Long-Term Care for Older People: PAHO recommends interventions to foster healthy aging in the Americas

Washington D.C., 4 September 2025 - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened a regional webinar bringing together government authorities, civil society representatives, international agencies, and caregivers from across the Americas to discuss and recommend measures to strengthen long-term care for older people, as part of broader efforts to advance universal health and foster healthy aging.

The new technical document, Long-Term Care for Older Persons: Package of Interventions for Universal Health Coverage, provides practical guidance for countries to design and implement equitable and person-centered long-term care services. It also highlights strategies for governance, financing, and workforce development in line with the Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030). It is now available in English and Spanish and will soon be available in Portuguese.

"Building resilient health and social protection systems that include long-term care requires the coordinated effort of governments, civil society, and the international community alike. It also calls for strong support for caregivers, a well-trained workforce, effective governance and sustainable financing, and, above all, an unwavering commitment to the dignity and needs of all those who require care," remarked Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, PAHO's Assistant Director.

Country representatives and delegates from Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Canada shared experiences in developing and expanding long-term care. An interagency panel with experts from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presented strategies and opportunities for regional collaboration in different areas, such as governance, financing, workforce and person-centered care.

The approval of PAHO's Regional Policy on Long-Term Care by Member States at the 61st Directing Council represents an important milestone in advancing care for older people in the Region of the Americas. This policy establishes a foundation for expanding and strengthening long-term care capacities at national and local levels, creating an enabling framework for countries to respond to population aging.

As Dr. James Fitzgerald, Director of Health Systems and Services, stated, "The policy provides strategic and technical guidance to translate commitments into practical work, while the document launched today complements this policy by offering actionable recommendations and tools for implementation".

The event also underscored the importance of multisectoral action to ensure that older people in need of care can live with dignity and independence. PAHO continues to work with Member States to advance long-term care strategies, providing technical support and fostering regional collaboration to improve the health and well-being of older persons.