Present State of Elder Care in Mexico

Abstract

Mexico is well into its demographic transition and its population is rapidly aging, posing new health and social challenges. Unfortunately, the Mexican health system’s response has been rather untimely and inadequate. The burden from chronic diseases is heavily increasing while infectious diseases are not completely abated. Although health protection is granted as a constitutional right, inequalities prevail and universal coverage has not been achieved. A highly fragmented health system makes the picture even more complicated. Social care is mostly welfare-related and long-term care is practically non-existent. Most of the extant elderly care is informal, even though it is estimated that the costs associated to it are comparable to the health expenditure in hospital services. There is a serious shortage of human resources trained in and advocated to elderly care. Nonetheless, Mexico has begun to respond. Late but effectively, a number of policies and initiatives have emerged in the past two decades aimed at tackling the challenges of population aging, including the creation of the National Institute of Geriatrics. As the population grows older and the elderly become a significant electoral force, much work still needs to be done not only in health and social issues but in public policy in general, so that the elderly are regarded as a priority group and care is regarded as a personal, civil right.