November 2022
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Welcome back
Read below for the latest news and updates from the Region.
Highlight: Observatory on Health and Aging for the Americas
Aging level and trends of population in the Americas 1950 to 2100
In the Region of the Americas, a demographic transition is occurred, which is evidenced in gradual changes in the size of the population according to the different age groups.
- In the 0-14 age group, the size of the population had a (slow) increasing trend, from the year 1950 to the year 2000. From this date on, the growth trajectory presents a decreasing trend. A continuous decrease in the number of children at the regional level is projected to 2100.
- In the 15-59 age group, the size of the population has an increasing trend from the year 1950 to the year 2040. From this date on, the growth trajectory presents a decreasing trend and no change is observed in the projected trend to 2100. Which means a continuous decrease in the number of adolescents, young adults and adults at the regional level is projected.
- In the 60-79 age group, the size of the population has an increasing trend throughout the observed and projected period (1950-2100); taking into account that around the year 2060, growth will stabilize at an approximate value of 200 million.
- In the 80+ age group, the size of the population has an increasing trend throughout the observed and projected trajectory (1950-2100), which will be reflected in a gradual increase in the number of people in this age group.
Contribute to the UN Decade of Healthy Aging Progress Report
We invite you to contribute to the upcoming UN Decade of Healthy Aging Progress Report on the implementation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. This progress report will be developed by organizations of the United Nations, with inputs from the broad range of stakeholders involved in making the Decade a success and will published in 2023.
The report will aim to highlight the experiences of stakeholders during the first two years of the Decade’s implementation, sharing the knowledge and resources being developed to support healthy aging. The report will also highlight examples of the actions being taken by all stakeholders to implement the Decade and achieve change with and for older people.
We invite you to share examples of your work on healthy aging during the first two years of the Decade. A case study template to complete with information on your program or activity can be found on the Decade of Healthy Aging Platform.
New: WHO Evidence and Gap Maps for the UN Decade of Healthy Aging
Evidence and gap maps are interactive tools that help researchers and decision makers discover existing evidence on a given topic, find solutions supported by evidence, and identify gaps in the evidence where more research is required. WHO is developing evidence and gap maps as part of a multi-year project to summarize, disseminate, and increase uptake of evidence towards deeper integration in policies and practices during the Decade.
Evidence and gap maps are essential tools to strengthen data, research, and innovation and achieve the aims of the Decade. Explore the available maps on this page, which will continue to be updated as new resources are made available.
Diabfrail LatAm
The consortium of the European project DIABFRAIL-LATAM keeps working to recruit participants in the countries on the study to improve the management of diabetes in older adults.
Results will support the development of community programs to prevent frailty in these individuals.
As of December 2th, there are 455 older adults participating the in project (314 in Colombia, 30 in Peru, 10 in Mexico/Tijuana, 101 in Chile/Requinoa)
Publications
Portfolio: Evidence-based Programs for a Person-centered, Integrated Care for Older People at the Primary Health-care Level
To improve older person’s health is crucial to access older adult's needs as well as provide timely identification and action on losses in their physical and mental capacities, that is the intrinsic capacity. The selected programs presented in this document have the objective to improve or maintain older adults’ intrinsic capacity at the community level, focusing on one or more of its main domains. The portfolio focuses mainly on locomotor, psychological and cognitive capacity, as well as self-care and caregiver support. Available in Spanish and Portuguese.
Framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care
The framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care identifies key aspects necessary to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care service provision and to facilitate the integration of long-term services within existing health and social care systems. Also available in Spanish.
Video spotlight:
Click on the video to learn more about the life course approach to immunization.
Upcoming events:
Other information and past events:
Launch of the WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities
- 2 December 2022
An estimated 1.3 billion people – or 16% of global population worldwide – experience a significant disability today. Persons with disabilities have the right to the highest attainable standard of health as those without disabilities. However, the WHO Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities demonstrates that while some progress has been made in recent years, the world is still far from realizing this right for many persons with disabilities who continue to die earlier, have poorer health, and experience more limitations in everyday functioning than others.
V Meeting of Mayors for Healthy Municipalities, Cities and Communities in the Region of the Americas
More than 30 mayors from 18 countries met on November 21-22 in Panama City as part of a meeting organized by PAHO. The meeting aimed to seek to strengthen partnerships between local governments, as well to discuss the implementation of the actions of the movement of Healthy Municipalities, Cities and Communities (HMCC) of the Americas, which fosters public policies to promote health and well-being in the territories. The meeting also discussed the opportunity of creating healthy and age-friendly cities and communities to promote the wellbeing and healthy aging through the life course, as well as the role played by local governments in the vaccination against COVID-19, the lessons learned and opportunities.
Building a Better Immunity: A Pathway to Healthy Longevity
The Healthy Life Course Unit and the Comprehensive Immunization Unit part of the Family, Health Promotion and Life Course Department at PAHO organized the webinar on Building a better immunity: a pathway to healthy longevity. This webinar marked the third of the Healthy Life Course series of webinars.
The life course approach to immunization and its implications for public health systems was discussed among the presentations and the panel discussions. Immunization is a key public health intervention which accompanies us even before birth which can strengthen our capacities as we grow. A life course approach can have great implications in the countries of the Region where health programs can reduce immunity gaps at different stages of life.
Age-friendly cities and communities in the Americas
As of November 30th, there are a total of 836 cities and communities committed to be age-friendly in the Region of the Americas.
Our newest members include Cambridge, Canada and Queretaro, Mexico. Welcome!
To learn more about age-friendly initiatives in the Region and worldwide, please visit the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities webpage.
