El desafío del envejecimiento saludable: brechas entre las necesidades de las personas mayores y las políticas implementadas en Argentina

Background and objectives

While the concept of healthy aging tends to be homogenized, differential characteristics are observed among regions and even within the same country. There are policies aimed at promoting healthy aging; however, it is essential to understand the needs of the population so that these policies can be effective. The objective of this project was to identify gaps between the needs of individuals over 60 years old to achieve healthy aging and the policies implemented in Argentina to support this purpose.

Materials and methods

Descriptive study with a mixed qualitative–quantitative approach was employed in three stages: 1. Documentary review of current programs in Argentina. 2. Visualization of the needs of individuals over 60 years old. 3. Identification of gaps between the stated needs and the proposals of the programs.

Results

Twenty-eight programs were identified with components such as entertainment, peer relationships, social inclusion, and health care and promotion. When evaluating needs for healthy aging, the most frequent responses were maintaining good physical health, keeping the mind active, and continuing to engage in activities. In the gap analysis, it was observed that needs such as continuing activities, family support, and positive attitudes were prioritized more by participants than by the surveyed programs.

Conclusions

There were gaps between the needs identified by adults aged 60 and over and the evaluated programs. This study represents an initial contribution to identify priorities and contribute to aligning government policies with the specific needs of this population group.