DECADE OF HEALTHY AGING (2021-2030) IN THE REGION OF THE AMERICAS: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTIONAL MATRIX

Abstract

This article analyzes the interface between public communication and the guidelines of the Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030) in Latin America. Faced with a scenario of accelerated population aging—in which it is estimated that, by 2090, the region will have the oldest population in the world—the text discusses the need to overcome ageism (age prejudice) and promote "well-being" through integrated policies and active citizenship. The objective of the study is to analyze the interactions of public communication with society based on official publications from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) related to the Decade of Healthy Aging, seeking to understand how these mechanisms contribute to the construction of citizenship and the protagonism of the elderly population. The methodology adopted is qualitative and exploratory in nature, and uses Content Analysis based on Laurence Bardin. The documentary corpus comprises three main publications from PAHO/WHO/ECLAC from 2022 and 2023. The analysis was structured into four categories: Educational, Informative, Risk, and Dialogical Communication. The results indicate that the public communication of these bodies acts as an "arena for the dispute of meanings," promoting the reconstruction of the social value of older adults. The analyses show that, while some documents focus on urban infrastructure and accessibility, others prioritize demographic visibility and legal protection. It is concluded that the effective implementation of the "Decade" depends on communication that not only informs but also stimulates intergenerational dialogue and the recognition of older adults as subjects of rights and social protagonists.