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

1. 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%

2. POPULATION EXPLOSION IN 1962
Population size
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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. MALE
FEMALE
MALE
FEMALE

7. PERCENTAGE
YEAR

8. 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

9. 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.

10. % of population aged 60 years and above – selected countries

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. The policy initiatives and advocacy evolve around the following theme:
First among African Countries to have a Policy Framework since 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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)

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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)

26. Thank you