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Briefings

Help the Aged is working to alleviate the poverty and exclusion faced by older people throughout the world. In particular, our focus is on the overbearing hardship suffered by the poorest older people in developing countries, who are often forgotten by their own governments.

In developing countries, as in the UK, older people play a central role in their families and communities. Due to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, older people in developing countries often play a central role in bringing up children. For example, 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have been orphaned by AIDS; 6 million of these are cared for by their grandparents. Not all older people are able to provide for their families however, as around 100 million older people live on less than a dollar a day.

Unfortunately, international efforts to promote development in these countries often fail to recognise the role played by older people. As a result, programmes are designed without the needs of older people in mind, and too often older people are left out of consultation processes - which means their voices are not heard. We support older people in playing their vital roles as leaders of communities and carers for families, often affected by HIV/AIDS, either through direct help or enabling them to live independently.

This section contains policy papers relating to our work to ensure that the place of older people in their families and communities in developing countries is recognised.

Briefing on G8 (2005)

A briefing on the aid announcement at the G8 conference and the need for schemes such as social pensions.

Response to the Africa Commission Report (2005)

A response to the Africa Commission Report which sets out a blueprint to tackle the critical issues of aid, trade and debt.

Briefing on the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002)

A briefing on the UN's Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing which set out a comprehensive agenda of changes in policies and social attitudes to safeguard older people's rights and ensure their social inclusion worldwide.