Building a mental care system for the elderly

Editor's note: Faced with the reality of a rapidly aging population and the increasingly urgent need for mental health care for the elderly in the new period, many opinions from experts, local leaders and people agree that: Caring for the elderly today requires a new, humane, flexible and sustainable model. Regarding this issue, Tuyen Quang Newspaper, Radio and Television introduce many dedicated perspectives and practical proposals to build a suitable elderly care model in the current context:

---

Reconciling traditional values ​​and modern pressures

Master, Lecturer Nguyen Chu Du, Trade Union University

From a sociologist's perspective, I see the Adult Day Services model as a smart social solution that balances traditional values ​​and modern pressures. Today's society creates a contradiction in relationships: we want to maintain a warm multi-generational family, but work pressure and living space make it difficult to provide full-time care for the elderly. This puts the "sandwich generation" in a stressful situation, affecting the quality of life of all members. The Adult Day Services model has helped solve this problem. During the day, the elderly receive professional care, have an environment to interact with peers, helping to prevent isolation and mental health problems. In the evening, they return to the arms of their children and grandchildren, maintaining the sacred emotional bond and the role of advisor in the family. As a result, the younger generation can confidently develop their careers, reduce pressure, and make the time with their parents more quality. Nursing homes do not replace families, but are a powerful support structure, helping to strengthen relationships, creating more flexible, happy, and sustainable multi-generational families.

---

Efforts to care for the mental health of the elderly

Comrade Le Anh Son, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thai Binh Commune

Currently, the commune has nearly 1,300 elderly people . To take care of the mental health of the elderly, the commune government always strives to promote the role of organizations to organize art clubs, physical exercises, and create playgrounds for the elderly. However, these activities mainly rely on the spirit of volunteerism and resources are limited. Therefore, I hope that the State needs to have a breakthrough policy to strongly socialize this field. In addition, there should be a mechanism to encourage individuals and businesses to invest in boarding care models and home services, ensuring that the elderly can live happily, healthily, and usefully.

---

To let old parents live happily and healthily in their hometown

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Tra, Lieutenant Colonel, Professional Soldier, Nghia Thuan Border Guard Station

My father is 84 years old this year, living alone in Phu Tho province. My wife's parents are over 70 years old, currently living in Thai Binh commune and are in the process of having to move their houses out of the area with high risk of landslides. Meanwhile, I myself work at Nghia Thuan Border Guard Station, 230 km from my maternal hometown, more than 300 km from my paternal hometown, staying at the border all year round, rarely having the opportunity to visit home. Both families are short of people, most of the children work far away, so the worry about the health and spirit of the elderly is always in my heart. I think, if the locality has a model of a semi-boarding nursing home, where the elderly are cared for, exercise, interact and share with friends of the same age, it will be a valuable spiritual support, helping the elderly live happily, live healthily and for those of us who are far away from home to feel more secure in our work and dedication.

---

A place to gather in old age

Ms. Ta Thi Nhung, retired officer, Ha Giang 2 ward

In old age, what many elderly people desire most is not only health care but also a place to share, interact, and avoid loneliness. Nowadays, many elderly people live with their children and grandchildren, but their children work all day, and staying at home is very lonely. If there were a model of a semi-boarding nursing home, we would receive attentive health care , participate in cultural activities, practice physical exercises, read newspapers, and maintain community connections, confide in each other, and share stories about life.

This will be a “second home” to help the elderly live happily, healthily, and usefully every day. Building a model of a local nursing home is a humane and necessary direction, meeting the growing need for physical and mental care for the elderly in modern society.

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/xay-dung-he-thong-cham-soc-tinh-than-nguoi-cao-tuoi-7341779/