El cuidado de los adultos mayores en la perspectiva de la educación en Enfermería

La población de América Latina y el Caribe envejece aceleradamente en un proceso continuo e irreversible que obliga a los países de la región a prepararse para enfrentar exitosamente ese hecho demográfico, especialmente en los sectores educación y salud en los que la profesión de enfermería se convierte en factor determinante. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el desafío de la formación de personal de enfermería en los escenarios de educación superior y sus implicaciones en el currículo de pregrado. La revisión bibliográfica realizada y especialmente las recomendaciones emanadas de organismos globales, ofrecen el marco teórico que soporta los planteamientos formulados. Se presenta una propuesta curricular para la inclusión del cuidado de los adultos mayores, así como las condiciones institucionales requeridas para promover dicha inclusión. La formación de enfermeras y enfermeros con competencias en el cuidado de la salud de los mayores, principalmente en escenarios comunitarios que promuevan el envejecimiento saludable, se convierte en una meta a cumplir a corto plazo. La enseñanza del cuidado a los adultos mayores de hoy y del futuro, es una responsabilidad ineludible de las instituciones de educación superior en enfermería de América Latina y en una exigencia social que debe ser atendida con prontitud y eficiencia.Palabras clave: Envejecimiento, cuidados, enfermería, enseñanzaABSTRACTThe Latin American and the Caribbean population gets older rapidly in a continuous and irreversible process that forces the countries to prepare in order to face, successfully, this demographic fact, especially in the educative and health areas, where nursing becomes an important role. The objective of this research paper is to analyze the challenge of the formation of nurses, in the scenery of superior education, and its implications in the curriculum. The literature revision, and specially the recommendations done by worldwide organizations, offers the theoretical aspect that supports the formulated poses. A curricular proposal is presented for the inclusion of the care of adults, as well as institutional conditions required to promote such inclusion. The formation of nurses with competences in the health's care of adults, mainly in the community scenery, that would promote a healthy aging process, is a short-tem goal to fulfill. The care teaching of adults is an unavoidable responsibility of nursing institutions in Latin America, and it is a social demand that must be attended rapidly and efficiently.Keywords: Aging, care, nursing, teaching

Building capacity for dementia care in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have limited facilities and professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and support people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The situation for people with dementia is poor, and worsening as the proportion of elderly in the general population is rapidly expanding. We reviewed existing initiatives and provided examples of actions taken to build capacity and improve the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and national systems that provide treatment and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. Regional barriers to capacity building and the importance of public engagement are highlighted. Existing programs need to disseminate their objectives, accomplishments, limitations, and overall lessons learned in order to gain greater recognition of the need for capacity-building programs

Building capacity for dementia care in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have limited facilities and professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and support people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The situation for people with dementia is poor, and worsening as the proportion of elderly in the general population is rapidly expanding. We reviewed existing initiatives and provided examples of actions taken to build capacity and improve the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and national systems that provide treatment and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. Regional barriers to capacity building and the importance of public engagement are highlighted. Existing programs need to disseminate their objectives, accomplishments, limitations, and overall lessons learned in order to gain greater recognition of the need for capacity-building programs

Building capacity for dementia care in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have limited facilities and professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and support people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The situation for people with dementia is poor, and worsening as the proportion of elderly in the general population is rapidly expanding. We reviewed existing initiatives and provided examples of actions taken to build capacity and improve the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and national systems that provide treatment and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. Regional barriers to capacity building and the importance of public engagement are highlighted. Existing programs need to disseminate their objectives, accomplishments, limitations, and overall lessons learned in order to gain greater recognition of the need for capacity-building programs