Challenges of aging in Costa Rica

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the different challenges faced by the older population in Costa Rica after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which are similar in most Latin American countries. It discusses the different levels of care, in particula, the “Progressive Care Network for Older Adults,” known as the Care Network. Methods: Twenty-two challenges for the care of the elderly were analyzed, related to several aspects of the demographic and epidemiological reality, as well as the comprehensive care. Results: As a result of the current pandemic, there is a decrease in the life expectancy at birth in Latin America Central America. The analysis of the demographic and epidemiologic situation of the elderly in Costa Rica, as well as the care programs and health services enable to identify the main challenges this country must face to recover from the pandemic years and improve the health and the quality of life of the elderly in the future. Conclusions: There is an increase in the morbidity and mortality of the elderly; and, despite the relative well-developed institutional framework of attention, these changes have put pressure on the health and care services, affecting older adults, especially 80 years and over.

Keywords

• Aging. Demographics. Epidemiology. Care network. Costa Rica.