What do the candidates for mayor of Porto Alegre think about the elderly population?
THE Elderly Day It is celebrated on Tuesday (01). The date was established to remember the importance of protecting and caring for this population. In Porto Alegre, the percentage of inhabitants over 60 years old is 15%more than the 13% observed in Rio Grande do Sul and the 10% in Brazil. The trend, in fact, is for the indices to grow even more in the coming yearswith a decrease in the birth rate and an increase in longevity. Therefore, Whoever takes over as mayor of Porto Alegre will need to think about specific actions for the elderly population — which most candidates have already realized.
Carlos Alan (PRTB) is one of the candidates with the largest number of proposals in this regard. According to the government program available on the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) website, it intends to multiply social groups and actions for inclusion and participation of the elderly in society. Furthermore, it focuses on infrastructure works to increase accessibility in public spaces and promote cultural, leisure and sports activities for people over 60 years of age. In terms of care for this population, proposes to develop projects for the voluntary training of caregivers and for the housing of elderly people without family protection.
About that, Fabiana Sanguiné (PSTU) addresses the elderly population in just one of the topics of its government program. In it, he proposes the training for municipal professionals who work with individuals who require accessibilityincluding, in addition to the elderly, people with disabilities and neurodivergent people. In this aspect, it determines that these trainings must be focused on “providing adequate care to the population in need”.
Already Felipe Camozzato (New) focuses on two aspects: accessibility and access to specialized care. Thus, it proposes the standardization of the city’s sidewalks and specific public health policies for the elderly population. According to the government program, initiatives that focus on public policies increase their efficiency.
The candidate Juliana Brizola (PDT) also presents two topics related to the elderly. One of them is aimed at training for the use of digital tools focusing on “integrating public authorities and users to improve trust in the relationship by protecting against fraud, scams and fake news”. The other initiative is to fulfill the commitment to ensure coexistence and strengthen bonds among the elderly population.
Another to present two proposals is Luciano Schafer (UP). It intends to jointly coordinate investments in neighborhoods with residents’ associations, in a similar way to what happens with participatory budgeting. In this aspect, he mentions that one of the projects to be applied with this policy is the creation of social groups for the elderly. The other initiative is the creation of leisure spaces in peripheral neighborhoods that reach different audiences: children, adults and the elderly.
The candidate with the highest number of proposals for the elderly population is Maria do Rosário (PT)with five propositions. Among them is a specific care policy in the health area, mainly focused on the Unified Health System (SUS)a public housing construction program that will serve, among other audiences, the elderly population and the implementation of living and care spaces. Furthermore, it suggests the support for projects to welcome LGBTQIA+ elderly people.
The current mayor and candidate for re-election, Sebastião Melo (MDB)has two propositions. One of them is expand the Elderly Day Center (CDI) projectwhich currently has two units in the Capital, one in the North Zone and another in the South Zone. The other is reinforce the collection of subsidies from the federal government to maintain free access for seniors over 65 on public transportwhich is guaranteed by federal law.
The only candidate not to present proposals focused on the elderly population is César Pontes (PCO).
