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The elderly population is growing in Brazil!!!
The elderly population in Brazil has been growing significantly over the last decades. According to the data from the Brazilian Statistics and Geography Institute (IBGE), currently there are around 18 million people in the country over 60 years old. Each year, 650 thousand new elderly persons are incorporated to the population. In spite of this increase, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day cannot be celebrated yet. According to the researcher from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Maria Minayo, 46 elderly persons daily die victim of the most diverse ways of abuse and accidents.
According to the IBGE, the elderly population will be of 30 million until 2025, and will represent 13 % of the population.
There are 17.6 million people aged 60 years old or more in Brazil, which corresponds to 9.7 % of the population.
* Brazil is already the sixth country in the world with the largest aging population, registering an increase of 3.2% a year.
* There are more elderly persons in the country than children: 120 people aged 60 years old or over for every 100 children.
* From 1940 to 2004, Brazilian life expectation increased 60%, from 45.5 to 71.7 years old.
* There are more women among the elderly than men: 56.1% of the people aged 60 years or over are female and 43.9% are male.
* The regions with the greatest concentration of elderly persons are: The Southeast with 10.5% of the local population aged 60 years old or over and the South (10.4%). The region with the lowest percentage of elderly persons is the North (6%); and the remaining regions are the Central East (7.4%) and the Northeast (9.2%).
*Most Brazilian elderly persons (77.4%) are retired or pensioners.
*Many, however, still work (29.9%), playing an important role in the family maintenance.
* With an average income of R$ 657 Brazilian real, over half of the elderly persons (64%) are reference for the families.
* It’s important to highlight a fact about the elderly type of family: 13% of the elderly are part of families.
Doesn’t oldness start at 60?
Aiming at protection, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined that oldness start at 60 in developing countries (the age is 65 in developed countries). It is known, however, that oldness DOES NOT start at a chronological age, neither it occurs in the same way for everyone. As a result of habits and customs, oldness is a personal process and also differs from time to time.
Did you know that the elderly produce?
The elderly persons have knowledge, experience and a wide world vision, being able to participate in the market, contributing with the experience and knowledge accumulated through the years. It is not only the youth that produces and consumes. The elderly can act in productive activities and, with resources, they also consume.
Did you know that oldness is not a totally negative phase?
Most elderly persons do not have limitations, nor are their lives negative and dependent. An elderly person has experience, knowledge and wisdom that a young person does not, however this one has the power and vitality that the elderly person lacks. If society values only the physical brawn, the elderly person is at disadvantage. The important thing in a democratic and plural society is respecting the elderly persons’ condition, their experience and knowledge of life, in balance with the innovation capacity, initiative and vitality of the youth.
Did you know that oldness is not ugly?
It is evident that with time a person loses the freshness of youth. The beauty, however, as well as the oldness, is an ephemeral concept that changes from generation to generation.
The beauty concept today is very different from the beauty concept of centuries ago. Currently, however, youth beauty is valued, even with some exaggeration. We hide, on the other hand, the beauty of aging, reflected not only on a reasonable, wise and serious countenance, but also on the wrinkles and on the grey hair with the aging signs.
Did you know that oldness is not a disease?
There are many ways to prevent diseases and preserve mental and physical health. There are diseases that become manifest at oldness such as diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, depression and bad buccal health, but some of them may be acquired at childhood and aggravate through life. Quality aging depends on prevention, precautions and healthy habits developed since the first years of life.
Did you know that oldness doesn’t cause memory loss?
The effects of oldness on the memory are not inevitable or irreversible. People have the capacity to remember at all ages, since they exercise their memory. Young people also forget, make mistakes and, many times, act unreasonably.
Did you know that the elderly like more than just bingo games and balls?
The ball presents an opportunity to remember and to revive pleasant moments, develop sociability, skills and talents, promote physical activity through dance, stimulate sensuality, develop musical taste and stimulate imagination and fantasy. This activity is not restricted only to the elderly; it has a positive effect at any age. Bingo may be an excellent social space, when promoted aiming at entertaining and at community integration. When it is a commercial activity, it may induce addiction, isolation and material loss, being a negative aspect at any age.
Did you know that oldness does not cause sexual impotence?
This is one of the most present myths nowadays. Just observe how the media, the TV and the cinema appeal to the theme. But physicians, psychologists and sexologists have already demystified this subject, which is so important for a person in all the life stages. The body changes, but the sexuality continues. The sensitivity gets, by the way, more refined and more beautiful with time, and that is the reason why the maintenance of preventive precautions is important regarding sexually transmitted diseases, ensuring safe sex and reverting statistics that present high AIDS infection rate among the elderly.
Source: Elderly Basic Coordination; Prefeitura da Cidade de São Paulo (Sao Paulo City Hall)