From July 15 to 17, the Guimarães International Municipal Meeting on Ageing - 1st International Congress on Active and Healthy Ageing (GIMMA) took place. This is an event that brings together experts from all over the world - including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) - to discuss challenges, policies and good practices for active and healthy ageing.

Eduardo Duque and Catarina Vieira da Silva, lecturers at the Portuguese Catholic University - Braga, were present as speakers and moderators, respectively, on the panel that opened the meeting entitled “Longevity, but with quality”. Pedro Cunha, chairman of the Board of Directors of Alto Ave, EPE, was also on the panel.

During the session, Eduardo Duque presented a sociological analysis of the evolution of Portuguese society in recent decades, especially in the context of ageing. Catarina Vieira da Silva focused on the four essential pillars for healthy ageing: ageism, a city that is friendly to older people, integrated care for them and the long-term care that must be maintained to sustain quality of life. He also stressed the dignity enshrined in human rights in social responses.