Over recent years, the Da Nang government has developed policies and programmes in an effort to  provide practical support for older people across the city.

A nurse from the Hoa Hai Ward Medical Station in Ngu Hanh Son District providing preventive health check-ups for older women at home.

Currently, Da Nang is now home to a total of 112,747 seniors aged 60 and above, accounting for 9.95% of the city’s total population.  About 70,000 older people, accounting for 62% of the city’s total inhabitants, have enjoyed the benefits from monthly support policies issued by Vietnamese national and Da Nang governments, 

Recently, the Da Nang departments of Foreign Affairs, Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Construction, Planning and Investment, Culture and Sports, Tourism and Health have made joint efforts to give practical support to local seniors. 

In detail, older adults in Da Nang now enjoy either exemption or reduction on admission fees to local tourist and historical relic sites, museums, and public transport fares in addition to receive regular free preventive health checkups and treatment at local medical facilities.

In particular, monthly grants from the city's government for seniors citywide has risen to 350,000 VND from 270,000 VND set previously. 

Statistics released by the Da Nang Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs show that more than 88,000 senior people got free health insurance cards during the 2012 – 2020 period. 

Besides, 5,000 social policy and poor families of older people received financial aid from the city's government to build new houses or innovate their old ones, during the period. 

Currently, there are 3 facilities dedicated to care for seniors, namely the municipal Social Sponsor Centre at 148 Da Son, Lien Chieu District, a centre for taking care of those who made the meritorious contributions to the nation’s revolutionary cause at 64 Phan Tu, Ngu Hanh Son District, and a shelter at 18 Phan Tu

Till date, geriatric wards exclusively for the treatment of senior patients have been put into effective operation at the C Hospital, the Da Nang General Hospital, and the Ngu Hanh Son and Hai Chau district-level medical centres. 

Meanwhile, 100% of public medical facilities have also earmarked a combined total of about 700 beds for senior inpatients, basically ensuring the provision of the best possible health care services for them.

Every year, commune and ward-level medical centres provide free regular health check-ups and treatment for their local older adults.  In particular, free preventive health check-ups are given to thousands of the elderly at home .

For the time being, there are now hundreds of clubs for seniors with the aim of taking care of their health and enhancing their spiritual life.  Included are the physical exercise, table tennis, Chinese chess, musical and poetry writing clubs.

By HUONG SEN – Translated by A.T