YEREVAN. – Armenia is already an aging country in line with international rankings, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Armenia Assistant Representative Garik Hayrapetyan stated during a press conference on Monday.    

He added that the data on Armenia are very concerning, as the number of Armenia’s senior citizens is expected to virtually double by 2050, reaching 885,000 from today’s 469,000, the average age will rise to 49.4, instead of today’s 32.6, and all this could place upon the state’s shoulders a huge responsibility in terms of taking care of the pensioners.     

Likewise reflecting on this matter, Armenia’s Labor and Social Affairs Deputy Minister Jemma Baghdasaryan noted that the Government recently approved the 2012-2016 action plan to resolve the aging-related issues in the country.       

“In addition, we are attempting to find the shortfalls in this domain. There are 14,000 single elderly in Armenia. They are being served and taken care of. The polyclinics provide them free medical service, and the question has been raised as to do the same in hospitals as well. At present, there are three state-run and four private retirement homes. Old-age-homes and shack-clubs are envisioned to be opened in the regions,” the Deputy Minister noted.           

She added that those who are 63 years of age or older are considered seniors in Armenia, but many of them still wish to work, and, also, numerous crafts are either being forgotten or solely the elderly master them.