Abstract para el Simposio de LARNA 2013.

Home care requires more than physical care.

By the end of this century the percentage of older people in Latin America and the Caribbean
will be similar to the one in European countries. Population ageing is accompanied by an
augmentation of disability due to chronic diseases and World Health Organization (2004) has
stated that neuropsychiatric diseases are the first cause of years of life lost due to disability and
that by 2030 depression will be the first cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years. Long term
diseases as well as disabilities have an important impact on mental health (emotional and
cognitive) in four groups: unpaid carers, paid home carers, institutional carers and care
receivers. Nevertheless, inclusion of professional personnel to attend this area in care policies
is far from being a norm. The purpose of this Symposium is to present some experiences in
Europe and Latin America that have included psychological care to attend the needs of these
populations.

País Institución Programa Speaker

Argentina DINAPAM Programa Nacional de Dra. Mónica Roqué
Cuidados Domiciliarios
Chile SENAMA Programa de Cuidados MA. Ma. Teresa
domiciliarios Abusleme
México Secretaría de Salud Programa de Atención MA. Atenea Flores
del Gobierno del Domiciliaria a Población Castillo
Distrito Federal Vulnerable
France Etablissement Service Polyvalent d’Aide et de Anne Gaëlle Fournier
d'hébergement Soins à Domicile
pour personnes
âgées dépendantes
Les Sapins
Haití IHSI PhD Nathalie
Brisson-Lamaute

Abstract para el trabajo de ALA

This research deals with the elderly, the disabled and the terminally ill (all of them going through
critical losses such as roles, functions, health or life and their emotional implications), and their
care-givers, during the processes of ageing, disability, illness, or care. The paper is concerned
with the process of de-subjectivation (that is, the loss of subjectivity, the loss of the ability as
subjects), and its recovery through home care. The ageing situation in Latin America and the
Caribbean, and its implications on physical and mental disability are discussed. A brief analysis
on what was learned in the field work as psychologist for Mexico’s City Home Care Program for
Vulnerable Population is presented and it goes on to concepts of care from the economic,
philosophical and psychoanalytical approaches, as well as to those from care givers and care
receivers. Finally some recommendations on public policy are advanced.