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The idea of writing a chapter on aging seems particularly appropriate. I'm at the right age to address this topic. As I did the preparatory reading and research, I had an unusual experience. For the first time in my life, I felt like an expert. I could judge what people were saying about aging by my own experience. Besides facing aging myself, I work mainly with rural hospitals and nursing homes and hospice organizations where most of the patients are elderly. Both in my personal life and in my work, I am surrounded by the realities of aging and dying.In a recent book entitled Gray Dawn (1) on the economics and politics of aging, the author, Peter Peterson used a gripping metaphor to describe the challenge of an increasing aging population. Global aging, he said, is like a massive iceberg which very well could destroy even the most powerful economic vessels in the world. The aging population worldwide, according to this author, threatens human survival and is the most important challenge we face in the 21st century. His iceberg metaphor highlights the danger of global aging and the fact the all human beings are exposed to this danger. ; La idea de escribir un artículo sobre el envejecimiento, parece particularmente apropiada.Estoy en la edad precisa para abordar este tema. Como realicé toda la lectura e investigación preparatoria, tengo una experiencia poco común. Por primera vez en mi vida me siento como un experto. Puedo juzgar lo que se dice sobre envejecer desde mi propia experiencia. Además de enfrentar personalmente el envejecimiento, trabajo principalmente con hospitales rurales, casas de reposo y hospicios, donde la mayoría de los pacientes son ancianos. Tanto en mi vida personal como en mi trabajo estoy rodeado por las realidades de envejecer y morir.En una publicación reciente, titulada Graysobre la economía Dawn [ Gris Amanecer] (1), y política del envejecimiento, el autor, Peter Peterson, usó una impresionante metáfora para describir el desafío de una creciente población que envejece. El ...

Ageing and geriatric care constitute two aspects (collective and individual) of the same social and cultural reality, and should motivate medicine towards a healthy transformation of its practice, therefore becoming more aware of its own limitations and goals. Also becoming more appropriate for convincing society to accept ageing; a society which willingly would delegate medicine certain social and political tasks, even though they are not medical issues. This is the main idea sustained in this text. ; El envejecimiento y la atención geriátrica constituyen los dos aspectos (colectivo e individual) de una misma realidad cultural y social que deberían incitar a la medicina a una saludable transformación de su práctica, que la volviera más consciente de sus propios límites y finalidades. Que la volviera también más apta para convencer a la sociedad de admitir el envejecimiento; una sociedad dispuesta, con mucha facilidad, a desprenderse y a encargar a la medicina de tareas sociales y políticas que no son de competencia médica. Esta es la idea central sostenida por este texto. ; Le vieillissement et sa prise en charge gériatrique constituen les deux faces (collective et individuelle) d'une même realité culturelle et sociale qui devrait inciter la médecine à une salutaire transformation de sa pratique, qui la rendrait plus consciente de ses propres limites et de ses finalités, qui la rendrait aussi plus apte à les faire admettre à une société prompte à se débarrasser sur la médecine de tâches sociales et politiques qui ne relèvent pas de la compétence médicale: telle est l'idée défendue dans ce texte. ; O envelhecimento e a atenção geriátrica constituem dois aspectos (coletivo e individual) de uma mesma realidade cultural e social que deveriam estimular a medicina a uma saudável transformação de sua prática, que a faria mais consciente de seus próprios limites e finalidades. De igual modo, a faria mais apta a convencer a sociedade em aceitar o envelhecimento. Imperioso reconhecer que essa sociedade atribui à Medicina ...

At the beginning of the 19th century, the estimated world population was 978 millions. In more developed regions the proportion of people older than 60 was around 20%.Population in Latin America and the Caribbean will grow approximately 180 millions within 2000 and 2025. More than one third of that growth will correspond to old age people.In Latin America and the Caribbean the reality associated with the state of demographic transition is very diversified, which has social, ethical, and economical implications according to the different countries in the Region.The transformation of the structure by ages results in particular social, economic, and political demands. At the same time the social-demographic differences, particularly the age structure, emphasize the difference in the treatment of bioethical issues.Ageing appears in the more advanced transitional countries of the Region, as a linked phenomenon, on the one hand by the increasing proportion of senior citizens, and on the other, by the improved quality of life in the old age years.Bioethical issues will gain greater importance not only because of the increased number and proportion of senior citizens, but also education will place on a more distinguished level the social requirements for autonomy, a dignified treatment, and a greater participation in patient-doctor relationship, diagnostics and treatments.Bioethical considerations, particularlythose principles closest to social sciences as justice, equality and autonomy, tend to gain greater importance in situations concerning the abrupt growth of senior citizen population. ; En el inicio del Siglo XIX la población mundial estimada era de 978 millones. En las regiones más desarrolladas la proporción de personas mayores de 60 años bordeaba el 20%.La población de América Latina y el Caribe aumentará en alrededor de 180 millones entre el 2000 y el 2025. Más de un tercio de ese incremento correponderá a población adulta mayor.En América Latina y el Caribe existen realidades, asociadas con el estadio de la ...

Currently, Chile has a free market development model, which has been maintained within the last decade through some adjustments intended to correct different social imbalances.Capitalism without state intervention cannot be sustained in democratic countries.Old age and ageing are addressed within this context. The issue is approached from an individual and social angle, under a multidisciplinary point of view.The images, which present society has regarding old age, refer to cultural patterns which hardly recognize that ageing is a unavoidable situation for human beings.Ageing is perceived and transmitted as a painful situation, biased by images of old people: ill, disabled, suffering emotional disorders, and representing an emotional and economic burden on their families.The concept of "quality of life" considers subjectivity as an essential element, therefore expectations are above all individual.Likewise it has a multidimensional and complex character, produced by diversity. It is also a dynamic concept, as it varies with time.Groups in reduced social and economic conditions tend commonly to share their homes with their elders, being these not only their parents, but also relatives, or even some not related by kinship.Political participation is oriented to influence those decisions which compromise the destiny of the collectivity as a whole. The social participation concerns those closest to the development of the daily life of the individuals.Even though senior citizens constitute a relevant electoral market with growing importance, its role as political actors is still irrelevant. ; Chile tiene actualmente un modelo de desarrollo de libre mercado, el cual se ha mantenido en la útlima década con algunos ajustes destinados a corregir desequilibrios sociales.El capitalismo sin intervención y regulación estatal no puede subsistir en países democráticos.Es en este contexto que se trata la vejez y el envejecimiento. Se aborda desde un ángulo individual y social y con una mirada multidisciplinaria.Las imágenes que ...