Endogenesis and empowerment: logic, practical mechanism and sustainable path of rural minor pension institutions —based on the qualitative study of four villages in the Midwest of China

Introduction: This study explores the formation logic, operational mechanisms, and sustainable pathways of rural micro-pension institutions in central and western China. Methods: Using qualitative research methods, four typical villages were selected. Data were collected through 46 in-depth interviews and participatory observation, and analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Results: The results showed that this model operates through a triple mechanism of "low-capital embedding-emotionalized services-community-based collaborative governance," forming a low-cost, highly embedded "quasi-public" service network. This network effectively fills the vacuum left by the formal older adults care system in rural grassroots communities. However, it also faces structural challenges, including a lack of legitimacy, insufficient professionalism, and weak risk resilience. Discussion: Based on these findings, a five-in-one empowerment framework of "conceptual remodeling-institutional unbinding-service support-risk sharing-industrial integration" is proposed. This study provides a grassroots innovation model and policy insights for older adults care in resource-constrained environments. However, the external validity of the findings requires cautious generalization due to limitations in case numbers and the qualitative methodology.