Geriatric care and gerontological research in Argentina

Abstract

Summary Argentina does not yet have a formal nationwide health programme for older people, so there are huge differences in the quality and entitlement of health care for senior citizens. Academic infrastructure is also underdeveloped and this situation slows the advance of geriatrics. Teaching and research in this field is usually unpaid. However, a committed minority of teachers and health professionals are confident that their efforts are worthwhile and a new generation of geriatricians is starting to participate actively in international forums, to publish in recognized medical journals, to participate in Latin American academic forums such as ALMA (Latin American Academy of Senior Adult Medicine) and to foster geriatrics as a speciality.