The Support and Care Strategy as a response to the Needs of Elderly People in a situation of Dependency in Chile

Abstract

In Latin America, there is a sustained increase in life expectancy and accelerated aging of the population. In the case of Chile, which is one of the countries in the region that presents a progressive increase in the proportion of people over 60 years of age – an issue that is explained by the increase in life expectancy and the decrease in fertility, it is That is to say, the significant increase in the older population with respect to the younger population makes it evident that this segment of the population presents high levels of dependency. According to data from the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN, 2017), the prevalence of dependency increases as age increases, reaching 39.2% in those over 80 years of age, while, in the from 60 to 64 years old, only 5.9% present some degree of functional dependence. This article is limited to a qualitative approach through the review of primary and secondary literature documents. In this context, the current Support and Care Strategy in Chile translates into a local management model that aims to direct its actions to households with members in a situation of moderate and severe dependency, their caregivers and their support networks. support.