Five years ago today (12 April), 159 governments signed the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA),   this commits governments to include ageing in all social and economic development policies, and to halve old-age poverty by 2015, in line with the Millennium Development Goals, but new research by HelpAge International shows the state of the world’s older people is getting worse.

Research reveals that older people are among the poorest and most vulnerable in many societies, because governments have not prepared for the world’s rapidly ageing population.

By 2050, more than one in five people will be aged over 60, thanks to falling fertility rates and longer life expectancy. According to UNDESA, nearly 80% will live in developing countries. HelpAge International estimates that 100,000,000 older people now live on less than US$1 a day and this figure will continue to rise.

Country reports by HelpAge International and its partners on the situation of older people in Bangladesh, Moldova, Serbia, Uganda, and Vietnam show:

• Older people need to work into their 70s, 80s or until they die for a regular income, as adequate safety nets such as a pension are not in place.
  
• their rights are not respected
  
• older people face widespread discrimination and abuse.
  

In Uganda 64% of older people live in poverty. Many older people have been affected by the AIDS pandemic and have to care for people infected with HIV and orphaned and vulnerable children. An estimated 50 per cent of the estimated 1.2 million orphans in Uganda are under the care of grandparents.

John Riukaamya is 73 years old and has more than 20 orphans dependent on him. “Seven of my children died of AIDS and left their children in my care,” says John. “Everyone lives in this house which only has six rooms. I was a government servant so now at least I get a small pension, 110,000 Ugandan shillings (US$6.4) a month but this is our only income.

“Before the orphans came I could sustain my wife and our immediate family. With this pension now I have to buy school books, clothes, food and look after the house. When the children are sick we have to buy their medicines. When my wife and I are sick we have to pay a consultation fee as well as buy what the doctor prescribes, because it is never available free in the health centre.“

The United Nations is reviewing progress that governments have made towards implementing MIPAA and will present results in New York early next year (2008). HelpAge International has asked older people’s organisations in 11 countries to prepare their own national reports in advance of this process to ensure that the real situation of older people is represented.

On the anniversary of MIPAA, HelpAge International’s chief executive officer Richard Blewitt is calling on all governments to implement age-friendly policies and practices. “Millions of older people across the world experience isolation, poverty, violence and abuse and have limited access to health services, education and legal protection. With no regular income older people are often forced to work in low-paid or demeaning jobs to provide for themselves and their dependants. We are asking governments to implement a tripartite package of universal social pensions, free healthcare and non-discriminatory laws.”

Notes to Editors
1. HelpAge International is a global network of not-for-profit organisations with a mission to work with and for disadvantaged older people worldwide to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. For more information log onto www.helpage.org

For further information, to arrange a media visit, case studies and photographs contact Faith Mall, Media Officer, HelpAge International press@helpage.org Tel +44 207 278 7778 x 286

Spokespersons

In Nairobi:
Dr Tavengwa Nhongo, HelpAge International Regional Director, tnhongo@helpage.org or by telephone on +254 20 4444 289

In London:
Richard Blewitt, HelpAge International CEO can be contacted by telephone on +44 207 278 7778
Sylvia Beales, HelpAge International Policy Manager sbeales@helpage.org or by telephone on 0207 278 7778