Portugal is changing and it is a challenge. What do we need to do to improve health and the economy?
A strategy for development problems; address the impact of the demographic transition on health and the economy; improving access to health care for older people; and increase the number of caregivers who provide help at home. These are some of the challenges in increasing life expectancy in Portugal.
After the meeting of the Advisory Board of the project “Longevity: Living longer and better”, the conclusion seems to be accurate and consensual: older people need more and better, and at the same time they can prepare the younger ones for their action.
Portugal is currently the 4th time – aged in the world – the trend is that in the medium term it will be a 3rd time -, being a country longer one of the great challenges of the next. Still, the word “longevity” appears only once in the current government program. There are, however, project partners who have been working on the topic for many years. One of the problems raised was the issue of caregivers.
“There is increasing pressure on caregivers of people who need it most,” said one of the members of the Advisory Board, noting, however, that all sectors will be impacted by aging. “We have to look at this without a catastrophic sense.”
– which is the most exemplary nation – which is the nation in the whole world – are treating health by several countries as an opportunity: to improve and to take advantage of the “economy” There is a need for flourishing “We are seen as a doing business, oh funds for reflection, with the country, innovation, technology, creation of startups”, said another member of the Advisory Board.
Comprised of the Age Friendly Association, National Innovation Agency, National School of Public Health, Dr. António Cupertino Miranda, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Novartis, Impresa, Observatório do Avelhecimento and União das Misericórdias Portuguesas, the Advisory Board’s mission is to define the strategic paths for a sustained gradual change in terms of aging and in Portugal.
“It’s time to reflect on this issue and start taking action,” announced another member. “We live longer and that’s always good news, but we need to measure its impact on health and the economy,” he concluded.