42.2% of households of the country have among their members a person of 60 years of age and older

As of the third quarter of the year 2023, 42.2% of the households of the country had among their members at least one person of 60 years of age and older and registered an increase of 1.7 percentage points, compared to the same quarter of the year 2022 (40.5%). This was informed by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) in the technical report Situation of the Older Adult Population, prepared with the results of the National Household Survey (ENAHO).

In the rural area, the proportion of the households with an older adult person reached 46.3% and reported an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared to the same quarter of the year 2022 (44.6%). Followed by the households of Lima Metropolitan area (45.4%) and the rest of the urban area (38.1%), with a growth of 2.5 and 1.3 percentage points, respectively.

The INEI informed that, from the total of households which are headed by a person of 60 years of age and older, 47.8% are households of nuclear type, it means they are constituted by a couple and their sons and daughters or without them. In addition, 25.1% of these households are single type (composed by just one older adult person).

Likewise, 20.6% of the households are extended, it means, that to the nuclear household are added other relatives, 5.5% are households without any core (composed by a female/male chief without a spouse nor children, that lives with other persons which may or may not have any family relationship) and the 1.0% are composed households, it means, there are inside the household besides the relatives, other members that are not family related.

During the third quarter of 2023, 80.8% of the older adult population presents some chronic health problem. The incidence of this type of chronic health problem was higher among the residents of the rest of urban area (81.3%). Meanwhile, in the rural area and in Lima Metropolitan area, was of 81.1% and 79.9%, respectively.

During the third quarter of 2023, of the total older adult population of 60 years old and older, 91.6% have some health insurance (either public or private), a higher figure in 2.1 percentage points, compared to the same quarter of the last year (89.5%).

Regarding this issue, it outstood the greater membership coverage of to some health insurance of the residents of rural area with 93.6%, by registering an increase of 4.0 percentage points, more than in the third quarter of the year 2022 (89.6%). In addition, the coverage of this service was greater in the rest of the urban area in 3.6 percentage points, by going from 88.0% to 91.6%. Meanwhile, it decreased 0.7 percentage point, in Lima Metropolitan area by going from 91.1% to 90.4%.

By type of health insurance, 35.7% of the older adult population accessed just to EsSalud and 50.8% just accessed to the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS). By comparing these figures with the same quarter of the year 2022, were registered increases of 1.9 and 1.1 percentage points, respectively.

During the third quarter of 2023, 42.6% of the older adult population with some health problem sought medical attention in an establishment, which means an increase of 7.0 percentage points, compared to the same quarter of the last year (35.6%).

According to place or consultation establishment, 13.4% sought medical attention in the establishments of the Ministry of Health (MINSA), which represented a growth of 1.8 percentage points. Likewise, 12.5% sought medical attention in a pharmacy or apothecary, 7.9% sought medical attention in the establishments of the Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) and 6.2% went to a private consultation.

By residence area, in Lima Metropolitan area, the place or establishment of greater attendance was the pharmacy or the apothecary with 14.7%, with an increase of 4.8percentage points compared to the registered during the third quarter of the year 2022 (9.9%). Followed by the establishment of the Ministry of Health - MINSA (10.4%), Social Health Insurance of EsSalud (9.7%) and private consultation (7.9%).

In the rest of urban area, people sought medical attention mostly in a pharmacy (12.5%), MINSA (11.7%) and EsSalud (9.6%). Regarding the rural area, the establishments of greater Access were those belonging to MINSA (20.9%) and pharmacy (9.3%), among the main ones.