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As part of ASEAN's continuing drive to
partner with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the pilot
Project of the Home-Care for the Older People in the ASEAN
Countries has resulted in more than 400 volunteers trained to
provide basic healthcare, hygiene, social and physical
assistance to the elderly. The Project Advisory Committees
(PACs) consisting of the national governments and the partner
CSOs in each of the countries have played a great role in
leading the project to success, resulting in the continuation of
a second phase for the project in July this year.
As the region faces a rapidly growing aging
population, the aim of the project is to offer an alternative
approach to care for the aged in ASEAN Member Countries without
them having to leave their communities. Under the assistance of
the Republic of Korea (RoK) and ASEAN Cooperation Fund , seven
out of ten ASEAN Member Countries, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam have
adopted a volunteer-based home care programme that is modeled on
HelpAge Korea. Of these seven, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam
have secured additional funds from their governments to expand
the pilot projects.
Adopting a different approach, Brunei Darussalam and the Lao PDR
have placed emphasis on training family members and extended
relatives in improved methods to look after the aged. Brunei
Darussalam has announced that it will review its government
functions to incorporate some of the positive elements of the
project. In Singapore, which already has a "befriender service
programme", the government agreed to develop a training manual
for trainers on how to care for the elderly.
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A volunteer presents a gift
to the elderly during the field visit |
Data collection is part of
the field visit to enhance the programme |
According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), by 2025, the percentage of
persons in ASEAN Member Countries over the age of 60 will have
doubled from 6.26 per cent in 2000 to 12.2 per cent. In addition
to that, as the population in ASEAN region increasingly moves to
urban areas, the traditional family support system of caring for
the aged is expected to weaken. This is due to the growing
number of nuclear families, prevailing population migration and
the increased participation of women in the workforce across the
region.
As noted by Mr. Dim Vy, the manager of the project in Cambodia:
"There is strong evidence that the Home Care Project for Old
People is relevant and appropriate intervention in improving the
quality of life of old people. This community based/home based
approach is sustainable as this involves the people in the
community."
Despite the different national methods of implementation, the
overall positive response to the Home-Care for the Older People
Project has proved the need for an increase in the quality of
care for the aged in ASEAN Member Countries.
Click here for the list of
implementing CSO partners in the ASEAN Member Countries
*********** Issued by: The ASEAN
Secretariat 6 September 2006 |
