The article analyzes the policy system on elderly care in Vietnam today (looking at aspects such as the systematic and adequacy of the policies, fulfillment of the rights prescribed in the Law on the Elderly, the basic material and emotional needs of the elderly, the social relations and social networks of the elderly, the existing limitations of the policy system on elderly care) and provides recommendations on the improvement and perfecting of the country’s elderly care policy in the years to come. | PHILOSOPHY - LAW - PSYCHOLOGY - SOCIOLOGY The Policies on Elderly Care in Vietnam Trinh Duy Luan* Abstract: The article analyzes the policy system on elderly care in Vietnam today (looking at aspects such as the systematic and adequacy of the policies, fulfillment of the rights prescribed in the Law on the Elderly, the basic material and emotional needs of the elderly, the social relations and social networks of the elderly, the existing limitations of the policy system on elderly care) and provides recommendations on the improvement and perfecting of the country’s elderly care policy in the years to come. Keywords: Elderly; policy; care; Vietnam. 1. Introduction The ratio of the world’s elderly population is currently increasing rapidly and expected to grow even further in the years to come. According to forecasts by the United Nations, the number of senior citizens (over 60 years of age) will increase from 760 million people in 2010 to around 2 billion people in 2050, equivalent to a growth from 11% to 22% of the world’s population. In Vietnam, the General Statistical Office (GSO) estimates that the ratio of senior citizens will account for 10% of the population in 2017 - also the year when Vietnam will have to embrace an “ageing” population [1]. Vietnam will then face with the risk of “getting old before getting rich”, as the population will continue to become older rapidly while the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) will remain at the lower middle level (around USD 2,000). This presents a huge challenge for Vietnam, requiring the country to timely equip itself with adequate policies and strategies. 2. Current policies on elderly care . The systematic and adequacy of the policies In October 2009, the Law on the Elderly was ratified by the National Assembly and took effect from July 2010. Following the promulgation of the law, a series of sub-law policies were enforced, covering various aspects, and being governed by different authorities and .
