Long-term vision is needed when implementing policies for the elderly.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of perfecting the organizational structure of the elderly association, especially at the grassroots level, to effectively care for and promote the role of the elderly in all aspects of socio-economic life.

The issues facing the elderly are becoming increasingly urgent and important, so the Deputy Prime Minister requested a more long-term vision of the lives, health and social issues for the elderly. This not only demonstrates the superiority of the regime but is also a long-term preparation to ensure sustainable population quality in terms of structure, age and living area.

With the comprehensive and specific results of the work of caring for and promoting the elderly in 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that, in addition to regular tasks, in 2024, ministries, branches and localities of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly urgently summarize and update the content of Resolution 42-NQ/TW on continuing to innovate and improve the quality of social policies; submit to the Politburo to issue a resolution on the elderly in the new situation, as a basis for building a system of directive documents, laws, and fundamental, methodical and long-term strategies.

Provincial and municipal Party Committees shall promptly issue plans to implement Conclusion No. 58-KL/TW of the Secretariat on the organization and operation of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (Conclusion No. 58), striving that by the end of the third quarter of 2024, 100% of provinces and cities will establish provincial and district-level associations of the elderly.

Along with that, members of the Vietnam National Committee on Aging will strengthen coordination in inspecting, supervising and examining the implementation of the National Action Program on Aging for the 2021-2030 period.

The Vietnam Association of the Elderly proactively coordinates with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and relevant ministries and sectors to develop a coordination mechanism, organize cultural, artistic, physical education and sports activities, honor outstanding elderly people, etc.; synthesize and replicate effective models of activities for the elderly; research and propose innovations in policies and laws; strengthen cooperation with international organizations; conduct surveys and exchange experiences on elderly work abroad.

Previously, reporting at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said that currently, the country has about 16.1 million elderly people, of which more than 5.4 million elderly people receive pensions, social insurance benefits, preferential benefits for people with revolutionary contributions; 15 million elderly people have health insurance cards... To date, 14 provinces and cities have raised the social assistance standards; 32 provinces and cities have expanded the scope of elderly people in difficult circumstances and living alone to enjoy social assistance policies.

The work of protecting and caring for the elderly has achieved many practical results: Longevity greetings and birthday celebrations for over 1.2 million people; periodic health check-ups for 4.5 million people, health records for 3.5 million people; nearly 80,000 clubs organized; 9,950 communes/wards/towns established the National Fund for Elderly Care and the Fund for Care and Promotion of the Role of the Elderly at the Grassroots Level. Currently, the whole country has over 7 million elderly people directly participating in labor, production and business; nearly 734,000 people participate in the work of the Party, government, front, and mass organizations...

However, social assistance policies for the elderly are still limited and low. The rate of elderly people in poor households is 3.6%, near-poor households is 11.6%, higher than the national average. Some localities have difficulty in arranging funds for regular medical examination and treatment at facilities for the elderly; they have not paid attention to or arranged areas for recreation, entertainment, and community activities...

Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly Nguyen Thanh Binh proposed to soon issue a Resolution approving the National Strategy for the Elderly to 2030, promptly perfecting institutions and policies to respond to the rapid population aging process; developing a Project to replicate the model of elderly care facilities to 2030; a Project to build a model to support the elderly in creating jobs, participating in digital transformation, green transformation; raising the standard of social allowances, social pensions, ensuring that 100% of the elderly have health insurance cards...

At the meeting, leaders of ministries, branches and localities exchanged and discussed difficulties and obstacles in determining the purpose of use for land areas reserved for building centers and facilities for the elderly; promoting the geriatric health network; supporting the elderly in using public services and works; policies and regimes for participants in activities at all levels of the association...