Clubs that ease the stress of caring

This meant staying in hospital with her son, making sure he received antiretroviral treatment, and feeding him a good diet after he returned home. This cost a great deal, and Hong depleted her savings, borrowed from her sister and spent her pension to cover the costs.

Hong’s situation is becoming increasingly common in Vietnam. Although HIV prevalence is much lower than in neighbouring countries, it is rising steeply, mainly among intravenous drug users and sex workers. The number of people living with HIV more than doubled between 2002 and 2006.More than half of those needing care are looked after by their mothers.

Despite the enormous financial, physical and emotional stresses placed o­n them, older carers are not specifically recognised by national policies, and few civil society organisations support them.

The most substantial initiative for older carers are self-help groups, or ‘empathy clubs’, supported by the Vietnam Women’s Union. Since 2005, the Vietnam Women’s Union has been working with HelpAge International and local organisations to extend the clubs. There are now 67 clubs in four provinces – Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Quang Ninh, and Thai Nguyen.

The empathy clubs enable older carers to share experiences and develop practical responses to their needs.

Each club has a member-elected management board and about 50- 60 members. At least 70 per cent of members are older people, most of them women. Monthly meetings usually include a guest speaker, an experience-sharing session, and updates about club activities.

Through the clubs, members learn how to care for people living with HIV, how to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, and how to obtain antiretroviral treatment, condoms, clean needles and other medication. The clubs arrange regular health checkups for members and advise them o­n self-care. Members also visit people living with HIV and other older carers.

The clubs raise awareness in the local community about HIV and AIDS and the vital role of older carers.They provide counselling for people living with HIV and AIDS and those at higher risk, and they put them in touch with local services.

The clubs also provide loans and training for livelihood activities, and assist with the costs of educating orphans and vulnerable children.

Hong has benefited greatly from joining an empathy club. She has shared her story with others, participated in school education sessions, and taken out a loan to help her son start a small business. She is now the chairwoman of her local club, and keen to help families facing the same challenges.

The Vietnam Women’s Union recognises that the empathy clubs have limited resources and cannot meet all the financial, psychosocial and health needs of older carers. So another key role of the clubs is to lobby government authorities, mass organisations, communities and individuals for more resources and services.