Visual and Hearing Health of Older People in the Region of the Americas

Abstract

With the objective of outlining the current knowledge available on the health and well-being of older people in the Region of the Americas at the start of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging 2021–2030, this report details the current state of visual and hearing health of older people in the Region of the Americas. Its purpose is to inform, providing evidence and specific information on the needs of this population in these two fundamental areas of intrinsic capacity, which constitute the main causes of disability in the Region's older adults. The information provided should contribute to the implementation of strategic regional actions that promote ongoing improvement in the health of older people. Accelerated population aging in Latin America and the Caribbean shapes, and will continue to shape, the capacity of countries and health systems to respond to the specific needs of the population. In order to design inclusive and sustainable systems, it is therefore necessary to have reliable up-to date information to aid in decision-making. During the Decade of Healthy Aging 2021–2030, actions should be geared toward generating and monitoring data, and the present report contributesto this objective.