IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES FOR THE ELDERLY IN SIN HO DISTRICT, LAI CHAU PROVINCE

Tóm tắt

The global population aging phenomenon is an irreversible reality, and Vietnam has emerged as one of the countries with the fastest aging rates in the Asia-Pacific region. Statistics show that the country currently has approximately 16 million elderly people, accounting for more than 16% of the total population. Notably, only about 5.4 million of the elderly are ensured by pension and regular social insurance policies. This means that a significant proportion, about 65% of the elderly, have yet to access or benefit from the social security network and existing social assistance programs. Based on this reality, the article employs a literature review method and secondary data analysis from reports and statistical data regarding the implementation of social assistance policies for the elderly during the 2021-2024 period in Sin Ho district, Lai Châu province, in accordance with Decree 20/2021/ND-CP regulating social support for vulnerable groups aiming to understand the actual situation of support for the elderly in the area. The results indicate that the policies have been implemented relatively comprehensively; however, certain limitations persist, including competency issues of front-line officers, a lack of diverse communication methods, and infrequent beneficiary review, among others. By analysing the current situation, the article identifies the root causes of these issues and shortcomings in policy implementation, and subsequently proposes some recommendations to improve the effectiveness of policy enforcement in the area in the future.