A Look at the Elderly: A Study on Public Policies, Programs, and Services for the Population Aged 60 and Over in the Federal District

Abstract

As the population ages, Brazil must take into account the new age profile and the inequalities in access to public and private services resulting from class, race, and gender asymmetries, as well as from prejudices related to the exercise of sexuality; examining aging implies recognizing the need for public policy strategies across several key social areas; this article is the result of exploratory research on policies, programs, and services developed by the Government of the Federal District; guided by the competencies defined in the National Policy for the Elderly, the study critically analyzes governmental actions implemented by the various State and Special Secretariats in the Federal District; the data indicate an urgent need to strengthen state bureaucratic structures to address violations of the rights of older persons; there is evidence that existing services do not adequately meet the current demands of the population aged 60 and over, a situation that becomes more critical given projections of continued growth in this demographic group; the study also suggests a lack of coordination among services implemented by different government bodies, at times resulting in overlapping initiatives, which reflects management difficulties, potential resource waste, and a weakening of institutional capacity to deliver services aligned with the needs of the population.