On 16 December 2025, HelpAge International in Vietnam (HAI), in partnership with the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE), convened a National Consultation Meeting on Expanding the Integrated Long-Term Care Model for Older People through Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs, with financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam.
The workshop brought together leaders of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, representatives of its specialised departments and central office, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, representatives from the Departments of Health of Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho and Hanoi, as well as delegates from the Associations of the Elderly of Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Hung Yen and Phu Tho. Participants also included representatives from Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs in Hanoi, Thanh Hoa and Hung Yen, ensuring that community voices were at the centre of the discussions.
The workshop also welcomed representatives of United Nations agencies and international organisations, including UNFPA, UN Women, Investing in Women and The Asia Foundation, alongside experts in population, ageing, and care for older people, from relevant institutions contributing international experience and technical insights to inform policy dialogue.
As Vietnam experiences rapid population ageing, the demand for accessible and affordable long-term care is increasing, while traditional family-based care arrangements are under growing strain. The integrated long-term care model implemented through Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs, piloted by HelpAge in recent years, has demonstrated strong potential as a rights-based, inclusive and cost-effective approach. The model supports older people to age in place, strengthens mutual support and social connections, and contributes to building age-friendly and inclusive care systems at the community level.
During the workshop, participants shared practical experiences from implementing the model across different localities and discussed solutions related to strengthening the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks, enhancing coordination mechanisms and stakeholder engagement, developing the workforce for model implementation, and ensuring sustainable financing mechanisms. These discussions aimed to inform pathways for scaling up integrated long-term care for older people in the community, ensuring that no one is left behind as Vietnam responds to population ageing.
The workshop reaffirmed that the integrated long-term care model for older people through Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs is a practical and scalable solution, contributing to healthy ageing, protecting the rights and dignity of older people, and enabling them to live active, safe and fulfilling lives within their communities.
