Vietnamese Leader’s Wife Visits Japan, Discusses Elder Care Cooperation
On November 11, Ngô Phương Ly visited a Tokyo nursing home during Tô Lâm’s official visit to Japan. She learned about its elder care model and met Vietnamese care workers. The organization that runs the home said it hopes to explore elder care services in Vietnam.
On November 11, Ngô Phương Ly, wife of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm, visited the Meguro Chuo no Ie nursing home in Tokyo while accompanying him on an official visit to Japan. She met residents, gave them gifts and spoke with Vietnamese care workers employed there.
Ngô Phương Ly visits the Meguro Chuo no Ie nursing home in Tokyo.（VietVance）
Hoyukai, the social welfare organization that operates the home, said 82 of its 529 foreign employees are Vietnamese. The home opened in July 2019 and has 84 single rooms arranged in seven living units. Each unit has a shared space, a small kitchen and a dedicated care team, enabling staff to learn residents’ daily habits.
Ngô Phương Ly said older people’s mental well-being is as important as medical and physical care. She encouraged Vietnamese employees to continue developing their care knowledge and skills, saying the experience they gain in Japan could serve Vietnamese society in the future. She noted that Vietnam faces rapid population aging and a declining birth rate, and could learn from Japan’s experience in addressing aging.
Ngô Phương Ly meets residents of the Meguro Chuo no Ie nursing home.（VietVance）
Katori Hiroshi, a Hoyukai official, said the organization hopes to gradually study the development of elder care services in Vietnam. It plans to consult local organizations and partners to explore a model suited to Vietnamese culture and daily life. Ngô Phương Ly expressed hope that the Japanese side would continue providing Vietnamese care workers with good working conditions and guidance, and that the two countries would expand cooperation in elder care.
Source: VietVance
