The Role of University Outreach in Advancing Healthy Ageing in Latin America
Abstract
How does a university truly demonstrate its impact on society? This question is increasingly recurring in academic debates in Latin America. What is the most relevant and coherent path? The answer is becoming increasingly clear: through university extension or community outreach.
Currently, outreach is understood as “an integral and multifaceted component within higher education institutions, acting not only as a transmitter of knowledge, but also as an agent of social change” (1).
From this perspective, the university acquires social relevance by translating research and training into programs, services, and care actions that directly impact the lives of older adults, their families, and caregivers (2). In the field of gerontology and geriatrics, this mission becomes even more urgent, because it is where multiple health and well-being needs converge: risk prevention, strengthening autonomy, support in the face of frailty and dependence, motivation to adopt habits that promote healthy aging, and, across the board, the promotion of quality of life (3). It is in this scenario that the transformative capacity of the link between universities and society is put to the test.
References
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