**GLOBAL AGING ROUNDTABLE**

**2005 WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING**

**Remarks By**

**Pedro Borda**

**Director,**

**National Institute of Senior Citizens,**

**Ministry of Social Development, Mexico**

At present, Mexico has a population of 7.8 million senior citizens, out
of which slightly over 50% are women. All of them demand goods and
services.

However, the demographic projections indicate that for the year 2025
there will be 18.4 million people 60 years of age or more, and for the
year 2050 there will be 36 million.

The above numbers represent actually 7.6% of total population and for
year 2050, 28% of the total population.

**New Decree**

To take care of the needs of our elders, a Presidential Decree was
issued by President Vicente Fox on January 17, 2002 to place this
institution under the umbrella of the Ministry of Social Development,
and to change its name to Instituto Nacional de Adultos en Plenitud
(National Institute of Adults in the Prime of Life) or *Inaplen*.

**Legislation**

The first Federal National law to protect the rights of senior citizens
was enacted by Congress on June 25, 2002 to create the Instituto
Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mayores (National Institute of Senior
Citizens) or Inapam as a substitute of the former *Insen* and *Inaplen*.

**Article 25** of this new law confirms that the governing body of the
national policy to protect senior citizens by providing a scope of human
integral development to its legal powers and responsibilities, because
its general purpose is to coordinate, promote, support, foster, oversee
and evaluate the public actions, strategies and programs derived from
the currently enforced legislation.

**Article 28** attributes the power as the governing body for providing
compulsory consultation and advisory functions to federal for government
entities and, if applicable, on a voluntary basis to the institutions of
the social and private sectors responsible for performing actions or
programs applicable to senior citizens.

The provisions established in Article 30 indicate that the Government
Body of the *Inapam* is to be integrated by the Ministers of the
following members of the President's Cabinet:

-   Ministry of Social Development.

-   Ministry of the Interior

-   Ministry of Treasury

-   Ministry of Public Education

-   Ministry of Health

-   Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare

-   Social Security National Institutions

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-   5 representatives of society (Elderly people)

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**Infrastructure**

-   31 State Federal Representatives.

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-   1,800 Municipal Representations and 139 Coordinating Offices.

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-   6,700 Community Centers at national level.

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-   4 Cultural Centers in Mexico City.

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-   5 Centers of Integrated Services in Mexico City.

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-   13 Gerontology Units

(Mexico City, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and Oaxaca).

**Priority Program**

The *Program for Employment of Senior Citizens* was implemented to
reincorporate senior citizens who wish to continue working and
participate in the Mexican economy. This program was initiated under the
support of the First Lady of the nation and the Minister of Social
Development. The first meeting was in the Presidential home.

Currently more than 5,100 companies or individuals have contributed
offering spaces for more than 30,000 jobs exclusively for *Gente Grande*
(senior citizens).

This is one of the actions to respond to the 2nd. Assembly on Ageing
that called for active employment.

**Third and Final Call**

2nd. action to respond to the 2^nd^ Assembly on Ageing in Spain.

Senior citizens who propose viable productive projects receive financial
support from the Third and Final Call. The fund is constituted by the
Ministries of Social Development and of Economy.

**The Inapam Visits your Community**

Mobile units bring medical and dental services, legal advice,
affiliation and employment promotion to senior citizens living in
marginal areas of Mexico City and rural areas throughout the country.

**Youngsters Provide Support to Senior Citizens**

This program responds to specific instructions of President Vicente Fox.

An exchange of values is strengthened among the girls of foster homes
run by the DIF and senior citizens living at homes operated by *Inapam*.

**Senior Citizens Searching for Friends**

This program responds to specific instructions of President Vicente Fox.

This program promotes a get together among senior citizens and juvenile
delinquents to achieve a dialogue and a transfer of values through
cultural, artistic and sports activities. It is carried out jointly with
the Centers for Diagnosis and Treatment of the Department of Public
Security.

**Senior Citizens Act Stories**

This program is another action of values transmítanse. It

takes place at elementary schools and at parks in coordination with the
Minister of the Public Function to support the *Program of Transparency
and Struggle Against Corruption*.

**Protection of the Economy**

I.D. card for people 60 or more years of age.

Senior citizens obtain multiple benefits in the acquisition of goods and
services. Discounts in products or services range between 5 to 100% at
supermarkets, drugstores, transportation, restaurants, clinical studies,
etc.

Agreements have been signed at more than 25,000 establishments to
protect the economy of senior citizens. Since the creation of the
Institute, 75 million ID cards have been issued in the country.

**Department of Legal Services**

Provides free legal advice to elders 60 or more years old who lack the
economic means to hire a lawyer, mainly in the protection of their
properties, birth certificates and wills.

**Community Centers**

We operate 6,700 clubs for elderly people distributed throughout the
country. It is the largest social chain in the country, more than
200,000 people attend daily.

**Computer Training Center**

After two years of the initiation more than 2,000 senior citizens have
completed an 8 week computer course. These training Center were donated
by IBM (Mexico). 8 Centers are now operational.

**Voluntary Programs**

This program is presided over by Adriana Borda, President of the
National Voluntary Organization and liaison with the Office of the First
Lady.

The ladies' voluntary organization of *Inapam* performs various
activities in favor of senior citizens, such as permanent visits to
homes and day nursing homes, the sale of different goods, and the
*Annual Art Crafts Bazaar*.

**Arts Craft Store**

The general public can purchase products created by senior citizens, who
attend the clubs, cultural centers and day nursing homes.

**Main Events**

This action responds to the 2nd. World Assembly on Ageing and Active
Life

The traditional *National Sports and Cultural Games* promote
health-related activities for senior citizens through the performance of
various activities. During the national games of 2005 a total of 3,500
elderly persons participated.

This event for the 5^th^. Consecutive years have been inaugurated by
President Vicente Fox Quesada.

**National Exhibition of Art Crafts made by Elderly People**

This event is organized every year with the support received from
Voluntary organization, delegates, assistant delegates, senior citizens,
clubs and nursing homes.

**The Night for Gente Grande**

Every year, more than 100,000 senior citizens enjoy the pleasures of
music and dancing at an event known as *The dance to remember*.

This event is held at the Sports Palace of Mexico City and it is
preceded by two major dances at different political delegations. 1,500
state events are organized in August. This dance was presided over by
Mrs. Marta Fox, First Lady of Mexico.

When confronted with an increasing demographic aging rate as that
recorded in the country, the challenge faced by *Inapam* is its
commitment to improve the living conditions of the *Gente Grande*
through the programs it has implemented.

**New Actions**

-   Major communications program on the law and services provided for
    elderly people.

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-   Tele Care for Medical Assistance, 24 hours/365 days.

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-   Certification of day care centers and nursing homes (installations
    and human resources).

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-   Three new computer centers.