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Rural
Aging Issues
around the World
Africa
Americas & Caribbean
Asia Pacific
China: National
People’s Congress Deputy: Rural Aging Standards Too
Low (March 9, 2012)
(Article in
Chinese)
In an online session between the eleventh National
People’s Congress, Deputy Zhu Jianhua agrees that rural
elderly people face low levels of retirement security,
particularly with pensions and medical insurance
coverage in rural areas. The deputy suggests that
the government set policy, that society has to actively
participate and that citizens have to be personally
involved.
China:
Rural Elderly: Poverty’s “Lonely Sunset” (February 22,
2012)
(Article in
Chinese)
A 70-year-old man with an ailing wife toils in his
three vegetable fields and rears domesticated animals.
He has not seen his son and daughter for years, as they
are too poor to visit. He is not an isolated case in
rural China. He is most afraid of falling ill and
becoming a burden to his children. Currently, close to
20 million above 65 years of age are left in rural
areas. A study in Anhui province shows that the
depression rate among the rural elderly is 37.6 percent.
Nationwide, 36 percent of suicides are above 55. The
suicide rate for rural elderly in China is 4 to 5 times
higher than the global average.
China: Hebei:
More Elderly People Left Behind in Rural Areas; Better
Nursing Home Facilities (January 27, 2012)
(Article in
Chinese)
Nursing homes are usually associated with cities.
However, as more working adults choose to leave for the
cities, they realize the attractiveness of nursing
homes. In the past, both parents and children saw elder
care as a child’s obligation, and not fulfilling it
meant the child lacked filial piety. Now, mindsets have
changed. Isn’t it better to stay with friends or with
specialized caretakers?
Europe
and Central Asia
France:
State Has Abandoned Rural Areas (April 9, 2012)
(Article in French)
For Le Pen, National Front
candidate in the presidential election, "the state
has abandoned the countryside and genuine France."
It is in these terms that the President of the
far-right party spoke in a small rural town,
presenting herself as the candidate of rural areas,
despised by politicians. She deplored the low wages
and pensions in rural areas, and proposed that all
pensions of the agricultural sector be revalued to
at least 85 percent of the minimum wage.
France: "We
Want to Change Our Image" (March 29, 2012)
(Article in French)
The first network of rural
retirees and elderly people of the country, Rural
Elders, composed of 700,000 members grouped in 9,000
clubs, has completed its annual seminar. It is for
the leaders of the various federations the
opportunity to rethink network strategy. This year,
the President highlighted the fact that the group
will have to be renewed and modernized to attract
the attention of not only those involved but also
the interest of urban people.
France:
Rural Elders Satisfied With Life (March 19, 2012)
(Article in French)
The Institute of Public Health,
Epidemiology and Development of Bordeaux conducted a
study revealing that retirees living in rural areas
feel physically better than urban dwellers. For this
study, 1,002 elderly people living in the
countryside have been followed for four years by a
neuropsychiatrist and a doctor. The medical team has
done blood and full gerontology tests. The survey
took into account many factors, such as the
environment, lifestyle, education level, utilization
of health care and social benefits.
France: Average Pension for Farmers is 680 €, Well
Below Poverty Line (March 14, 2012)
(Article in French)
Luke Smessaert, president of
the main French farmers' union, stated that the
average pension for a farmer was 680 € per month and
450 € for his wife, whose career is often
interrupted by family needs. These figures are well
below the national poverty line, which corresponds
to an income of 954 € per month. He denounces the
injustices faced by farmers, especially the
difference in the calculation of pension and length
of working time.
France: FNSEA
Collected Over 80,000 Signatures for a Fairer
Agricultural Retirement (March 7, 2012)
(Article in French)
Following their annual conference, members of the
National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) have
sent a petition to all presidential election
candidates requesting a review and new national
measures for agricultural pensions. Over 80,000 people
across the country signed the petition. They reminded
that most of agricultural pensioners have incomes
below the poverty rate and have lamented the fact that
farmers are not considered as other workers.
France:
Towards New Services for the Elderly in Rural Areas
(February 20, 2012)
(Article in French)
The Social Organization for Agriculture (MSA), the
network of shelters for rural elderly (MARPA) and the
hotline “Presence Green” have decided to join forces to
test and develop new devices to secure homes for the
elderly in rural areas. Provided by telephone, the
service is built around a call center and the presence
of counselors able to meet the needs of seniors living
outside the cities.
Middle East and
North Africa
Global
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