The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has just discussed with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on a holistic policy framework, which is needed to pave the way for actions and creation of a comprehensive elder care ecosystem in Vietnam.
The discussion, held in Danang on Tuesday, also heard experience and lessons learnt from the implementation of the integrated care model for older persons by MOLISA and UNFPA in five provinces and the city piloted earlier with financial support from the Government of Japan and the UN Joint SDGs Fund.
With technical support from UNFPA, MOLISA has developed an integrated care model for older persons to ensure uninterrupted quality care for older persons in COVID-19 and the new normal context. The model was piloted in Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Vinh Long provinces and Danang city.
After six months of piloting, the model has developed a complete set of guidelines for the implementation and the replication to other provinces and cities. They include Standard Operating Procedures, guidelines on case management on care provision for older persons in the normal and Covid-19 context, handbooks for caregivers, among others.
Under the piloted model, some 1,500 older persons received care-need screening and individual care plans. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 care staff at social protection and social work centres in these piloted provinces and the city as well as home-caregivers of older persons have been trained in responding to Covid-19 and in providing better quality care for older persons in the context of Covid-19 pandemic and in the new normal situation.
Speaking at the event, the Assistant Representative of UNFPA Vietnam, Le Bach Duong, stressed that the integrated care model for older person was built toward ensuring the quality and the accessibility of care services for all older person groups, especially the poor, disabled, and vulnerable older persons.
"The model focuses on integrating elderly care services both in social assistance facilities and in communities in order to reduce the burden of women and caregivers, and create support mechanisms to empower women," he said. "It’s critical that the model should be an important part towards developing a comprehensive ecosystem of care for older persons and those who are in need.”
UNFPA also emphasised that the private sector should be encouraged in providing care services to older persons via public-private partnerships to ensure that individual needs of older persons are met, and older persons have relevant support to fully participate in all aspects of the society.
UNFPA supports care ecosystem for older persons in Vietnam
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has just discussed with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on a holistic policy framework, which is needed to pave the way for actions and creation of a comprehensive elder
Source: dtinews.vn
