Support for the elderly

Implementing Project No. 1336/QD-TTg dated August 31, 2020 of the Prime Minister on expanding the model of intergenerational self-help clubs for the period 2021 - 2025, clubs in our province have had many activities to support, help, connect the elderly with the community, and effectively implement social security policies in the locality.

Sharing health care experiences at the intergenerational self-help club in Hop Nhat 1 village, Thom Mon commune, Thuan Chau district.

Established in March 2023, the Intergenerational Self-Help Club of Hop Nhat 1 Village, Thom Mon Commune, Thuan Chau District currently has 75 members. Every Sunday at 5 pm, members gather at the village cultural house for activities. Members receive health care (blood pressure measurement, weighing), health care and legal propaganda; listen to information about the general situation of members, fund use and some local content... The open atmosphere creates a happy and positive spirit for members.

Mr. Lo Van Thinh, Chairman of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club of Hop Nhat 1 Village, informed: The club has raised 52 million VND in funds, creating conditions for 5 members to borrow capital to develop production, with an amount of 5-20 million VND/person. The interest from the loans is used to visit and maintain the club's activities.

In Son La city, there are 9 intergenerational self-help clubs with over 500 members. Ms. Quang Thi Vin, President of the City's Association of the Elderly, informed: In the past 5 years, the Association has coordinated to organize 12 training courses on transferring science and technology in production and animal husbandry, 8 training courses on folk dance, health care, volleyball, and folk games for over 1,000 elderly people and club members to participate; coordinated with health stations in communes and wards to check the health of more than 1,800 members to measure blood pressure, diabetes, and heart rate; mobilized over 200 million VND for 53 club members to borrow capital for production and business...

Senior Citizens Association officials at all levels participate in the training course on operating intergenerational self-help clubs.

The Provincial Elderly Association has actively directed all levels of the association to proactively coordinate with the Party Committees and authorities of communes, wards and towns to conduct surveys and select areas of groups and villages to ensure sufficient conditions for establishing intergenerational self-help clubs, select enthusiastic and responsible association officials to participate in the executive board and find initial funding sources for the club's operations. At the same time, more than 180 training courses on operating intergenerational self-help clubs have been organized for over 2,000 association officials at all levels and club members in accordance with the instructions of the Central and the province.

Mr. Lo Mai Kien, Chairman of the Provincial Elderly Association, informed: Up to now, the whole province has 132 intergenerational self-help clubs with over 6,700 members. The clubs ensure the targets on the composition and structure of the club members according to regulations, such as: 70% are elderly and 30% are younger people, the intergenerational approach has helped the clubs promote the strengths of both the elderly and young people; with the target of 60 - 70% being women, the clubs have achieved gender equality, creating conditions to help many women in difficulty.

The clubs maintain an effective operating routine, closely connecting members and the community. The activities are rich and practical, with the motto that the predecessors are the foundation for the next generation, helping each other to improve their lives. In particular, the members are the core in implementing the movement of the whole people uniting to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas.

Members of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club in Cat Linh village, Chieng Muon commune, Muong La district exchange production experiences.

Up to now, clubs in the whole province have mobilized over 3.3 billion VND, lending to over 530 members for economic development. Typically, Club of Sub-zone 7, Chieng Son commune, Moc Chau town has a fund of over 300 million VND for 30 members to borrow; Club of Sub-zone 9, Hat Lot town, Mai Son district has a fund of over 50 million VND for 6 members to borrow; Club of Ban Chi, Chieng Luong commune, Mai Son district has a fund of over 30 million VND for 12 members to borrow; Club of Ban Sang, Muoi Noi commune, Thuan Chau district has a fund of over 80 million VND for 16 members to borrow to develop production...

Mr. Ha Van Nap, Chairman of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club in Lom village, Chieng Ban commune, Mai Son district, said: With the motto "Self-reliance, self-management, self-financing of operating expenses", the Executive Board has mobilized 51 members to contribute operating expenses, with a maintenance fund of nearly 40 million VND. Up to now, the Club has supported 41 members to borrow capital to develop production, with an interest rate of 1%/year. The loan capital is not large, but it has helped members in difficult times.

In addition, 100% of the clubs have art troupes, gymnastics, folk dances, and sports teams that regularly practice and organize exchanges; over 90% of club members participate in health insurance; 237,064 elderly people have monitoring books and receive free periodic health check-ups. The clubs have organized visits, given gifts, celebrated longevity, and volunteered to care for thousands of lonely elderly people, those with serious illnesses, and those in difficult circumstances in the community...

Members of the intergenerational self-help club in Hop Nhat 1 village, Thom Mon commune, Thuan Chau district embroider Pieu scarves.

Through practical activities, it can be seen that the intergenerational self-help club is a typical model, integrating many activities in the community-based elderly care society, reducing the burden on the health care - social welfare system, contributing to the national goal of active and positive aging. Currently, the whole province has more than 125,900 elderly people, accounting for nearly 10% of the population Number. The number of elderly members is over 118,000, reaching 93% of the total number of elderly people, in addition there are 18,300 members under 60 years old.

The goal is to strive by 2030 to have at least 50% of communes, wards and towns in the province having intergenerational self-help clubs; 70% of members of each club are supported with loans or participate in activities to increase income and improve their lives... The Elderly Association at all levels in the province continues to promote propaganda about the purpose, meaning, social effectiveness and humanity of intergenerational self-help clubs for all levels, sectors, people and the elderly, contributing to raising awareness, creating consensus, and actively responding to the successful implementation of the model replication.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/diem-tua-cua-nguoi-cao-tuoi-pveQ0dfNg.html