Este articulo de reflexion surge como producto de una investigacion en curso que pretende evaluar la salud mental y el deterioro cognitivo de los adultos mayores adscritos al programa de centro dia, conformado por la Secretaria de desarrollo social y economico del municipio de Girardot Colombia. La poblacion de adultos mayores adscritos al programa esta conformada por 21.701, la muestra la componen 70 adultos mayores, la metodologia de investigacion es cuantitativa, el diseno es no experimental, con un alcance descriptivo y correlacional, dentro de los resultados esperados se encuentra la valoracion del deterioro cognitivo y la salud mental y el acompanamiento disciplinar para la formulacion de una politica publica para el adulto mayor, que sea acorde y coherente a la caracterizacion y las necesidades encontrada a traves del proceso de investigacion. Palabras clave: Adulto mayor, salud mental, deterioro cognitivo, politica publica. ABSTRACT This reflective article has been developed as a product of an ongoing research that intends to assess mental health and cognitive impairment in elderly adults attached to centro dia program, which is part of the social and economic development secretary from the municipality of Girardot (Colombia). The population of elderly adults affiliated to the program is of 21.701 people, the sample consist of 70 adults, the research methodology is quantitative, the design is not experimental, with a descriptive and correlational scope, some of the expected results are the assessment of the cognitive and mental health deterioration and proper support towards a policy for older adults, according and coherent to the needs and profiling found throughout the research process. Keywords: Elderly adults, mental health, cognitive impairment, public policy.