In Portugal, in 2021, there were about 4,000 people over the age of 100, according to Pordata data, which estimates that in the next three decades, by 2050, that number could exceed 10,000. From Manuel Lopez’s point of view, a situation is very positive because it means that we are able to create the conditions to reach this age. “We’re an old country, and that’s good,” says a professor at the Sओo Joao de Deus Nursing School at the University of Ivory, who attended the second podcast Transformer o SNS, which had the theme, “Health Promotion, Lifestyle and Aging – New Answers” Urgently “. However, professors recognize that it is difficult to cope with the burden of the disease, which is still more than 65 years. The solution, he says, is to develop a set of lifelong health care and disease prevention strategies, not just at a more advanced stage. “The consequences of investing in these policies are significant, albeit not in the short term,” he confirms.
Watch the videocast above or, if you like, listen to the podcast:
An opinion shared by Pedro Masiel Barbosa adds that these policies can and do work from a prevention point of view, not only in terms of screening or vaccination, but also in terms of strengthening healthy moments. “The latter includes positive behaviors for this contribution – such as eating and maintaining a balanced diet – as we all know,” explains the physiotherapist at ULS Matosinhos, who also participated in a podcast hosted by DN. “We’re trying to suggest that the reflection of health lasts a lifetime.”
However, experts say that health education is an essential element for people to be aware, make good decisions and be able to manage their health throughout their lives. “And this education should take place not only in compulsory education, but also at the level of higher education,” he said, recalling a recent study on low levels of literacy among students, teachers and researchers in higher education. Therefore, “we understand that these educational tools must be used throughout the journey of the people and with all the socio-economic characteristics, more care should be taken for those who are poor or less literate, as scientific evidence is complete, and the risk of physical and mental illness It’s too much. At this social level. “
As for the promotion of skills, Manuel Lopez emphasizes the importance of doing so at any stage of life. “If this is to be applied to the elderly, we can combine the promotion of literacy with other types of strategies that also contribute, for example, to increase generational coexistence and cope with loneliness,” he suggests.
These challenges require a lot of restructuring and management, which means a lot of work to be done. Manuel Lopez, for example, says, “If you want to analyze the national health plan, perhaps the most important tool of strategic health planning in Portugal, you will find no reference to looking at multifaceted and multifaceted and dependent, which is absolutely overwhelming.” He said that these issues should be put on the table and discussed as it requires the contribution of all. One of the strategies proposed by the working group, Pedro McIl Barbosa adds, is a reflection of proximity care or home care. “This is something that SNS has changed, solutions have been found, but unfortunately, they have broken down and now is the right time to reconsider.”
To learn more about these proposals, be sure to listen to the podcast available today on the DN website.
dnot@dn.pt
.