While demand for nursing homes is on the rise, there are still many difficulties in opening more skilled nursing facilities.

An elderly woman receives care at Thi Nghe Nursing Home in Ho Chi Minh City

In many Asian countries, generations of a family often live together and sending parents to a nursing home is considered unfilial. However, that belief is very slowly changing.

To Duc, deputy head of the Department of Social Assistance under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said, "Population ageing in Vietnam is among the fastest in Asia. There are 10 million elderly people and the figure will be 26-30 million in the next 17-20 years."

According to Duc, demands for nursing homes have increased from many people whose children work and live far away. There are also people who still live with their children but want to experience the nursing home model and meet their peers.

"The nursing home system in Vietnam is very weak. About 102 facilities have elderly care ward in Vietnam but there are only 32 nursing homes which are often opened by private investors. There is no nursing homes in disadvantaged areas," Duc said.

Staff also lack skills and has only been trained professionally recently.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, director of a nursing home in Hanoi, said, "We have rooms for 40 people but demands are really increasing. We are fully booked for the next year."

Vietnam aims to open nursing homes in every province and city. It will also open more services that are compatible with the elderly population in each area and encourage more investment from the private sector.

"Investors will be able to enjoy preferential policies in tax duties or land renting," Duc said.

Lao Dong/Dtinews