Poverty effects on elders life in latin American countries

Running Head: POVERTY EFFECTS ON ELDER’S LIVES IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES
A Study on Poverty Effects on Elder’s Lives in Latin American Countries
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Table of Contents
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….……..3-4
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………4
Methodology………………………………………………………………………………..…6-12
Poverty Among the Elderly in Argentina
Poverty Among the Elderly in Brazil
Poverty Among the Elderly in Columbia
Poverty Among the Elderly in Bolivia
Poverty Among the Elderly in Venezuela
Results and Findings…………………………………………………………………..……12-13
Discussions……………………………………………………………………………….…..14-18
Economic Effects of poverty on the Lives of Elders
Social Effects of Poverty on the Lives of Elders
Poverty and Mortality Rate Among the Elderly in Latin America
Response of Governments to this Problem
Factors Hindering Governments from Alleviating Poverty among the Elderly………...18-19
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………...…….19
Abstract
Of all the existing third world regions, Latin America is considered as the most developed, yet economic disparities that result in poverty and absolute poverty persist (Preston, 1996). Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru many more others are some the most adversely affected by poverty issues. But who does poverty affect the most?, According to many studies conducted regarding poverty, it has been found to affect mostly women, children and the elderly, the elderly of course, having to suffer the most because of the inability to generate income. What effects does poverty have on the elderly in Latin America? It is really a problem that has degenerated into a world concern, with policy makers getting more concerned with the increasing population of the aging (Cotlear, 2010). In order to fully understand the effects of poverty on the elderly in Latin America, specific countries such as those mentioned before, will be analyzed- their economic dispositions, besides their role in this particular problem.
The general poverty level in South America is something of world importance as it affects the general well being of the world economy. Specifically, this research paper will endeavor to address the effects of poverty on the elderly and mention possible solutions to this pressing problem. The method of data collection to be used during the research will feature qualitative and quantitative analysis. This will better enable the researcher present firsthand findings and evaluations of the problem and its effects. Considering the importance of this problem to the whole world, the implications of the findings will not only affect Latin America as a region alone, but the whole world, because poverty levels among the elderly in South America, ultimately contribute to the increasing world inflation. It is also wise to project other problems that may arise from ignoring this problem. Drugs and drug abuse which have been a common pestilence in Latin America especially Mexico, may never be prevailed over if poverty among the elderly as an issue is not addressed appropriately.
Introduction
The elderly are an important link between generations, who provide vital support of pivotal importance to the young in the society. However, in most places in the world, they are the most neglected, and left to fend for themselves even though it is very clear they are in need of assistance. This research is important because through it, the plight of elders in one region (Latin America), will be scrutinized, with close attention being paid to their lifestyles after retirement, how they are able to sustain education for other family members, and exactly how different administrations in the region, have come up with policies (if at all they exist), to assist elders in the society cope with old age. The population increase in old age people is one of the issues that will be discussed in detail, with varying comparisons to different countries in Latin America.
Majority of the countries in South America are still developing or as many like to refer to them, third world. In this sense, distribution of national resources is usually a challenge. Now think of this challenge in relation to the elderly in Latin America. It is no wonder they mostly live in shanties, never mind all throughout their lives they have probably worked but have little to show in terms of savings. In most developed nations, there exists a system whereby the elderly in society may apply to be on welfare, and will thus survive for the better part of their latter life, exclusively on taxpayer’s money. However, as stated earlier, countries such as Brazil, Columbia, and Argentina have little to show in this respect. The situation affecting elders in Latin America gets worse if certain risk factors are assumed. For instance, it is very clear that elders in many countries suffer from strokes, and other elderly illnesses, such that they are unable to cater for themselves. So who is responsible for their health care? And exactly how is this achieved? What about in the case where the elderly are left with the young as a result of the deaths of the parents due to the prevailing HIV disease? We are all aware that HIV is mostly prevalent in third world countries.
Culture is part of life and cannot be ignored as a catalyst for a particular lifestyle by a particular people. It is no different for the population residing in Latin America. Culture influences thoughts about the elderly as an important institution to the whole society. As such, during the past, it was impossible for one to be of negative attitude towards elders in the society, due to the enormous respect they commanded. However, with the dawn of the 21st century, and consequently globalization, many, especially the young in the society have been shifting their attention from the local front, to the international front because of enhanced technology, and easy transportation arrangements. This in turn has resulted in the miserable lives the elderly in Latin America live, because all the young have either moved to the cities, or have immigrated to other countries in search of employment opportunities. Considering this, it is no wonder many elders especially those with disabilities, stay indoors as there is no one to ensure their mobility.
The general lifestyle of the elderly in Latin America can be divided in to three income levels: The lower income earners, middle income earners, and the elite in the society, who happen to own most businesses. According to recent studies, the level of dependence among these income brackets varies according to the number of family members. It is unfortunate that fertility seems to influence lower income earners to have children who exceed their means in terms of taking care of them. On the other hand, the upper income earners maintain only at most, two children and seem to stop at that. This has been a constant problem amongst many poor elders especially in urban centers in such as Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo. Larger households have been known to exert a bigger economic pressure on the heads of the families and this is something many elders in Latin America have to cope with day and night, until their demise.
Methodology
In trying to effectively analyze the problem facing the elderly in Latin America, it was of paramount importance for the researcher, to ensure a detailed firsthand account of the nature of the problem. It is a fact that Latin America as a region, is made up of many countries that have this particular problem in common. However, to say it would be possible to look into the lives of the elderly in each country would only amount to wishful thinking. In this section, only countries with interest such as those mentioned before during the introduction will be featured. They include; Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Columbia.
Poverty Among the Elderly in Argentina
Argentina is arguably one of the largest economies of South America. Of course Chile and Brazil also rank high in the region. To be specific, in Latin America, Argentina’s economy ranks third and is characterized by an upper middle sized economy. Factors that compliment this stability economically include: a highly literate society, and a variety of natural resources, coupled with a stable export-inclined agricultural sector. Of importance to note is the huge industrial potential, together with an existing ready market for its locally produced products. Now considering such an illustrious and stable economy, one would expect that national resources are made public, and shared evenly among the different communities residing in Argentina. However, this has not been so even historically. Although absolute poverty is unknown in Argentina, still it persists in high rates with most of the numbers being recorded among the lower class earners, consisting of mainly the poor and the elderly.
Structural and income poverty characterize Argentina’s extended population. As of 2009, about 3.7 percent of the population in Argentina was living in absolute poverty, unable to access housing and a consistent level of income, which in reality, defines the inability by such households, to afford a basic nutritional income. Not all regions in Argentina are affected by poverty. Urban areas have the largest numbers of the poor, who reside in shanty towns. Unlike other Latin American countries, Argentina has the highest number of elderly people living alone as opposed to living with their households (Clark, Munnell & Orszarg, 2006). Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, has been known to have many shanties in its urban premises, where the young and old go about their daily activities, albeit in deplorable conditions. Due to this, the population of poor and aging people has continued to rise in Argentina, making it an issue of national concern.
Since most of Argentina’s population is concentrated mostly in urban areas, issues such as health, education and welfare for the elderly come into play, especially bearing in mind that life in the urban establishments is way much harder than in the countryside. Most of the young, who opt to move with their families to the city, are forced to bring their parents and grandparents. Luckily for most of Argentines, there exists an elaborate public welfare system although not clear defined as catering specifically for the elderly. The only system in Argentina that seems to provide for households in need of assistance due to ageing is the National Social Security Administration, which caters only for children and not elders; unless they can prove that their next of kin is incapable of offering any assistance. Nevertheless, there exists a modest unemployment cover for unemployed individuals. This cover though important, is only valid for six months after the date of retirement and may not be sufficient to ensure the comfort of elders in Argentina. It is no different for health care and education of elders in the Argentine society. Health for senior citizens is overseen by an organization known as PAMI, which provides cheap health care for the poor. Although reports indicate that Argentina’s unemployment rate declined steadily in 2010, this is yet to be reflected among the elderly, who bear the greatest brunt of an unstable economy and future.
Poverty Among the Elderly in Brazil
Geographically, Brazil is the largest country in South America. Economically, Brazil too has the largest level of unequal income distribution. Let us not forget the fact that this same country has one of the highest poverty rates in the world. The North Eastern region of Brazil alone is home to about 62 percent of the poorest households in Brazil. The United Nations estimates indicate that close to over 40 million of the total population of Brazil, lives under 2 dollars a day. A further 20 million of the total population makes less than a dollar each day. These figures have been blamed mostly on the inability of the Brazilian government to fund poverty alleviation programs, and ensuring an equitable income distribution. So how do these figures affect the elderly in the Brazilian context?
The situation in Brazil is not very different from that of Argentina. Most of the elderly in Brazil are found either in the countryside, or in the slums in Brazil’s metropolitan areas. They are in most cases, the very poor, and make up about a third of Brazil’s population, with consideration to the ones in the countryside. Social services are rarely allocated to the elderly and as a result, they suffer untold calamities, from diseases, to inadequate education, and even hunger. Brazil’s population of the poor is characterized pretty much as that of Argentina, whereby most of the rich occupy the upper income bracket while the middle and the low income bracket belongs to the moderately poor and the extremely poor respectively. It will be inadequate to suggest that the elderly might be in need of an education, as many view this negatively. However, they have grandchildren and children who need to attend school. This is usually a challenge especially considering that most of them are not on any payroll, as to suggest they might have an income of some kind. The government of Brazil under its president Lula Da Silva has endeavored to conquer absolute poverty, aiming at having reduced it to about 4 percent, by the year 2016. In this light, the Federal constitution of Brazil was reviewed and specifically the parts that touched on public policies and social intervention in fighting absolute poverty and inequality amongst Brazil’s social society.
Poverty Among the Elderly in Columbia
Some of the worst statistics regarding poverty rates in Latin America have been witnessed in Columbia, which has a grand problem of income distribution among its population. It is a mater clearly evident from the social classification of its population into stratums, which gives Columbia one of the harshest social systems in the world. In the capital Bogota, it is not about how much one earns that identifies them to either of the stratums available. However, the place of residence may very easily be used to define your social stratum in the urban population in Bogota. It is these stratums divided more or less as those of Argentina and Brazil, which the government uses in allocating welfare support for impoverished people. Columbia has an exceptional income difference between the rich and the poor bearing in mind that the rich in Columbia make up about only 6 percent of the total population. The rest is divided among the middle earners and the extremely impoverished. The job market in Columbia is marred by low quality and unprofessional works that consist mainly of informal and menial vacancies. Almost 32 percent of the working population of Columbia has no health care cover, nor education, nor do they have any sought of insurance against life’s liabilities. Literacy among the population currently stands at 92 percent, with certain regions recording almost half of their population as illiterate.
The situation in Columbia directly and indirectly affects the lives of the elderly in that society. First of all, there is no certain pension for retiring senior citizens. Given this, many of the senior citizens upon retirement, opt not to return to the countryside, and instead continue to work albeit in the informal sector, and in the process, crowd the cities and urban areas. This in turn gives birth to another problem facing the elderly in Columbia-housing. Another factor that contributes directly to the pitiful life of elders in Columbia is the lack of an existing powerful and fully operational agricultural sector. Many senior citizens, who would have instead retired to farming, are force...