loss and psychological trauma, social withdrawal and shrinking life space, care deficits and future anxiety. The study underscores the importance of developing affordable long-term care schemes, expanding psychosocial interventions, and strengthening community safety mechanisms for frail elderly who have lost their only child. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers, community workers, and social organizations seeking to improve eldercare models and design more inclusive, culturally sensitive interventions for vulnerable older adults.

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