**ACTION PLAN**

The present Action Plan is a proposed guide for the development of
actions in the framework of the \"Declaration of San Salvador\" adopted
in San Salvador, EI Salvador by the XIV Conference of First Ladies,
Spouses and Representatives of Heads of State and Governments of the
Americas on November 19-21, 2007, whose theme is **\"Building a Society
for All Ages.\"**

Within this context, below are developed the main themes that form the
principal areas set out in the Declaration.

**MAIN THEMES**

1.The creation of an environment favorable to the development and
participation of older people in the family, community and society.

2\. Older Persons and Health.

3\. Older Persons and Disability.

**[MAIN THEME 1: ]{.underline}CREATION OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS
THE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION OF OLDER PERSONS IN THE FAMILY,
COMMUNITY, AND SOCIETY.**

Promote the creation of an environment that fosters the development and
full participation of older persons in the family, the community, and
society through the transformation of economic, social, cultural and
legal aspects of society aimed at furthering the respect, better
treatment, and appreciation of older persons in the different
environments mentioned above.

1.  **Strengthening of family and community environments.**

-   Promote awareness programs on the importance of building more just
    and inclusive societies, in particular, taking into consideration
    the need to promote holistic care to older persons.

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-   Promote training and awareness for families of older persons who
    suffer mental health problems and other health problems commonly
    associated with ageing to assure dignified treatment, affection and
    understanding.

-   Support and promote programs that foster and uphold respect for all
    human rights and fundamental liberties of older persons.

-   Encourage the participation of older persons in the design,
    development, and adoption of plans, programs, projects or public
    policies directly affect them.

-   Promote training in the care, rights, and obligations of families
    with respect to older persons and to foster a favorable shared
    living environment.

-   Promote programs that strengthen self-assistance and mutual
    assistance inside the family group and community.

-   Promote programs that improve the quality of life and dignity of
    older persons in the community and family environment.

-   Promote and strengthen prevention and awareness programs for any
    type of violence or abuse against older persons in the community or
    family.

    2.  **Strengthening the economic and social environments**

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-   Promote the creation of regulations, policies, and administrative
    measures that guarantee the rights of older persons as well as to
    improve the existing ones accordingly.

-   Promote the creation and/or strengthen the community care centers
    for older persons.

-   Promote opportunities that foster harmonious intergenerational
    coexistence.

-   Promote a culture of respect for older persons, taking into
    consideration the importance of incorporating the ageing perspective
    in all development policies and programs.

-   Promote literacy, including digital literacy, and education programs
    for older persons as required.

-   Promote access to credit for older persons with a view to generating
    entrepreneurship.

-   Promote incentives for private enterprises that hire older persons
    that have the skills and will to work.

-   Support research on the economic and social impact of migration on
    older persons as well as on the drafting of policies and programs
    that take advantage of opportunities and address the challenges
    revealed by this research.

**MAIN THEME 2: \"OLDER PERSONS AND HEALTH\"**

Promote actions in favor of improving the quality and specialization of
health care services for older persons.

**2.1. Research**

-   Promote and/or strengthen research programs that address ageing and
    health on the part of the government, universities, private sector,
    non-governmental and international organizations.

-   Promote and/or strengthen epidemiological and sociodemographic
    research on ageing and the impact illnesses have on ageing in
    personal, family, and social environments.

**2.2 Health Promotion**

-   Promote nutrition and food support for vulnerable older persons with
    special attention on older women.

-   Promote periodic health exams based on preventive medicine protocols
    for older persons.

-   Implement training programs that promote the prevention of risks and
    chronic-degenerative illnesses, as well as self-care of older
    persons.

-   Promote the creation of special programs for mental health for older
    persons.

-   Promote and/or strengthen the organization and training on
    geriatrics for doctors, paramedics, nurses, and health related
    personnel.

-   Promote geriatric medicine in medical schools as an appropriate
    response to the multi-faceted healthcare needs of older persons.

-   Promote awareness building campaigns and workshops for personnel
    that serve older persons, to ensure quality and warmth.

-   Promote incentives to strengthen public and private health care
    institutions that provide geriatric and gerontology care for older
    persons.

-   Promote programs and integrate into existing programs, home care
    services for vulnerable older persons who require such services.

-   Promote health programs for older persons, from the biological,
    psychological, and socio-environmental perspectives.

-   Encourage awareness programs among the public and government
    officials linked to the decision making process for a healthy
    ageing.

-   Promote the creation of strategic alliances between governments, the
    private sector, non-governmental organizations, mass media and
    international organizations, aimed at promoting age-related disease
    prevention campaigns.

-   Promote awareness to prevent the spread of HIV / AIDS in older
    persons and prevent the stigma and discrimination of older persons
    that live with this disease.

**2.3 Monitoring and Evaluation**

-   Ensure the provision of basic health care services for older
    persons.

-   Promote a systematic evaluation of the quality of medical services\'
    for older persons through health systems.

-   Promote the ongoing updating of information technology in the health
    sector, for the effective use of human and financial resources in
    health institutions.

**MAIN THEME 3: OLDER PERSONS AND DISABILITY**

The main purpose is to promote policies and actions that ensure
nondiscrimination of older persons with disabilities, and ensuring the
full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including
active participation in society on an equal basis with others.

3.1. **Awareness**

-   Promote and encourage the implementation of the commitments
    contained in International Convention on Disability and its
    Protocol, as appropriate.

-   Promote the incorporation of the perspectives of gender, ageing, and
    disability in laws, policies, plans, programs, and projects at the
    local and national levels.

-   Promote awareness programs for all health care related personnel, to
    ensure quality medical care for older disabled persons.

-   Promote actions to prevent, sanction and eliminate all forms of
    discrimination and violence against older persons with disabilities.

-   Promote the exchange of positive experiences and good practices to
    improve the quality of life of older persons with disabilities.

.3.2 **Rehabilitation**

-   Promote community-based rehabilitation strategies with emphasis on
    primary health care services integrated in the health system and in
    accordance with the particular needs of each country.

-   Promote the improvement of the existing rehabilitation system,
    providing trained personnel, to offer comprehensive services to
    older persons with disabilities.

3.3. **Strengthening of skills and development**

-   Promote the participation of older persons with disabilities in the
    design and execution of plans, programs, and projects that affect
    them.

-   Support programs that strengthen the autonomy and independence of
    older persons with disabilities.

-   Promote micro-credit programs for older persons with disabilities
    especially those who are vulnerable.

-   Promote literacy programs to develop the basic and professional
    skills of older persons with disabilities, who have not been able to
    receive formal education.

-   Promote measures to remove barriers to access in the areas of
    transportation and communication.

-   Carry out research on the social and economic status of older
    persons with disabilities to focus on projects addressing specific
    services.