Cambodia’s elderly faces increasing hardships
Like many developing countries, Cambodia’s mainly agricultural society is changing fast, driven by urbanization and falling fertility rates. As young workers move to the cities, older people are staying back in the villages, where they have little support. … Although former civil servants and soldiers get a pension, more than 80 percent of Cambodia’s 850,000 elderly did not have formal employment and so do not qualify. … Experts want the government to provide geriatric healthcare and a universal pension. Annie Nut, an adviser to the non-profit organization HelpAge Cambodia, says such help is critical because of the increased responsibilities carried by many grandparents. … HelpAge has, with government support, set up 400 village-level groups to foster volunteer care of the elderly at the community level. …
Robert Carmichael
http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodia-elderly-facing-increasing-harships/2516170.html
