LookAtVietnam – A dramatic rise in the number of elderly people in the country is pushing Viet Nam on its way to having an old population,

Hanoian elderly practise tai chi, a kind of martial art to improve their health.

Nguyen Quoc Anh, director of the Population Information and Data Centre, said that the number of elderly people in Viet Nam has increased quickly, rising from 8.1 per cent of the total population in 1999 to 9.9 per cent currently. Estimates indicate that the number will hit 11.4 per cent in 2020 and 26 per cent (equivalent to nearly 30 million people) in 2050.

“Growth of the elderly population in Viet Nam has been much faster than that in many other countries around the world,” said Anh.

Nguyen Dinh Cu, head of the Institute of Population and Social Affairs, said the country has had little time to prepare for a changing economic structure suitable to the older population as a result of the rapid increase in numbers.

“This poses a big challenge for Viet Nam’s health and social welfare system, as well as the healthy living environment for the elderly,” said Thuy.

More than 80 per cent of Viet Nam’s elderly currently live in the countryside. About 20 per cent live under the poverty line and another 20 per cent live in temporary housing. However, more than 70 per cent of the country’s elderly lead their own lives without a pension or other financial support.

Do Thi Khanh Hy, deputy director of the National Geriatric Hospital, said that combined with the individual economic difficulties of the elderly, the country will have to face the healthcare challenges of a larger number of elderly people suffering from serious ailments.

National Geriatric Hospital statistics show that up to 70 per cent of the country’s elderly contract chronic diseases. For example, nearly 80 per cent of Viet Nam’s elderly have serious eye diseases and 40 per cent suffer from diseases of the ears.

“This reality requires additional healthcare workers to provide care,” said Hy.

“More women reach old age than men and because of the pressures they face, such as domestic violence, child bearing and hard work, their health often suffers due to multiple diseases, leading to disability in their old age,” said Hy.

Experts at the conference agreed that Viet Nam should develop policies for an older population.

“Geriatric Departments at hospitals and State-funded elder care centres should be established in localities,” said Nguyen Quoc Anh.

Hy suggested that a community-based health care model for the elderly should be developed with participation from volunteers and health officers as well as the families of the elderly.

“However, with the larger number of elderly it is necessary to establish a sustainable social insurance system in the countryside that will contribute to stabilising lives in difficult and rural areas,” said Anh.

“There should be more policies supporting the rural elderly that would allow them to find jobs suitable with their health condition and with the work they have done during their lifetime,” said Cu.

“A boost in information dissemination among young people about keeping fit because disabilities in old age can be caused by diseases that could have been prevented or treated if discovered sooner,” said Hy.

She said that a national elder-care programme should be created with specific provisions for retirement pensions, social welfare and health care services.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has begun implementing a plan to the year 2013 that will publish information about sports and exercises suitable for the elderly.

Psychologist Trinh Trung Hoa said that the elderly could happily receive care from their children. However, if they are forced to be financially dependent on their children they would consider it a tragedy.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News