REFLECTION ON THE HEALTH AND AGING OF THE PORTUGUESE POPULATION Mónica Martinez de Campos

Abstract

Longevity is a given, but it can create many individual andcollective challenges that we must address to meet the complexhealth needs of the ageing population. Today's society needs toreflect on and address these complex health issues, bothphysical and mental, or we risk lacking the resources and policiesto ensure that older people benefit from adequate and qualityhealth services in the coming decades. According to the WHOPlan for the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2020-2030, changes areneeded to promote healthy ageing. To meet the needs of older people, health services must be adapted to older people,awareness campaigns on ageing must be carried out anddiscrimination against older people must be prevented.Discrimination harms health care and the health of older people.Establishing or restoring formal equality for older people cannotguarantee their dignity. Dignity and non-discrimination of olderpeople should be ensured through positive discrimination.