Though ageism is rampant across the world, Việt Nam wants elderly people to take a more prominent role in society.

Elderly people parade around Hoan Kiem Lake to celebrate Ha Noi’s 10 years of administrative boundary adjustment in July 2018. Old people across the country should play a greater role in cultural life in their localities, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Dat

The elderly have participated in social movements to help boost production and improve living conditions but their role should be promoted, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

Speaking at a session held yesterday in Ha Noi by the Viet Nam National Committee for Elderly, Dam stressed that: “The role of the elderly people has been particularly shown in learning promotion activities and we need to continue upholding this role if we want to build a ‘learning society’ in which the old people will not only encourage younger generations to study but also join themselves in learning activities.”

Old people should play a greater role in cultural life, leading civilised lifestyles and in Party building activities in their localities, he said.

Regarding tasks to take care of the elderly, the Deputy PM said localities should strive to have all old people holding health insurance cards and work to improve healthcare services for them, he said.

Apart from healthcare activities, attention should also be paid to programmes to entertain the elderly, he noted.

Participants at the meeting discussed shortcomings hindering efforts to take care of the elderly such as low awareness of authorities in some localities about their responsibilities relating to the elderly; poor implementation of tasks about old people; and a lack of mechanisms and policies encouraging the private sector to invest in establishments taking care of the elderly.

Financial shortages and a lack of land for healthcare services and cultural and sport activities for the elderly also remain challenges, they noted.

Deputy PM Dam asked ministries, agencies and localities to establish funds to take care of the elderly and promote their role in society.

They were also asked to review tasks relating to elderly people within their jurisdiction to ensure the tasks are fulfilled effectively.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said supervision and inspection should be strengthened to ensure the effectiveness of activities for elderly people.

The ministry is compiling a draft law on social activities which considers the establishment of the model of the social security fund to help tackle financial shortages for social activities at localities, according to Dung. The fund will target the elderly, children and the poor.

As of 2018, Viet Nam has more than 11.3 million elderly people, accounting for nearly 12 per cent of the country’s total population. Of the figure, nearly 2 million are more than 80 years old.

As many as 3.1 million elderly people get retirement pension and social insurance allowance; some 1.6 million elderly people get monthly social allowance and more than 10.8 million old people hold health insurance cards.

VNF/VNS