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LEADERS IN LONGEVITY

Special Focus on Latin America

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This edition features perspectives from global thought leaders within four key action areas of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing: age-friendly environments, combatting ageism and age discrimination, integrated care, and long-term care. Additionally, we take a closer look at Latin America, a region on the cusp of significant demographic change - exploring five countries in depth: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

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Department

Department

  • By Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO, AARP
  • Dec 01, 2021

From the CEO: Turning the Decade of Healthy Ageing into Action, in the U.S. and Across the World

Healthy aging is a lifelong pursuit. It doesn’t begin at age 50 or 60 or 65. Likewise, it doesn’t just happen, and it’s not something one can do alone. That’s why at AARP we seek to create a society that supports healthy longevity across the life course.

  • By Peter Rundlet Vice President, AARP International
  • Dec 01, 2021

From the Editor-in-Chief: AARP The Journal 2021

We decided to focus on developments in a region perhaps not as frequently discussed in the aging-issue context because it is not among the oldest — yet it is one that is among the fastest aging regions in the world: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

  • By Jean Accius, Senior Vice President, AARP Global Thought Leadership
  • Dec 01, 2021

From the Executive Editor:
Aging: The Impact from Every Tailored Action

Rather than pushing a one-size-fits-all approach that we know doesn’t work everywhere, we must continually adjust our strategies and elevate policies, programs and other innovative solutions that are local yet scalable.

Features

Features

  • By Peter Lloyd-Sherlock, Karla Cristina Giacomin, and Lucas Sempé
  • Dec 01, 2021

An Innovative Caregiving Program Shows Promise

Decent pay, training, and a professional identity enhance staff retention, accountability, and quality assurance. In this way, PMC has become an empowering career option for women in neighborhoods where steady employment is very limited.

  • By Cecilia Morel Montes, First Lady of Chile
  • Dec 01, 2021

Dignity and Quality of Life: Prioritizing Aging Issues in Chile

Older persons have much to learn and even more to give. We need to foster and make visible their contribution to the social, family, economic, and cultural life of countries, showing that they are not a problem but rather an asset.

  • By Julieta Rodriguez and Nancy Bohorquez, Fundación Provida Colombia
  • Dec 01, 2021

How Colombia Uses Education to Drive Its Healthy Longevity Work

To encourage healthy longevity, we need to value a person-centric education system by prioritizing personal development in a learning environment that nourishes the mind, soul, and spirit, as well as the establishment of a community mindset. 

  • By Marcia Scazufca, Scientific Researcher, Instituto de Psiquiatria Universidade de São Paulo
  • Dec 01, 2021

Message Received, Loud and Clear: Pandemic Shows Society Falling Short of Statute’s Vision

The pandemic has only exacerbated perennial challenges. As the pandemic continues to send lessons and messages that have long needed to be heard, it is time to ensure that the statute truly becomes a way of Brazilians’ everyday life.

  • By Sofía Elena Segura, Professor, School of Medicine and Coordinator, Programa Institucional para la Persona Adulta y Adulta Mayor (PIAM) University of Costa Rica
  • Dec 01, 2021

The Aging Population in Costa Rica and the Importance of Lifelong Learning

In the Central American country of Costa Rica, individuals ages 60+ currently represent 9 percent of the total population. By 2050, this proportion is expected to more than double, as older adults will account for approximately 20 percent of the population.2,3 Costa Rica’s evident trend of accelerated aging will have diverse social, cultural, economic, health, and legal implications.

  • By Pablo Ibarrarán, Ana Mylena Aguilar, Fiorella Benedetti, Natalia Aranco
  • Dec 01, 2021

Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Accelerated Aging in Mexico

as is the case in many countries, the rapidly aging population in Mexico demands that the nation acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead so that it can develop solutions to address them.

Contributors

Contributors

  • By Mary-Genevieve Moisan, Intern, AARP Policy, Research, and International
  • Mar 01, 2023

Oaxaca de Juárez: A Surprisingly Age-Friendly Mexican City

"Residents of Oaxaca enjoy further opportunities for healthy aging through public health insurance systems, and a culture of community that values older adults."

  • By Kenneth Roth and Bridget Sleap, Human Rights Watch
  • Dec 01, 2021

A Turning Point for the Rights of Older People

For too long we have witnessed the impact of excluding older people in responses to climate change, conflict, and humanitarian disasters. Ageism must no longer be ignored.

  • By Emer Coveney, National Programme Manager, Age Friendly Ireland
  • Dec 01, 2021

Age Friendly Towns in Ireland

Developing Age Friendly Towns revolves around the ethos that if you design for the young, you exclude the old, but if you design for the old, you include everyone.

  • By Julio Frenk, President, University of Miami and former Minister of Health, Mexico
  • Dec 01, 2021

Applying the Pandemic’s Public Health Lessons Holds Promise for Latin America and the World

While the current emergency is not yet over, we are all starting to imagine what a post-pandemic world could look like. In fact, there is much talk about a new normal. I would argue, however, that we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a better normal. We owe it to all those who have suffered to apply the lessons we have learned thus far.

  • By Kim McCoy Wade, Director, California Department of Aging
  • Dec 01, 2021

Building a Better California for All Ages and Abilities

In early 2021, California launched its bold 10-year Master Plan for Aging. The Master Plan provides an inclusive and equitable framework for transforming aging for individuals, families, and communities as the changing demographics inevitably shape the future of California.

  • By Martha Boudreau, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, AARP
  • Dec 01, 2021

Combating Ageism in the Media and Marketing

Reaping the economic benefits of age-inclusive marketing starts with understanding the 50-plus lifestyle and then using images and messaging that connect with the reality of how people are aging today. Increasingly, that lifestyle includes employment, which is tied to consumption and spending patterns.

  • By Matthias von Schwanenflügel, Head of Directorate-General 3 ‘Demographic Change, Senior Citizens, Non-statutory Welfare’ Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
  • Dec 01, 2021

Concerted Action for Nursing – Germany’s Strategy to Combat the Shortage of Nursing Professionals

By launching the nationwide campaign, “Make a career as a human being!” (2019–2021), the government aimed to attract young people and adults seeking a career change to nursing.

  • By Stephen Johnston, Founder, Fordcastle and Co-founder, Aging2.0
  • Dec 01, 2021

Global Innovations in Aging and Longevity

Human activity is increasingly digital, and our data trails are powering countless business models. Healthcare has been a laggard so far, but is now catching up, propelled by the pandemic, venture funding, and ambitious moves by consumer tech giants into digital health. 

  • By David C. Grabowski, Professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School
  • Dec 01, 2021

Lessons from Abroad, Applied State-Side: The US Needs to Increase Investment in Home and Community-Based Services

Regardless of where they live, older adults prefer receiving care in the community rather than a facility. More HCBS also leads to less reliance and stress on family caregivers and a lower likelihood of entry to nursing homes.

  • By F. Akosua Agyemang, Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Work University of Ghana
  • Dec 01, 2021

Long-Term Care and Caregiving for Older Adults in Africa

In Africa, family members are primarily responsible for providing care and support to older adults. This dependence is a reciprocated act, and one related to an African adage that roughly translates to: “Because you [i.e., one’s older parent] have taken care of me [the child] to grow teeth, I will take care of you until your teeth fall out”

  • By Déborah Oliveira, Natalia Aranco, and Marco Stampini
  • Dec 01, 2021

Long-Term Care Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean

Investing in implementing and strengthening long-term care systems is key to providing the expansive care and support the aging population of LAC will require.

  • By Andrew Byrnes, Emeritus Professor, International Law and Human Rights, Faculty of Law & Justice University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • Dec 01, 2021

Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons

While existing treaties address sexism, ableism and racism, there is no explicit obligation to address ageism and ageist practices.

  • By Aleš Kenda, Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia
  • Dec 01, 2021

Response of the Republic of Slovenia to Population Aging

In response to population aging, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has sought to emphasize an interministerial approach, promote aging as a human rights issue, encourage intergenerational responses and support, and take part in discussions in the international level. Since its independence, Slovenia has evolved its aging strategies to become broader and more integrated into the larger community.

  • By Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization
  • Dec 01, 2021

The Decade of Healthy Ageing is an Investment in All of Our Futures

It is time to rewrite the narrative on population aging, which is often thought to have adverse effects on economic growth and is used as a justification for cost cutting.

  • By Nadine Gracia, President and CEO Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and Terry Fulmer, President, The John A. Hartford Foundation
  • Dec 01, 2021

Why We Need Age-Friendly Public Health Systems

The vision for an age-friendly ecosystem encompasses the lived environment, social determinants of health, the health care system, and a prevention-focused public health system.

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