Nguyen Thi Tuyen, a 78-year-old woman living with Parkinson’s Disease in Viet Nam’s Nghia Ninh commune in Quang Binh province, faces the challenges of living alone. “I have three children, but they have migrated to other places to earn their living and rarely visit me. I do not eat much and do not need much clothing. What I need more is medications for my disease and have someone to talk with and help me,” she says.
Tuyen's medication costs about $25 per month, while her contributory pension—her only source of income—is just $170. Her situation is emblematic of a broader global trend; by 2050, 1.5 billion people will be 65 or older. The World Bank publication “Silver Opportunity: Building Integrated Services for Older Adults around Primary Health Care” emphasizes that seniors can contribute significantly to society if they receive adequate support.
Viet Nam is experiencing rapid population aging. According to the UN population project, the number of Vietnamese people over 60 years old is projected to rise from 11.8 percent (11.4 million people) in 2019 to 20.8 percent (22.8 million people) in 2039. Smaller family sizes and increased migration are contributing to a growing number of elderly individuals living alone; currently, 6.3 percent (796,000 people) require assistance with daily activities.
In response, the Vietnamese government supports the expansion of Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHCs). These clubs operate at the grassroots level and consist of between 50-70 members, primarily older adults, women, and vulnerable groups who provide mutual support. Managed by the national Association of the Elderly, these clubs aim to utilize existing community resources effectively.
“Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs are an innovative model that provides comprehensive services for disadvantaged people,” says Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Deputy Director of the Social Protection Bureau at Viet Nam’s Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.
The government aims for ISHCs to be present in at least 80% of communes by 2030, potentially making them Viet Nam's largest care provider for older adults.
Since 2021, the World Bank has partnered with the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) through the Reducing Income- and Health-Related Vulnerability of Older Persons in Viet Nam project to support ISHC expansion in six provinces: Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, Quang Binh, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan. Implemented by HelpAge International in Vietnam alongside local Associations of the Elderly, this initiative has established 186 clubs benefiting over 24,725 individuals.
The ISHC project aims to enhance older people's participation in income-generating activities and their access to community-level health and social care services through regular health checkups and monitoring as well as homecare services among other supports.
Bui Thi Duoi from Cao Phong district in Hoa Binh province benefits from two ISHC homecare volunteers due to her paralysis caused by joint illness complications over four years ago.“Before I often cried because I could sit only in one place," she says."But since they (ISHC volunteers) come to help my life has changed; I feel much happier now.”
Back in Quang Binh province,Tuyen has been receiving regular visits from two homecare volunteers who assist her with daily activities such as bathing,washing clothes,and grocery shopping.Nguyen Thi Hien,Tuyen’s daughter,says,“They do not mind coming early morning.The homecare volunteers are like our family members.”
As Viet Nam's population continues aging,the Intergenerational Self Help Club model appears poised as a valuable resource ensuring healthy thriving lives among its elderly citizens.
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