Long-term care needs in the context of poverty and population aging: The case of older persons in Myanmar

• Main Authors: TEERAWICHITCHAINAN, Bussarawan Puk, KNODEL, John
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2017
• Subjects: Asian Studies; Medicine and Health
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2442; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/3699/viewcontent/MM_LTC_Text___Tables__7_Mar_2017_.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Myanmar is one of the poorest and least healthy Asian countries. Policy makers have only begun to discuss the implications of population aging for health system. There is no policy in place to provide long-term care (LTC). Family has been the mainstay of support for elderly with LTC needs. Myanmar’s demographic transitions will soon challenge the current form of family-caregiving for frail elderly. We analyze Myanmar’s first national aging survey to understand LTC needs and the roles that families play in LTC. We examine prevalence in older-aged disability. Subsequently, we assess the likelihood of receiving care and the composition of primary and secondary caregivers of elderly. To identify LTC gaps, we investigate the correlates of unmet need and assess the determinants of inadequate care among care recipients. Given mounting concerns regarding health disparities among Myanmar’s older-aged population, we examine socioeconomic differences in LTC needs, care-provision patterns, and gaps in LTC.