MAY 15, 2019

Cecilia Morel joins HM The Queen of Sweden at the Dementia Forum X to present the Adulto Mejor positive aging plan

This is the second high-level international event on aging in which First Lady Cecilia Morel has participated, the first being a UN forum of more than 100 experts that she led in October 2018.

At the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, First Lady Cecilia Morel, presented at Dementia Forum X this Wednesday. The biannual event is held at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. This is the second high-level international event on aging in which the First Lady has participated, the first being a UN forum of more than 100 experts that she led in October 2018.

At Dementia Forum X, President Sebastián Piñera’s wife presented Chile’s National Dementia Plan along with the main guidelines of the Adulto Mejor plan, which she is spearheading in Chile. Through a series of public policies, the Adulto Mejor plan seeks to raise awareness and integrate older people through active, healthy and participatory aging.

“It is an honor to represent my country at such an important, global seminar attended by the most important leaders in this area. This has been a great opportunity to learn about and share experiences on aging issues, even more so because, according to the Ageing Index, Sweden is the best place to grow old,” remarked First Lady Cecilia Morel following the event.

Dementia Forum X is a global initiative created to raise awareness about dementia and the related health challenges. The last seminar on the matter addressed innovation, funding and women’s mental health, among other issues. The event aims to gather ideas, visions and perceptions on these issues from the world’s experts on aging, including researchers, scientists, politicians, business executives and stakeholders in the area of dementia. Dementia Forum X paves the way for high-level dialogue on the challenges that age-related demographic changes and dementia pose to societies, individuals and healthcare systems alike, in order to forge a more effective global response in meeting them.

The First Lady’s speech presented the main guidelines of the Adulto Mejor plan and explained how our country is preparing to face an aging population. Experts say that by 2050, older people will represent 30% of the population.

“While dementia is not a normal part of the aging process, it is more common in older people, a population of more than 1 trillion people around the world. By 2050, they are expected to total 2.1 trillion, representing 22% of the global population. Thus, dementia and all matters that afflict and concern the older population are essential to our Positive Aging Plan, which aims to take action to encourage autonomy; slow down and, where possible, prevent dependence; encourage social and family integration; and increase the subjective well-being of older people,” said Cecilia Morel in her speech.

In addition to HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, speakers included Swedish Minister for Health and Social Affairs Lena Hallengren; Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom;  Head of the OECD Health Division Francesca Colombo; and Irish Minister of Mental Health and Older People Jim Daly.

The event was also attended by HM Queen Sofía of Spain, Princess Sofía of Sweden, Princess Takamado of Japan and the First Lady of Iceland.

First Lady Cecilia Morel is scheduled to leave Sweden on Thursday and continue on to Helsinki in Finland, where she will also visit and learn about different initiatives and experiences related to the quality of life and positive aging for older people.