AARP International
AARP International

Latin America and the caribbean

In 2020, nearly 58.5 million people over the age of 65 lived in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), constituting 9 percent of the region’s population. The region promises to soon be in the thick of the global aging trend that already is well underway as this 65-plus population is expected to double to approximately 18 percent of the region’s residents by 2050, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

LAC map

As with other regions across the globe, the aging trend in LAC translates into an increasingly urgent need to identify challenges, solutions, and opportunities. And while common factors affecting the well-being of older adults naturally span LAC’s subregions and countries, those factors and dynamics come in different permutations and with a level of uniqueness within those subregions and countries. Over the past few years, protests over the adequacy of pension systems contributed to unrest in the Southern Cone countries of Argentina5 and Chile,6 while up north in the Central American country of Nicaragua, there were widespread protests about changes to the social security system.7 Regarding the Andean region, HelpAge International reported that the majority of older adults in Venezuela cannot afford to buy themselves food and medicine,8 and the Inter-American Development Bank estimated that 16 percent of Bolivia’s 60-plus population lives in extreme poverty and 14 percent in moderate poverty.9 And, according to the World Economic Forum, in Brazil, over 80 percent10 of older adults rely on what America’s Quarterly has described as an underfunded Brazilian National Health Service.11

LAC infographic

Regional Highlights

ARGENTINA

COMMUNITY

The Universidad para Adultos Mayores Integrados (University for Integrated Older Adults or UPAMI) offers free, continuing education to older adults age 60-plus. The program
is run with support from the INSSJP (National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners) and since 2009 has been offered at universities throughout Argentina. UPAMI promotes the personal growth of adults and, above all, allows them to continue contributing their experiences to society. Students can choose from a wide variety of courses, including digital literacy, health and wellness, history, dance, arts and culture, and psychology.

HEALTHCARE

RAFAM Internacional (Physical Activity Network for Older People International) facilitates the inclusion of physical activity in the daily lives of older adults. This organization hosts awareness campaigns, physical activity sessions, trainings for physical education pro- fessionals, and gatherings of older adults to highlight the importance of staying active while aging. Originally founded in 2010, RAFAM is now an international network that spans across 14 countries.

TECHNOLOGY

The +Simple tool was launched in 2018 with the aim of promoting digital literacy and the social inclusion of older adults. Through the government's Technology Inclusion Program, more than 100,000 tablets containing the “+Simple” platform were delivered to individuals age 60 and over. The platform is specifically designed for use by older persons. It gives them access to apps for newspapers, social media, games, radio shows, and web browsing in a safe and easy-to-navigate space.

COMMUNITY

Juegos de las Personas Mayores (the Older People Games) is an annual competition that was first held in 2018 by Argentina’s Secretariat for Social Integration for Older People (SECISPM) to promote healthy aging. Participants must be age 60 and over and residents of the city of Buenos Aires. Previous activities of the games have included drawing, painting, photography, singing, comedy, and Buenos Aires trivia.Additional non-competitive, complementary activities, such as virtual yoga and tai chi classes, are also offered alongside the games.

FINANCE

Mayores Activos is an online financial education platform that strengthens the financial and digital inclusion of older adults in Argentina. The site, launched in 2021 as part of a cooperative agreement between Banco de la Nación Argentina (BNA) and the Latin American Development Bank - Andean Development Corporation (CAF), teaches users how to conduct online banking. The portal gives users access to banking services as well as modules informing them about how to use the ATM and BNA’s virtual wallet. Users have access to a virtual support assistant and a chatbot to answer any questions. In addition, BNA trained 685 financial literacy educators at various branch locations to be able to help older persons learn to use the digital financial services.

BARBADOS

COMMUNITY

Centenarians of Barbados: The Foundation Builders is a project co-developed by the former National Committee on Ageing, the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, and the Barbados GovernmentInformation Service. The website showcases Barbadian centenarians through its digital archive of their individual stories. These online exhibitions celebrate the milestone of turning 100 while exploring how centenarians shaped the history of the island. An additional page highlights resources available for older adults in Barbados.

COMMUNITY

The “Fifty Plus” Radio Show is hosted by the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the wellbeing of people age 50-plus. This 30-minute show airs on QFM 100.7 and VOB 92.9 FM and discusses issues pertinent to older adults in Barbados. Past topics of conversation have been consumer rights and protections as well as COVID-19 vaccines and the importance of getting vaccinated.

BRAZIL

TECHNOLOGY

Eu Vô offers door-to-door transportation and pickup services for older adults who need to go to medical appointments but who can no longer go on their own. This service is available in the cities of São Carlos and São Paulo, and it has continued to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic with a mask requirement. Drivers also assist with errands such as trips to the supermarket. Passengers can request their ride through an app, similar in function to other ride-sharing services. Eu Vô drivers are trained in first aid, as well as in topics related to gerontology and psychology, to ensure the service is as safe as possible.

COMMUNITY

Programa Educativo is an innovative educational platform created by the Rede Bem Estar (Wellness Network) in partnership with the São Paulo State Council of the Elderly, the Tellus Institute and BrasilPrev. The platform highlights ways to strengthen social bonds among older adults, their caregivers and their surrounding communities. Programa Educativo
offers a total of 30 hours of online workshops that were developed with the support of specialists in longevity for audiences with diverse connections to the aging population.

CHILE

COMMUNITY

Acompañamiento Telefónico Mayor (ATM) is a telephone program, led by Fundación Amanoz since March 2020, that aims to create opportunities for isolated older adults to establish new social connections. Volunteers reach program participants by telephone or video call once or twice a week, depending on individual preferences. The organization has more than 450 volunteers throughout the country who provide social and emotional support to more than 500 older persons.

TECHNOLOGY

The NODO Emergency Platform is a mobile application that was created by the Chilean National Service for Older Persons (SENAMA) in collaboration with various UN agencies. It connects older adults to a network of trained professionals who can help them cope with isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch in August 2020, the NODO Emergency Platform has aimed to expand older adults’ ability access to resources regarding their health and well-being as well as to improve their sense of social inclusion.

COLOMBIA

COMMUNITY

The Consejo Distrital de Sabios y Sabias, or the District Council of Wise Men and Wise Women, of the City of Bogotá is a space for community leaders to help shape policies regarding social, economic, labor, environmental, educational and cultural concerns that particularly affect older people. The council is notably consulted by local political leaders on matters of public policy on aging. Councilmembers are elected from 14 different localities within the city of Bogotá.

COMMUNITY

Escuela Virtual de Historias en Yo Mayor is led by Fundación Saldarriaga Concha and Fundación Farenheit 451 with support from the newspaper El Tiempo. The project originally launched in 2011, and its virtual nature during the COVID-19 pandemic has provided older adults with an outlet to explore their creative sides and to share their stories. During the 7-week project, participants utilize a series of pedagogical tools (in text, video and audio) to write their own and listen to each other’s stories.

COSTA RICA

COMMUNITY

Contraticos is an online hiring platform that helps older adults to find job opportunities. The company serves as a liaison between older individuals and companies looking to hire experienced workers. Contraticos aims to break down myths around older workers, teaching employers about the benefits of having an age-inclusive workforce and providing guidelines on how to best utilize individual skills. The company’s goal is to help everyone find employment opportunities, regardless of age, while helping to end discrimination against older people.

COMMUNITY

Proyecto Educativo para la Persona Adulta Mayor (PAMTEC), through the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC), is a continuing education project aimed at people over 55 years of age. Students can choose from a range of course topics that includes computing and mobile devices, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and personal well-being. The goal for the program is to promote active aging and lifelong learning. Courses are taught by diverse academic experts from TEC as well as by volunteers.

CUBA

COMMUNITY

La Cátedra Universitaria del Adulto Mayor has been a well-known educational program for older adults since its start at the Universidad de La Habana in 2000. What began with an initial cohort of 42 students has expanded to locations across the island with its total graduates numbering in the tens of thousands. Students study a range of topics, including health and human development, arts and culture, and local history. For over 20 years, the program has aimed to foster a sense of belonging and improve the quality of life of participants.

TECHNOLOGY

Los GeroClub are initiatives led by Los Joven Club de Computación y Electrónica (JCCE, the Young Computer and Electronics Club) of Cuba. GeroClub groups, which started in 2007, are accessible at various locations throughout the country, and they provide intergenerational digital literacy workshops for people age 50 and over. The goal is to help older adults learn how to navigate an increasingly digital world.

JAMAICA

COMMUNITY

The “CCRP Update” radio show airs on Radio Jamaica 94FM and is sponsored by the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) Jamaica. CCRP Jamaica is a membership organization for people age 50-plus. Its over 11,000 members have access to benefits and discounts as well as numerous wellness and lifestyle activities, including social events and learning opportunities for retirement planning and personal safety. The CCRP Update radio show discusses a variety of topics relevant to the country’s older population, such as ageism, mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition, and establishing a healthy diet.

MEXICO

TECHNOLOGY

Alfabetización Digital Adulto Mayor is a digital literacy workshop originally created for older adults in 2015. The workshop’s founder, Dr. Martínez-Alcalá, is an expert on information and communication technology at the Autonomous University of the Mexican State of Hidalgo (UAEH). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, sessions are now taught entirely online using Zoom. Courses are generally organized at five levels, from basic through advanced, but some focus on more specific topics including cell phone use. The initiative’s goal is to provide support for older adults who want to learn how to take advantage of changing technologies, enabling new opportunities for digital inclusion.

COMMUNITY

Una Cana al Arte offers people age 60 and over free, weekly tours of museums throughout Mexico. This program was created as the result of a partnership between the Instituto Estatal de la Cultura de Guanajuato (Guanajuato’s State Institute of Culture) and Mexico’s network of museums. After more than 20 years, the program generally expects about 30 to 50 older individuals attending each guided tour of permanent and temporary exhibits.

PUERTO RICO

COMMUNITY

La Juntilla 50+, a weekly radio program produced by AARP Puerto Rico, challenges the myths of life after 50. The show airs on Thursdays at 7pm on Radio Isla 1320 AM. Topics discussed include current events, lifestyles, family, travel, finance, health, community, volunteering, and more. Recent shows have covered the effects of the hurricane season, COVID-19 and vaccine availability, and mental health during the pandemic.

TECHNOLOGY

Tecnoabuelos is a digital literacy project geared toward people of age 50-plus that was founded in 2013. Tecnoabuelos offers courses that help older people to maximize their use of the internet, applications, and devices like tablets and mobile phones. These courses promote the use of technology for staying connected, maintaining an active mind, and cultivating new interests. Individual and group courses are offered; during the pandemic all have been virtual.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

HEALTHCARE

My Senior Card, a program led by the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Retired Persons (TTARP), provides an affordable medical insurance option for TTARP members. With the purchase of the plan, older adults receive one free annual medical exam, in addition to discounts on a range of other services, including dental work, laboratory testing, and diagnostic testing. TTARP is a membership organization for people age 50-plus in Trinidad and Tobago that provides aging-related resources, discounts, access to affordable medical services, and a range of social activities.

URUGUAY

COMMUNITY

The Festival Internacional de Cine sobre Envejecimiento (International Film Festival on Aging) was organized by el Centro Interdisciplinario de Envejecimiento at Universidad de la República and el Cine Universitario del Uruguay. This festival was the first of its kind in Latin America to center around the topic of aging. The goal was to generate spaces to reflect on and discuss how aging is represented around the world. During the inaugural event in September 2021, screenings of 66 short films took place alongside other events such as training workshops and talks. The topics highlighted by these films included the exploration of historical memory, intergenerational relationships, and the recognition of the rights of the elderly.

COMMUNITY

A collection of comic books centered around aging and older adults was co-created by Latin American and Scottish experts, including professors from the Universidad de la República in Uruguay and the University of Dundee in Scotland. Derechos de las personas mayores: Lecciones de la pandemia de COVID-19, or Older Person’s Rights: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic, was published in 2020, and the narrative highlights challenges faced by older people during the pandemic. Another comic titled La convención sobre los derechos de las personas mayores: Una guía gráfica, or The Convention on Older Person’s Rights: A Graphic Guide, was released in late 2021. This one presents an overview of the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons, informing readers of the benefits of ratification as well as older adults’ protected rights.

TECHNOLOGY

Plan Ibirapitá was launched in 2015 by the Uruguayan government to promote the digital inclusion of older adults. Under this initiative, older individuals with a monthly income below $800 are eligible for a free internet-connected tablet and training workshops where they can learn to use that tablet’s particular features. Others with higher incomes are also welcomed to join these activities if desired. As of 2021, around 230,000 tablets were reported to have been distributed. Each device and its specific applications were designed with older users in mind, and many have learned to use their tablets to access the news, social media, and video calls with their communities. ●

Close