This paper uses data from the survey of “Wellbeing of Elderly in Anhui Province, China” conducted by the Institute for Population and Development of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Based on the “exposure-sensitivity-adaptive capacity” analysis framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a comprehensive index assessment model, the study builds an assessment index system and an assessment model for the vulnerability of rural elderly family, which are based on the exposure level, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of elderly rural family. The Vulnerability Index is used to measure the vulnerability of rural elderly family, and the types of vulnerability indexes and their dimensional differences are discussed. The results show that the vulnerability of old-age support systems of rural elderly family maintained a high level; 51.81% of respondents are belonged to high-and mediumlevel vulnerable families. Rural elderly living in the high-level vulnerable families have the characteristics of seniority, low education level, low ability of ADLs, and low family income. The characteristics of mediumlevel vulnerable rural elderly families are similar to those of highlevel vulnerable families. The levels of exposure and sensitivity of rural elderly families with widowed elders, having daughters only or do not live with children and grandchildren are high.

With a life course perspective,this paper establishes multi-level growth curve models of intergenerational exchanges using data derived from a 4-wave longitudinal survey over the last decade in rural area of Chaohu City,Anhui Province.Throughout the entire life stage of the elder parents aged 60 plus,the respective effects of individual age,birth cohort and family life stage on family intergenerational exchanges are decomposed and the age trajectories of intergenerational exchanges are explored empirically and graphically.The results show that the intergenerational exchange is a dynamic process of individual development,historical trend and family strategy,the level of which depends on the synchronization of individual,historical and family time.