Comprehensive healthcare for the elderly.

(Baohatinh.vn) - Thanks to the involvement of the health sector and the community, 90% of elderly people in Ha Tinh have received regular health check-ups; 100% of elderly people who are sick or ill have received treatment and support.

Recognizing the increasing healthcare needs of the elderly, the Ha Tinh Department of Health has recently focused on directing hospitals and health centers to develop specific care plans for this group. Commune-level health stations have advised local People's Committees to organize a network of volunteers to provide home care for the elderly, coordinating with families and communities to conduct regular health monitoring.

Department of Internal Medicine A - Geriatrics, Provincial General Hospital, provides effective care for elderly patients.

At the Provincial General Hospital, as the leading medical facility in the province, improving the quality of treatment for elderly patients is a top priority. Besides improving service quality and developing specialized techniques, the hospital has also established a specialized unit for treating the elderly.

According to Dr. Le Van Dung, Deputy Director of the Provincial General Hospital, due to the increasing demand for treatment for the elderly, the hospital has established the Internal Medicine Department A – Geriatrics with 68 beds. The department is equipped with modern and spacious facilities. This serves as a foundation for the hospital to gradually develop a specialized geriatrics department, fostering greater expertise in the future.

It is known that currently, about 50% of general hospitals, medical centers with inpatient beds, and specialized hospitals with 50 beds or more have arranged separate examination rooms for the elderly to reduce waiting times and increase convenience during examinations. In addition, non-public units such as Saigon Ha Tinh General Hospital, Ha Tinh Provincial Hospital, Kim Duc Clinic, etc., also organize many free medical check-ups and medication distributions for the elderly throughout the province, especially in remote areas.

Elderly people in Ha Tinh are receiving comprehensive care.

Notably, 100% of elderly people with severe mental illnesses or homelessness received care at the Ha Tinh Mental Health Hospital; 70% of elderly people with disabilities were screened and received rehabilitation intervention. Over 209 elderly health care clubs, along with a network of 2,090 volunteers in communes and wards, have formed a sustainable community-based health support system.

Mobile health check-ups and free medication distribution are regularly maintained. From 2022 to the present, more than 25,000 elderly people in disadvantaged areas have received check-ups, nutritional counseling, and disease prevention advice. The prevention and early detection of chronic diseases are also emphasized. Elderly people with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc., are monitored and have their treatment records established regularly at local health stations, thereby reducing the burden on higher-level hospitals and making it more convenient for them to travel.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Duong (73 years old, Gia Hanh commune) shared: "I have high blood pressure, so every month the doctors remind me to go to the health station for check-ups, blood pressure measurements, and medication. Thanks to regular check-ups, my blood pressure is kept stable."

Elderly people should be screened for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in a timely manner.

The results show that by 2025, 90% of elderly people in Ha Tinh will have received regular health check-ups and had their records managed; 100% of elderly people who are sick or ill will receive treatment and support from their families and communities. To date, 242,775 elderly people have health insurance cards, receiving reduced or free hospital fees when receiving medical treatment, reaching a rate of 88.26%.

Mr. Le Chanh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, emphasized: "In the context of increasing life expectancy, Ha Tinh is entering a phase of population aging faster than predicted, thus requiring the health sector to continue investing in geriatrics, training medical staff, expanding the care service system, and perfecting policies and mechanisms so that the elderly are more comprehensively protected and cared for. Implementing Resolution 72 of the Politburo, the Ha Tinh health sector has set the goal of shifting from "treating illness" to "caring for health throughout the life cycle," with the elderly as the focus group."

The healthcare sector will continue to improve the effectiveness of treatment and care for the elderly when they visit healthcare facilities.

The sector will focus on expanding geriatrics specialties in hospitals, increasing the proportion of hospitals with geriatrics departments to meet practical needs. It will standardize the electronic health record model for the elderly, integrating data on chronic diseases, nutritional status, and rehabilitation. It will strengthen preventive care, early screening for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and dementia, and expand the non-communicable disease management program at the primary healthcare level. It will develop a community-based elderly care system, applying family medicine and traditional medicine in combination with modern medicine. It will encourage the socialization of long-term care services, gradually forming a system of high-quality nursing homes and rehabilitation centers suitable to local economic conditions, ensuring equitable access for vulnerable groups.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/cham-care-health-comprehensively-for-the-elderly-post300351.html