More than 4 million 500 thousand older adults commemorate its day this August 26

On the occasion of the Older Adult Day, which is commemorated every August 26, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) informed that according to the population projections for the year 2023, in our country there are 4 million 598 thousand persons aged 60 years old and older, which represents the 13.6% of the total population of the country. According to sex, the 52.4% of the older adults are women (2 million 412 thousand) and the 47.6% are men (2 million 187 thousand).

By the age group, it was observed that the 4.0% are 60 to 64 years old, the 3.2% are 65 to 69 years old, the 2.5% are 70 to 74 years old, the 1.7% aged 78 to 79 years old and the 2.1% of the older adults are 80 years old and older.

According to the population projections by age, the 2.1% of the older adults (719 thousand) of the country are octogenarian, it means, they are 80 years old and older. By sex, the 56.8% are women (409 thousand) and the 43.2% are men (310 thousand).

According to the National Household Survey (ENAHO), the 38.3% of the households of the country have an older adult among its members.

According to residence area, it is noted that in Lima Metropolitan area, the households with older adults represent the 40.1% in the urban rest 35.2% and the rural zone the 42.6% of the households have among their member some older adult.

At national level and according with the ENAHO, the 32.7% of the households are older adult headed (60 years old and older). According to sex, the 61.1% of the households are male-headed and 38.9% are female-headed.

According to household type, the 48.1% of the households are older adult headed, 24.2% are unipersonal, it means is composed for just one person, 21.3% extended, 5.7% without a nucleus and 0.6% composed.

19.6% of the households with older adults are beneficiaries of some food program. In Lima Metropolitan area this proportion represents the 15.0%, in the urban rest represented the 19.4% and in the rural area, 24.8%.

The results of the ENAHO point out that the 80.0% of the older adults at national level suffer from chronic health problems such as, arthritis, hypertension, asthma, rheumatism, diabetes, TBC, cholesterol, among others. According to sex, the 85.1% of women and the 74.2% of men older adults, suffer from some chronic health problem.

At national level, the 89.3% of the older adults are affiliated to some type of health insurance. By residence area, this proportion represented the 88.6% and 91.5% in urban area, respectively.

According to the type of health insurance, the 54.2% of older adult accesses to the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS), 30.9% access to Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) and the 4.2% other type of health insurance.

According to sex, it is noted that the 56.3% of women and the 51.8% of men are older adults, have in greater proportion with the SIS; meanwhile, the 30.2% of women and 31.6% of older adults had access to EsSalud; meanwhile that just the 3.7% of women and 4.8% of men older adults have other type of health insurance.

According to the level of education reached, the 39.8% of older adult persons of the country have elementary education; 29.6% of older adult persons have high-school education level; 10.5% of older adult persons have university superior education level; 7.0% of older adult persons have non-university superior education level and the 13.1% of older adult persons have early education level or non-education level.