Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

The Mexican population is aging rapidly, with the number of adults 65 and older expected to increase by more than 200 percent over the next 25 years. The government already recognizes that these aging trends will cause a strain on both the health and the social care system in the very near future. Mexico faces massive problems in the relatively near future related to the health and social care needs of the older persons. As of yet, however, the ways in which we can address this issue remain unclear. Understanding how the aging process in Mexico influences health and care needs is critically important. In addition, given that a greater proportion of older adults in Mexico will come from lower socio economic strata, providing cost-effective and appropriate services will require a clear understanding of the heterogeneity of the population and the diversity of needs among this group in different social circumstances. Clearly, the coming challenge of aging in the face of huge heterogeneity faced by the system will require a greater level of scrutiny and analysis if we are to provide appropriate policy solutions to aging and health care issues in Mexico. In this presentation we will examine several ssues as they relate to older Mexicans, including: the effects of aging-related factors on financial security and healthy aging; the impact for family and government of the need for long-term care, and the nature of health and long-term care services needed.