The Region of the Americas has experienced a significant decline in the health life expectancy (HALE) of older adults at age 60 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New data from the WHO Global Health Observatory reveals that the HALE at 60 years old was reduced from 16.61 years in 2019 to 15.21 years in 2021 in the region. This dramatic decline underscores the severe impact of the pandemic on older populations, reversing years of advancements in public health and longevity.

The global HALE for older persons dropped by 1.1 years during the same period, with variations across regions. The worldwide population is aging faster than in the past, with Latin America and the Caribbean undergoing this demographic transition even more rapidly. In 2020, over 8% of the population was 65 or older, a figure that is estimated to double by 2050 and exceed 30% by the end of the century.

The UN Decade of Healthy Aging 2021-2030

In response to the challenges posed by population aging, the United Nations General Assembly declared the Decade of Healthy Aging 2021-2030 as a global initiative to build a society for all ages. Announced in December 2020, this strategy unites governments, civil society, international agencies, professional teams, academia, media, and the private sector in a collective effort to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities.

The vision of the UN Decade of Healthy Aging is to promote long and healthy lives for older individuals and improve healthy aging trajectories. This initiative emphasizes the need for innovative measures and accelerated efforts by countries worldwide and represents an opportunity to restore and improve the HALE for older persons, using the pandemic’s impact as a pivotal motivation, and be prepared to face new threats as they emerge.

The Decade of Healthy Aging focuses on four key areas of action, including integrated care and the creation of age-friendly environments. These strategies are crucial for improving the health and wellbeing of older adults through the development of targeted actions and encouragement of healthy behaviors, such as physical activity. A recent report highlighted the issue of physical inactivity in older adults aged 60 years and above, stating a prevalence of approximately 50% of physical inactivity in this population group in the Region of the Americas. This finding further stresses the need for targeted interventions to improve older adults’ health.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) leads the concerted agenda of the Decade of Healthy Aging in the Americas 2021-2030.

Read more @paho