Presenter(s):
Rosy Pereyra, International Longevity Centre, Dominican Republic
Abstract
As the world population grows older, societies have to face the social, political and economical implications that these represents.
It is well known that by 2050 the number of people aged 65 and older is projected to double to 1.6 billion and those aged 80 and over is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050. Those numbers will not only be reached by developed countries, developing countries will also contribute without having the means to face the challenges the situation presents.
Social security systems are already collapsing in many countries due to longer lifespans and declining fertility rates making it difficult for societies to find replacements and having to recur to promote recruitments from other countries so as to fill unoccupied places and get contributions to the system.
Population ageing produces changes in the family, health, financial security, housing, support and care. At the same time, societies have changed and nowadays, the feminization of education plus the massive integration of women to the work force, have left households without the care and security that in the past was represented by women at home therefore, we have to ask ourselves, who will care for our elders?
We have to recognize that recruiting, training, and retaining quality staff in long term and post-acute care is a permanent challenge for providers so, public and private providers have to be able to offer workers, competitive wages, training and career opportunities similar to those in the health sector. But not everybody has the possibilities to offer the above so we will have to be creative and convert those challenges in opportunities.
In the Dominican Republic though only 10% of our population is aged 60 and over, our government has designed a training program directed to women and men over 18 years of age who have completed high school and who were interested in working care, to start creating a workforce specifically trained to attend the demands that are already presenting the older population and at the moment that is a success.
We will be talking about the possibilities to overcome the present problem for developed countries and how this can be converted into future opportunities for developing countries.
Bio(s):
Dr Pereyra was born in the Dominican Republic where she became an MD. Later on, went to England for six years where she did her Post Grad in Geriatrics at the University of London.
Professor of geriatrics for 6 years at 2 Dominican universities.
Was General Director of Programs for Children and the Elderly in the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance for 10 years.
Writer and promoter of the Code of Rights for the Older Dominican
Consultant to the Pan-American Health Organization for 4 years
Consultant to United Nations for the elaboration of MIPAA
Past President of the Dominican Geriatric Association in two occasions.
Has produced multiple publications including In Un Magazine, PAHO, ILC-India, ILC-UK, ILC-Singapore, ILC-USA and University of Seoul, Korea publication among others.
Conferences in USA, Canada, in several countries of South and Central America, England, France, Holand, The Check Republic, Japan, Korea, Singapore India and Ethiopia.
Participated in multiple research projects.
Has received multiple awards for her defense of human rights of older persons.
Actual Occupation:
President of International Longevity Center DR
Vice President INPEA
Member of the GAN’s Executive Council
Member of GAROP’s Steering Committee
