Connecting communities to care for the elderly

Elderly people in Dinh Quan district receive gifts from the Elderly Care Program organized by many units. Photo: S. Thao

This contributes to the effective implementation of care, promotion and protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the elderly.

Many forms of elderly care

The LTHTGN Club model has been implemented by the Association of the Elderly since 2016. Up to now, the model has been implemented in 2 phases: pilot in the period 2016-2019 and nationwide from 2020-2025. Up to now, nearly 9,000 LTHTGN Clubs have been established nationwide with a total of nearly 500,000 members.

In Dong Nai , if in the period 2016-2019, the province only had 91 LTHTGN Clubs established, up to now, there have been 205 LTHTGN Clubs in operation with over 11 thousand members. Of which, the number of elderly members is over 7.7 thousand and over 3.3 thousand other subjects.

Today, May 22, in Bien Hoa city, the Provincial Association of the Elderly held a Conference on the Implementation of the Project to Replicating the LTHTGN Club Model for the period up to 2025. In the program, the Organizing Committee will evaluate the results of implementing the LTHTGN Club model for the period up to 2025; share experiences in implementing the model in each hamlet and commune; reward 50 individuals and collectives with outstanding achievements in implementing the LTHTGN Club model...

Currently, the activities of each LTHTGN Club are very diverse, associated with many contents, including: ensuring livelihoods, health care, self-help and community support, ensuring rights and benefits, raising awareness and knowledge, culture - arts - visiting and exchanging, mobilizing resources...

Recently, the LTHTGN Club of Phuoc Thien commune (Nhon Trach district) has been one of the typical examples of the province in implementing the task of mobilizing people to join hands in taking care of the elderly.

Chairman of the Phuoc Thien Commune LTHTGN Club, Le Tien Due, said that the club was established 4 years ago and currently has nearly 100 members. Based on the core contents of the LTHTGN Club model, the Commune Club Management Board builds a performing arts team and meets monthly to practice. When the locality organizes conferences or celebrations at the commune or hamlet level, the Club Management Board proactively contacts members to perform. Thanks to this, members can both practice and have the opportunity to perform what they have worked hard to practice.

In particular, in order to proactively build a fund to help members improve their lives, each member contributes 50,000 VND/month to the club's general fund. This fund is collected, then considered for members with difficult circumstances to borrow from 5-10 million VND/person to open a beverage shop at home, sell breakfast, etc. In addition, many well-off members also help farmers who are members with plants - seeds, fertilizers and consume agricultural products. Therefore, members who borrow capital all repay the loan, creating for themselves a small but stable income.

The LTHTGN Club also implements solutions suitable to the actual situation of the unit in caring for the elderly. One of the highlights of this type of club is that there are 728 elderly people receiving regular health care at home by more than 2,000 LTHTGN Club members through examinations, health improvement consultations, physical therapy exercises, etc.

For example, at the LTHTGN Club No. 1 in Gia Tan 3 Commune (Thong Nhat District), there are 50 members, more than half of whom are elderly. Over the years, members have contributed to buy blood pressure monitors and wheelchairs for elderly members in difficult circumstances. In addition, young members are also responsible for taking care of the health of nearly 10 elderly people at home on a weekly and monthly basis.

Quantity vs. Quality

Dong Nai is one of the leading localities in the country in rapidly developing the number of LTHTGN Clubs. Every year, 19-34 new LTHTGN Clubs are established.

Elderly people in Thong Nhat district receive free medical examinations, health consultations and medicine. Photo: S. Thao

Along with the development of the number, according to the President of the Provincial Elderly Association Nguyen Thi Kim Lien, strengthening the activities of the clubs is the key to attracting people to participate in the activities of the clubs in the coming time. Because, currently, there are only 61 clubs that are classified as type A and up to 102 clubs that are classified as type B, 35 clubs that are classified as type C and 7 clubs that are classified as type D.

In addition, although the total fundraising value of the LTHTGN Clubs reached over 21 billion VND, the fundraising value of the clubs still varies greatly. Accordingly, currently only 53 clubs have raised 50 million VND or more; 2 clubs have only 5 million VND in funds. The number of clubs with 5-49 million VND in funds is very large.

Besides, the activities of the LTHTGN clubs are not organized regularly. Only 25 clubs organize monthly activities; the remaining clubs organize activities every 2-6 months, which is not really suitable and practical.

Based on that reality, in the coming time, the Association of the Elderly at all levels and the Executive Board of each LTHTGN Club will focus on strengthening training for the Executive Board and Club members. Promoting the strengths and overcoming the limitations of each Club in operating and organizing activities. The Executive Board of the Club needs to proactively coordinate with local departments, branches and organizations to spread activities and create depth in the community. Club members proactively participate in activities and actively contribute to the common activities of the Club. At the same time, the Provincial Association of the Elderly hopes that relevant units will continue to coordinate and create conditions for the Clubs to strengthen their Executive Boards, helping the Clubs effectively implement the set goals.

In order for the activities of the LTHTGN Club model to spread widely, each Club needs to expand its scope of activities, connect with other clubs and social organizations to be proactive in choosing the form of activities and organizing activities to suit the actual situation of members and localities.

Thao River

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202505/ket-noi-cong-dong-cung-cham-soc-nguoi-cao-tuoi-4643a1f/