PUBLIC POLICIES FOR THE ELDERLY. THE ARGENTINE CASE

Abstract

The world population is aging. Besides the negative impact this process has on an economy, another major problem that leads to aging is the increasing number of people as a result of declining autonomy, require care of others. These tasks were made by families, especially women. But today, its increasing income in the labor market limits their availability to care for their families. This care crisis - increased demand and fewer people care to meet this need - is what caused the issues related to the care of the dependent population occupy an increasingly prominent place on the public agenda.
In Argentina, those aged 65 and older now represent 10.4% of the population and it is estimated that in the coming years will significantly increase their participation. While it is a country that
offers a wide range of programs and public and private services this offer is not sufficient in the present and least in the immediate future.
In this scenario one of the big questions is who will take care of this demand. International experience shows that the difficulties of the state to take care exclusively of care they require many older people are many; the offer provided by the market and / or the community is required. Effectors that come from the private sector does not mean that the state abandons its regulatory role and did not take charge of the care required by the lower income groups.