¡Construyendo una Heredia digna para la vejez! Análisis de la amigabilidad del cantón de Heredia con las Personas Mayores durante el periodo marzo 2023-julio 2024, para el diseño de un plan estratégico
Fecha
2025-07-01
Autores
Garro Villalobos, María Paz
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Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Resumen
La presente Práctica Dirigida se llevó a cabo en dos importantes instituciones, el Ministerio de Salud y la Municipalidad de Heredia, durante el periodo comprendido entre marzo 2023 y los primeros seis meses del año 2024. La temática central fue la iniciativa de Ciudades y Comunidades Amigables con las Personas Mayores y la amigabilidad que presenta el cantón de Heredia con estas. El objetivo general fue examinar la amigabilidad del cantón de Heredia con las personas mayores, con el fin de diseñar un plan estratégico que promoviera su bienestar y participación en la comunidad. Esta iniciativa surge de la necesidad de abordar las desigualdades sociales que afectan a este grupo de población, considerando aspectos como la gerontocracia y la teoría del envejecimiento activo. La iniciativa de Ciudades y Comunidades Amigables con las Personas Mayores se ha convertido en un tema de gran importancia y pertinencia en el ámbito de la salud y el bienestar de la población mayor. Es fundamental reconocer que la vejez está marcada tanto por desigualdades sociales, como por las diferencias de género, raza, clase socioeconómica, orientación sexual, entre otros. Desafortunadamente, en muchas ocasiones, en la etapa de la vejez las personas no son tomadas en cuenta y su opinión es invalidada a nivel social por diferentes personas o grupos sociales. En este contexto, la Práctica Dirigida tiene el interés de abordar estas problemáticas y promover un cambio en la percepción y trato hacia las personas mayores en el entorno urbano. Se busca fomentar la participación de este grupo poblacional en la toma de decisiones que afectan su calidad de vida y asegurar que sus necesidades y opiniones sean consideradas. Las instancias contrapartes de la Práctica Dirigida se comprometieron a implementar medidas concretas para crear entornos amigables con las personas mayores. Estas incluyen la adaptación de infraestructuras y servicios públicos, la promoción de espacios seguros y accesibles y la implementación de programas de apoyo y participación. Esta Práctica Dirigida proporciona una valiosa oportunidad para explorar el concepto de Ciudades y Comunidades Amigables con las Personas Mayores, a través de un enfoque multidisciplinario, ya que se analiza el impacto de la estructura urbana en la calidad de vida de esta población en crecimiento. Además, se evidencia la necesidad de adoptar políticas y prácticas basadas en la empatía y el respeto, en aras de construir comunidades que se adapten a las diversas necesidades y capacidades de las personas en esta etapa de la vida. Esta experiencia deja en claro que el trabajo conjunto entre los actores clave, incluidos los gobiernos locales, las organizaciones comunitarias y las instituciones académicas, es fundamental para impulsar cambios significativos y avanzar hacia una sociedad más inclusiva y amigable con la población mayor. Como resultado de este proceso, la elaboración de un plan estratégico a cinco años, orientado a transformar las condiciones de vida de las personas mayores en el cantón de Heredia, es de suma importancia. Este instrumento articula propuestas concretas, viables y contextualizadas, basadas en la voz directa de la población consultada, y se proyecta como una hoja de ruta institucional para promover el envejecimiento activo y la justicia social.
This Guided Practice was carried out in two important institutions, the Ministry of Health and the Municipality of Heredia, between March 2023 and the first six months of 2024. The central theme was the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities initiative and the age-friendliness of the canton of Heredia. The overall objective was to examine the age-friendliness of the canton of Heredia, with the goal of designing a strategic plan to promote their well-being and community participation. This initiative arose from the need to address the social inequalities affecting this population group, considering aspects such as gerontocracy and active aging theory. The Age-Friendly Cities and Communities initiative has become a topic of great importance and relevance in the field of health and well-being for the older population. It is essential to recognize that old age is marked by social inequalities, as well as by differences in gender, race, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, and other factors. Unfortunately, in old age, people are often disregarded, and their opinions are socially invalidated by different individuals or groups. In this context, the Guided Practice aims to address these issues and promote a change in the perception and treatment of older adults in the urban environment. It seeks to encourage the participation of this population group in decision-making that affects their quality of life and ensure that their needs and opinions are considered. The Guided Practice partners committed to implementing concrete measures to create age-friendly environments. These include adapting public infrastructure and services, promoting safe and accessible spaces, and implementing support and participation programs. This Guided Practice provides a valuable opportunity to explore the concept of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities through a multidisciplinary approach, as it analyzes the impact of urban structure on the quality of life of this growing population. Furthermore, it highlights the need to adopt policies and practices based on empathy and respect, in order to build communities that adapt to the diverse needs and abilities of people at this stage of life. This experience makes it clear that collaborative work among key stakeholders, including local governments, community organizations, and academic institutions, is essential to drive significant change and advance toward a more inclusive and age-friendly society. As a result of this process, the development of a five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the living conditions of older adults in the canton of Heredia is of utmost importance. This instrument articulates concrete, viable, and contextualized proposals, based on the direct voice of the population consulted, and is projected as an institutional roadmap to promote active aging and social justice.
This Guided Practice was carried out in two important institutions, the Ministry of Health and the Municipality of Heredia, between March 2023 and the first six months of 2024. The central theme was the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities initiative and the age-friendliness of the canton of Heredia. The overall objective was to examine the age-friendliness of the canton of Heredia, with the goal of designing a strategic plan to promote their well-being and community participation. This initiative arose from the need to address the social inequalities affecting this population group, considering aspects such as gerontocracy and active aging theory. The Age-Friendly Cities and Communities initiative has become a topic of great importance and relevance in the field of health and well-being for the older population. It is essential to recognize that old age is marked by social inequalities, as well as by differences in gender, race, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, and other factors. Unfortunately, in old age, people are often disregarded, and their opinions are socially invalidated by different individuals or groups. In this context, the Guided Practice aims to address these issues and promote a change in the perception and treatment of older adults in the urban environment. It seeks to encourage the participation of this population group in decision-making that affects their quality of life and ensure that their needs and opinions are considered. The Guided Practice partners committed to implementing concrete measures to create age-friendly environments. These include adapting public infrastructure and services, promoting safe and accessible spaces, and implementing support and participation programs. This Guided Practice provides a valuable opportunity to explore the concept of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities through a multidisciplinary approach, as it analyzes the impact of urban structure on the quality of life of this growing population. Furthermore, it highlights the need to adopt policies and practices based on empathy and respect, in order to build communities that adapt to the diverse needs and abilities of people at this stage of life. This experience makes it clear that collaborative work among key stakeholders, including local governments, community organizations, and academic institutions, is essential to drive significant change and advance toward a more inclusive and age-friendly society. As a result of this process, the development of a five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the living conditions of older adults in the canton of Heredia is of utmost importance. This instrument articulates concrete, viable, and contextualized proposals, based on the direct voice of the population consulted, and is projected as an institutional roadmap to promote active aging and social justice.
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Palabras clave
GOBIERNO LOCAL, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENVEJECIMIENTO, AGING, ANCIANOS, SENIORS, PLANIFICACIÓN ESTRATÉGICA, STRATEGIC PLANNING, SOCIALIZACIÓN, SOCIALIZATION