Increasing subsidies for the elderly

In recent days, elderly people across the province have been filled with joy as provincial People’s Council issued the Resolution No. 18/2024/NQ-HĐND regulating new subsidies on longevity celebrations for the elderly. According to the resolution, individuals aged over 100 are eligible for the highest longevity gift, amounting to VND 4 million per person, a significant increase compared to the Resolution No. 09/2019/NQ-HĐND.

Joy of the elderly

The Resolution No. 18/2024/NQ-HĐND stipulates that elderly individuals (Vietnamese citizens) who reach the ages of 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 and over 100 and reside in Binh Duong province will receive celebratory gifts at the beginning of the new year from assigned agencies and organizations.

Along with promulgating the Resolution to care for the elderly, provincial leaders also regularly pay attention to supporting the elderly on Tet and great holidays. In picture:. Mai Hung Dung, Pernament Vice Chairman of provincial People's Committee gives gifts to the elderly and disadvantaged households in Tan Uyen city on the occasion of the Tet festival 2024

The new gift amounts for the elderly are as follows: those over 100 years old receive VND 4 million per person; those aged 100 receive VND 3 million plus goods valued at VND 2 million; those aged 95, 90 85, 75, 70 receive VND 2.5 million, VND 2 million, VND1million, VND 900,000, VND 800,000, VND 700,000 per person, respectively.

As soon as the resolution was issued, many elderly people in the province were very pleased. Le Tan Loc, Chairman of the Elderly Association of Tan Dong Hiep ward in Di An city shared: “When I shared the resolution in our association and local groups, many elderly members joined in, commented and called to learn more. Most elderly people have relatively stable lives and are well cared for by their children. However, for older people, receiving any additional support, even a few hundred thousand VND, brings them great joy. Our locality is currently reviewing the list to send to the city so that longevity celebrations for the elderly in the area can be organized at the beginning of the new year 2025”.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Duy Tan, a resident of Chanh Nghia ward in Thu Dau Mot city shared that it’s only a few months until his grandmother officially turns 100, and the family is counting down the days until the local government visits to celebrate her birthday at the beginning of the new year. According to Mr. Tan, the family is capable of caring for his grandmother, but the gift from the local government serves as an encouraging “medicine” that brings her happiness and health. In recent years, provincial authorities at all levels have consistently provided programs for the elderly, disadvantaged groups, the poor or lonely. These activities bear profound humanitarian significance.

Various benefits for the elderly

Compared to the Resolution No. 09/2019/NQ-HĐND, the funding levels stipulated by the Resolution No. 18/2024/NQ-HĐND have seen a substantial increase. Nguyen Ngoc Hang, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) shared that most support levels, including gifts, visits and care for the elderly, in Binh Duong, have been thoughtfully implemented and are on par with or higher than central standards.

Leaders of provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs congratulate the local elderly people on their longevity

Specifically, the Resolution No. 11/2021/NQ-HĐND provides monthly support for elderly individuals aged 75 to 80 from poor, near-poor houses, or those just escaping poverty under provincial poverty standards. Additionally, it includes other support policies such as funeral cost assistance for those receiving monthly social welfare benefits at provincial social support centers (equal to 50 times of the standard rate); funeral cost assistance for those receiving monthly social welfare benefits within the community (equal to 20 times of the standard rate); health insurance coverage; subsidies to help cover the cost of common medications for social welfare recipients…

In recent years, there has been a strong focus on disease prevention, enhancing the quality of life for the elderly. The goal is to ensure that 100% of elderly people, particularly those in poor or near-poor households without caregivers, have health insurance and access to social assistance policies. The provincial health sector has prioritized primary healthcare, regular health checkups, maintained health records for each elderly person. Health checkup campaigns for the elderly have been routinely organized at health stations in communes, wards and towns.

Over the past five years, provincial Association for the Elderly, in cooperation with the healthcare sector, has provided annual health checkups for more than 112,000 elderly individuals and created initial health management records for over 56,000 elderly individuals. To improve the spiritual lives of the elderly, the association has also established 619 clubs with various activities, attracting nearly 14,000 elderly people. These clubs provided them with a funny and healthy environment.

Reported by Quang Tam-Translated by Kim Tin