Promoting the role of the elderly in national development strategy

On the morning of November 6 in Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly held a conference to contribute ideas to the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Congress of the Party. This is an important political event, demonstrating the spirit of responsibility, democracy, promoting the intelligence and enthusiasm of the Association at all levels as well as all elderly members nationwide towards the important issues of the country.

Conference scene. Photo: Minh Duc/VNA

Putting older people at the center of national policy

In his opening speech at the Conference, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly Phan Van Hung affirmed that the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress were carefully, comprehensively and methodically prepared, clearly demonstrating the Party's innovative thinking and strategic vision in the context of the country entering a new development stage with many intertwined opportunities and challenges. The system of documents not only objectively summarizes the achievements and limitations of the 13th National Party Congress term, but also sets out major goals, orientations, key tasks and key solutions for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to the mid-21st century.

The Party's summary report on 40 years of innovation clearly states that the elderly are "a treasure trove of wisdom and experience", playing an important role in imparting cultural, ethical and historical values ​​to the younger generation; and are the core force contributing to consolidating the great national unity bloc.

However, in the context that Vietnam has officially entered the population aging stage since 2011, and is forecasted to become a country with an aging population by 2036, new challenges have been and are being posed. People aged 60 and over will account for about 21% of the population while many policies on social security, health, education , and health care for the elderly have not kept up with reality. In particular, the elderly in rural, mountainous, remote and isolated areas are still facing difficulties in living conditions, limited access to health and cultural services, as well as lack of opportunities for self-development, work and contribution to the community.

Faced with that situation, the Conference focused on discussing and agreeing on many important recommendations to supplement and deepen the content of the Draft Documents of the 14th National Party Congress. One of the outstanding proposals is to establish a strategic perspective and vision on adapting to population aging, and at the same time make the task of "caring for and promoting the role of the elderly" a specific target in the Action Program of the entire political system to implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, as well as in the socio-economic development strategies of the country.

In addition, it is necessary to perfect the legal framework for the elderly: Early amendment and supplementation of the Law on the Elderly (2009) in the direction of expanding the subjects of care, increasing the level of subsidies, and at the same time strengthening policies to support the elderly in participating in digital transformation, green economy, start-ups, and health-appropriate labor; perfecting the system of social protection policies, health care, and health insurance, creating conditions for the elderly to live happily, healthily, and usefully.

Delegates also recommended promoting socialization of elderly care, developing a network of friendly, humane, and modern community-based care and service facilities; and promoting the application of digital technology in the care and management of the elderly. In addition, it is also necessary to strengthen closer and more effective coordination between the Association of the Elderly and ministries, branches, unions, enterprises and international organizations. This coordination aims to create strong socialized resources to both care for and better promote the role of the elderly.

Change your thinking to avoid wasting resources

Dr. Nguyen Viet Chuc, member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, emphasized that Eastern culture in general and Vietnamese tradition in particular always attach importance to filial piety, considering it a fundamental human morality, expressed through respect and gratitude for the birth and upbringing of parents. Continuing that tradition, our Party and State, even in the most difficult times, have always paid attention to and issued policies to care for people with meritorious services, veteran revolutionaries, and the elderly in difficult circumstances. That consistent and humane policy, such as monthly allowances for people aged 70 and over, is spreading throughout society.

Dr. Nguyen Viet Chuc, member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, speaks. Photo: Minh Duc/VNA

However, Dr. Nguyen Viet Chuc also pointed out a challenging reality. The number of elderly people in Vietnam is increasing, the need for care is getting higher and more diverse. If we only rely on the budget and state agencies, we cannot fully meet it. He cited data from the Department of Social Protection (Ministry of Health) saying that currently the whole country has only 218 elderly care facilities, meeting the needs of about 15,000 people, mainly in large cities. This reality raises a big question about how millions of other elderly people, especially in rural areas, will be cared for. He emphasized that caring for the elderly today is not only about food, clothing, and housing, but also about comprehensive care of both physical and mental health, to improve the quality of life, create conditions for them to integrate and continue to contribute. This issue requires a more complete and comprehensive awareness to have effective and practical policies.

From a professional perspective, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu, Deputy Director of the Academy of Public Administration and Management, highly appreciated the careful preparation of this draft Document; showing scientific integration, conciseness and high generalization, helping the entire political system, cadres, party members and people to easily understand, remember and implement. One of the most important new points of the draft Document is to emphasize the spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, national pride". This is not just a slogan, but a motto of action of the times, especially meaningful when Vietnam is rising to affirm its position in the region and the world.

In the context of Vietnam entering the population aging stage, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu recommended that the 14th Party Congress Documents need to have a clearer orientation on promoting the role of the elderly; building a national strategy to respond to population aging associated with retraining middle-aged workers, creating opportunities for the elderly to continue working, participating in production, business or volunteering activities appropriately.

To clarify this recommendation, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu proposed a series of synchronous solutions. That is, it is necessary to fundamentally change awareness, not to consider the elderly as just objects of protection but to consider them as important social resources. In addition, it is necessary to synchronously develop the social security and health care system, shifting from treatment to proactive health care, disease prevention and long-term care in the community.

The key point, according to Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu, is to encourage the development of the "silver economy", which is a field with great potential when the aging population is growing rapidly. In Japan, the "silver economy" accounts for more than 10% of GDP, including areas such as health care, pharmaceuticals, nutritional foods, smart housing, tourism, entertainment, lifelong education and specialized products and services for the elderly. Vietnam can completely develop its own "silver economy", based on the increasing needs of nearly 17 million elderly people today. Therefore, the state needs to have financial, tax and credit incentive mechanisms to promote this field.

At the Conference, all the passionate opinions shared a deep belief in the Party's strategic vision. Population aging is an irreversible trend, but how we respond will determine the country's future. A country that knows how to take good care of its elderly is a responsible and visionary country; an economy that knows how to utilize the resources of old age is a humane and intelligent economy.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/phat-huy-vai-tro-nguoi-cao-tuoi-trong-chien-luoc-phat-trien-quoc-gia-20251106141855095.htm