Institutional Gaps in Long-term Care Service Provision: Policy Implications of Population Aging Trends in Vietnam

Abstract

After more than 15 years of implementation, the 2009 Law on the Elderly has established a crucial legal foundation for protecting and caring for the elderly and promoting their role in society, while also expanding access to social security policies and healthcare. However, in light of rising demands for long-term care and shifts in demographic structures, disease patterns, and family models, the current legal framework has revealed limitations regarding integration and the capacity to meet emerging needs. Based on an analysis of the context of population aging and the implementation outcomes of the Law on the Elderly, this article identifies legal gaps in the development of the long-term care system. It proposes a shift from regulating isolated policies to establishing an integrated legal framework that links healthcare, social assistance, and care services, thereby enhancing the social security system's adaptability to population aging.