Improving healthcare

Chronic illnesses are on the increase around the world, even in developing countries where life expectancy is also increasing.

Travelling to health clinics and hospitals can be impossible for older people with mobility problems or if transport is unaffordable.

Many age-related diseases are treatable with simple interventions or inexpensive drugs. Having a crutch, a hearing aid or pain-relieving medication can make the difference between looking after oneself and having to rely on others.

Throughout the world and particularly in developing countries, more older people die from malnutrition, respiratory diseases and TB than any other age group, including children aged 0-14 years.

Two-thirds of people with dementia live in developing countries and yet only 10% of funding focuses on this area.

There are few gerontologists in developing countries and little research has yet been carried out into the impact of chronic illnesses on people in later life in poor countries.

Working with local partners, Age UK:

Mr Arumugam, a 65-year-old farmer in India, was struggling to support his family when his eyesight deteriorated. After an operation to restore his eyesight, Mr Arumugam says: 'I will be able to work and earn money to support my family. I want to continue farming and helping my family as much as I can.'

HIV

HIV has changed the lives of many older people, yet they are often overlooked in care and prevention programmes. Recent evidence suggests that one in 14 people living with HIV are aged 50 and over.

Thousands of older people are struggling to look after sick children living with HIV and grandchildren orphaned by AIDS. Up to half of the world’s AIDS orphans are living with their grandparents.

Caring can leave older people physically and emotionally exhausted. Families that are already poor can be driven to destitution as they are forced to sell assets to pay for medicines.

We provide care for older people infected and affected by HIV. We support older carers by helping them with school costs for their grandchildren, supplying homecare medical kits, giving start-up grants to enable them to set up small businesses, and by forming support groups where older carers can meet for emotional and practical help.

In Mozambique, Juliano and Podiria look after two grandchildren, one of whom has been orphaed by AIDS and the other left behind by parents migrating to the city to look for work.

The local OPA has given them a mosquito net, a blanket, school materials for their grandchildren, and a cow from which to earn a living.

Podiria says: 'When we thought about our future, we thought our grandchildren would live with their own parents and they would come and visit us from time to time, perhaps bringing us a little gift. But that was not to be...we still work so we can get enough food to feed our grandchildren.'