Questions we may ask ourselves as we age might include: who’s going to care for us? How will we afford that care? Will we become a burden for our loved ones? Should we spare them and explore retirement home options? None of these questions are easy. They’re especially difficult in societies where people tend to feel more alienated. But in some cultures, where family ties are … [Read more...] about Costa Rica’s Deeply Familial Care System at the Onset of Increased Global Aging
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
What About the Rights of the Elderly?
In noting the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, did you know that there is no universal declaration of the rights of older adults, like there is for children and indigenous peoples? What does exist in the United Nations is a space for formal discussion about which rights are the most relevant for this population. … [Read more...] about What About the Rights of the Elderly?
10 Take-Aways on How the Region Can Improve Health Spending Efficiency
Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced important improvements in key health indicators over the last two decades. For example, since 2000 average life expectancy rose from 71 to 75 years of age, and mortality rates for children under five fell by 44%. The region currently faces the challenge of maintaining these achievements and making further progress in health … [Read more...] about 10 Take-Aways on How the Region Can Improve Health Spending Efficiency
How Community Health Workers Are Helping Vulnerable Communities
Despite enormous advances in technology and improvements in human welfare at the global level, there are still vulnerable populations today that have little or no access to basic health care, even in developed countries such as the United States. One factor contributing to the problem is the major crisis involving human resources in health – resources that are vital to the … [Read more...] about How Community Health Workers Are Helping Vulnerable Communities
How Perspective Shapes Health Policies
As health technologies evolve, the ways in which these technologies are evaluated and applied to the public sphere to ensure effectiveness also change. The Health Technology Assessment (HTA), in particular, is a systematic and technically robust process that examines a health technology (often new) from different perspectives. Using the available evidence, and then balancing … [Read more...] about How Perspective Shapes Health Policies