Diagnosis of economic support for older adults in Zacatecas, Mexico, such as Fundamental Human Right

Abstract

Older adults currently in Mexico represent 12.3% of the total population. The growth trend in this population group according to the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics, indicates that by 2050, the country will have between 25 and 29% of older adults, which will represent around 33 million Mexicans. The main objective of this research is to know the economic situation of older adults in Zacatecas, compared to the national average based on the Socioeconomic Level established by the Mexican Association of Market Intelligence and Opinion Agencies. In this way, it will also be possible to know the public programs that are available for the benefit of older adults and the origin of their economic income. This research was carried out through a quantitative approach, of an explanatory investigative type through an observational and prospective context, in a cross-sectional way, having been measured on a single occasion during November and December 2018 to 2,566 adults over 65 years of age, residents in different municipalities of the state of Zacatecas. Among the main findings, it was determined that, in 2018, 36.7% of older adults enjoyed a pension or retirement, the rest depended on their own work, or on family and / or government support. The greatest amount of support requested from government agencies refers to the economic aspect, being in this case 1408 of the total surveyed. The great part is located within the indicators E, D and D + of the socioeconomic level established by the Mexican Association of Intelligence and Market Intelligence Agencies (95.4%). The agricultural and commercial sectors are the work areas where older adults mostly work in Zacatecas. One thousand two hundred and fifteen respondents stated that they require emotional support and it was found that more than two-thirds of the elderly do not have income from pension and / or retirement, a situation that forces them to depend on the help that relatives and / or government stays provide them. Despite their age, they have been forced to perform heavy work in some cases. It is necessary to look to the future and design public policies that allow this growing social group to allow economic, physical and emotional stability according to the conditions of their age.