ABSTRACT
The aging process involves numerous biological, physiological, and psychosocial changes during life. The situation in today’s society regarding the perception of the elderly, legislation, and programs are the results of the changes in the human interdependence network, in a long-lasting historical process. In Brazil, the 2010 demographic data pointed out the improvement in different sectors of the country, which lead to greater longevity of adults. It is estimated that there will be an increase in the percentage of people over 60, from 13.8 percent in 2020 to 33.7 percent in 2060. This study presents the international and national documents that have influenced development of the Brazilian public policies and civil societies programs, the demographic data, the benefits of physical activity and programs for older adults in different populations, and information dissemination conducted in the country. Studies have indicated that regular physical activity is recognized as the way to prevent a decline associated with the aging process as it promotes longevity and improvement of quality of life. At the same time most adults are still sedentary, which represents a serious public health problem in Brazil. Despite all of the advances in Brazilian society, it is still a great challenge to improve the health of older adults.
