Ana Clara Silva  WIth 39 years of professional experience, I can say that I am a dedicated and outstanding civil servant in various areas of intervention, including public finance, social action and health. I have expertise in the formulation, execution and strategic planning of public-social policies. Entrepreneurial and forward-thinking, I was responsible for creating and implementing a public department that serves as the basis for the Integrated Governance of Public Policies for Longevity. This department ensures the implementation of policies to protect against the vulnerabilities associated with ageing. The development of this policy initiative, a pioneer in the European context and in the remote region of Madeira, reflects the importance of longevity governance and universal protection in ageing.

As Regional Director for Integrated Policies and Longevity, I passionately defended the themes of the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030 and planned initiatives to promote favourable environments for ageing and longevity, tackling the challenges associated with ageing. The implementation, expansion, development and strengthening of long-term care have been priorities in my work.

My professional career includes various roles in the field of ageing, as a member of the Working Group that created the Regional Plan for Active Ageing from 2016 to 2019, and as a member of the Management Committee of the Gerontological Plan of the Autonomous Region of Madeira from 2009 to 2013. As Technical Coordinator of the Continuing Care Network of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, I was instrumental in creating a significant investment within the scope of the Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This investment was directed towards funding the Next Generation Recovery and Resilience Facility, established by the European Council, with the aim of creating 1080 integrated responses/continuing care teams in the field of mental health, especially in relation to symptoms of dementia linked to ageing.

Interviewed by Laurinda Alves