Abstract

TAVARES, Jéssica; SANTINHA, Gonçalo  and  ROCHA, Nelson P.. Health policy in a context of demographic aging.age-friendly principles: a programatic priority?. Finisterra [online]. 2023, n.123, pp.61-85.  Epub Sep 30, 2023. ISSN 0430-5027.  https://doi.org/10.18055/finis29037.

In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed the Age-Friendly Principles, in an attempt to optimize care for the needs of the older population. This concept was part of the Portuguese political agenda in 2017, and it is important to understand whether the national and regional health and ageing programmatic documents follow this trend, defining strategies that contribute to the provision of specialized, integrated and efficient care for the older population. A content analysis was developed, using NVIVO, seeking to understand the priority concerns, the relevance of ageing and the inclusion of the WHO Principles in the programmatic documents. It was concluded that governance measures are the most prominent, compared to long-term care (social). The programs address older people, although in a smaller number than initially expected. The WHO Principles are explicitly referred to only in the National Strategy for Active and Healthy Ageing. Such results highlight the need for health policies to take on increased concern for the older population, integrating specific responses to their needs, by the WHO Principles. No less important is the need for better coordination and articulation of national and regional documents, where national proposals are reflected in the different territorial contexts.

Keywords : Content analysis; demographic ageing; health policies; ageing policies; age-friendly principles.

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