LONG TERM CARE SYSTEMS IN MAURITIUS PRESENTED BY JUMOONDAR SUNKUR REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS

FACTS Main Island: Island of Mauritus Capital City: Port Louis Independance: 1968; Republic : 1992 Land Area: 2080 sq.km Population:1.3 M Religions: Hindu-50%; Christian-30%; Muslim-17%; Chinese-3% (No indigenous people) Main Industry: Tourism, ICT, Manufacturing, Financial sector and real estate Welfare state: Free Health, Education, Social Security GDP per capita at market prices: US$ 10,740 Life expectancy at birth: 74 years Male: 71 years Female: 7 years Literacy rate: 89.8% Male: 92.3 % Female: 87.3%

POPULATION EXPLOSION IN 1962 Population size 700 000 Population growth rate (%) 3.1 Total fertility rate 6 Crude Birth Rate 39 Adolescent fertility Rate 107 Infant Mortality Rate 60 Maternal Mortality Rate 110 Life Expectancy

PRESENT SITUATION: SUCCESS STORY Population size 1.3 M Population growth rate (%) 0.1 Total fertility rate 1.34 Population averted 1.5 M Crude Birth Rate 10 Adolescent fertility Rate 23 Infant Mortality Rate 13 Still Birth Rate 9 Maternal Mortality Rate 33 Life Expectancy 74

Population Trend and ageing 1962 2015 2035 2055 Total Population 681,619 1,220,663 1,162,149 947,599 0-14 (%) 45.3 19.3 13.7 10.8 15-59 (%) 49.3 65.8 60.1 54.1 60+ (%) * 5.4 14.9 26.3 35.1 Mean (Years) 23.4 36.3 43.3 47.9 Median (Years) 17.6 35.5 44.0 51.1 * Old persons or seniors are defined as those 60 years and above

ISLAND OF MAURITIUS PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE OF WORKING AGE (15-59 YEARS) AND OF THOSE BELOW AND ABOVE WORKING AGE 1962- 2055 * Census years

MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE

PERCENTAGE YEAR

Dependency Ratio and Ageing Index 1962 2015 2035 2055 Total Dependency Ratio 1028 520 665 847 Child Dependency Ratio 918 294 227 199 Old Age Dependency Ratio 111 226 437 648 Pensioner Support Ratio * 9.1 4.1 2.3 1.6 Index of Ageing^ 12 77 192 295 *: Number of persons of working age (15-59) per person aged 60 & above ^: Number of persons aged 60 and above per 100 children below age 15 years

ISLAND OF MAURITIUS Ageing Index# Pensioner Support Ratio^ * Census years ^ Number of persons of working age (15-59 years) for each old person (aged 60 years and over). # Number of persons aged 60 & above per 100 children below age 15.

% of population aged 60 years and above – selected countries

Average number of children per woman* – selected regions and countries

LONG TERM CARE Mauritius is a welfare state 50% of budget recurrent expenditure is on social services (Education and Health Free)

New Approach towards ageing and LTC Different Sub Committees have been set up Ministry of Health and Quality of Life Ministry of Social Security and National Solidarity and Welfare of the Elderly Ministry of Education and Scientific Research Ministry of Women’s rights, Child Development and Family Welfare Ministry of Youth and Sports Ministry of Rodrigues Ministry of Arts and Culture

New Approach towards ageing (continued) Ministry of Finance Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (State Law Office) Ministry of Economic Empowerment & Social Integration Members of the Committee of Officials Members of the Sub-Committees Senior Citizens Council Mauritius Council of Social Service

MAIN LEGISLATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION AND CARE OF ELDERLY The National Pensions Act 1976 The Senior Citizens Council Act 1985 (amended in 1995 & 2011: vision – Healthy and Active Ageing ) The Residential Care Homes Act 2003 The Protection of Elderly Persons Act 2005

The policy initiatives and advocacy evolve around the following theme: First among African Countries to have a Policy Framework since 2001 - National Policy on Elderly ‘Ageing with dignity’ The policy initiatives and advocacy evolve around the following theme: Preparation for Retirement Health and nutrition Housing Income Security Employment Inter-generation Relationship Social Welfare & Leisure and Physical Activities Institutional Care

New Policies Elaboration of a National Policy on Ageing 2008 Policy paper on the situation of old people in the Republic of Mauritius Convention for the Protection and Rights of Older Persons in the Republic of Mauritius by Mauritius Council of Social Services

Social Security Systems Mandate of the Ministry of Social Security and National Solidarity Total cost of social security represents 28% of budget recurrent expenditure and 7.3% of GDP at market prices

Types of pensions Basic Retired Pension (160 USD for those aged 60-89 years, 500 USD for aged 90-99 years and 675USD for centenarian. Additional 10 USD if severely handicapped= 17% OF ELDERLY) Contributing Retirement Pension Allowances under Social Aid

Allowance Income Support (Rent allowance, Rice and Flour= 19% of elderly-USD 10 per month) Funeral Grant Centenarian (Mobile phone) Other Facilities Rebate Air Fares Free travel by bus Airport tax exemption Reduced fee for issue and renewal of passport Free blankets/cardigans Free issue of wheelchairs, spectacles and hearing aids (based on income)

Facilities Day Care Centre Health & Nutrition Clubs (38) Gym Clubs Community Support Group Charitable Institutions (1.3% OF ELDERLY LIVE IN CI) Private Retirement Homes (27)

Health Services Easy access- 143 PHC centres with 3 Kms from place of residence Fast track services available in government hospital for elderly Geriatric clinics at health points Medical Unit at the Ministry of Social Security Anti Flu vaccine Domiciliary visits for persons aged 90 and above Visits to Charitable Institutions View cases for Social Aid, Invalidity Pensions

Major Challenges Feminization of elderly population (56% of elderly are women) Increased pressure on health sector (NCD and Chronic diseases) More pressure on the labour force to support a rising number of pensioners Increasing trend in the number of elderly living alone (11% at present) Old persons are more likely to be disabled than in the past Financial implications No Geriatric Hospital Lack of Geriatricians

Economic Activity of Elderly 14% of all persons aged 60 years and above are economically active.

Challenges/ opportunities Productive ageing (LE 74 years- Retirement age increased to 65 years) Ageing with dignity and self-fulfillment (Celebration of day of the elderly) Participative ageing (University for Elderly) Meaningful ageing (Inter- generational activities, Society for all ages)

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