Older people are discriminated against on several different grounds other than their age, including their sex, ethnic origin, where they live, disability, poverty, sexuality or level of literacy.

Freedom from violence

Many older people, especially older women, experience violence. Kenya has seen an upsurge in the number of brutal killings of older people, mostly women, accused of witchcraft.

Equality before the law

Lack of identity papers is one of the main barriers preventing older people from realising their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In Bolivia, census data showed that one in six older people had no documents for claiming the non-contributory pension.[1]

Property

In many parts of the world, inheritance laws deny women the right to own or inherit property when their husband dies. Family members often evict them. In Tanzania, denial of inheritance and property rights is a major cause of disputes, particularly for older women.

Right to information

Information is often unavailable to older people. In Moldova, only one in ten of 500 grandparents caring for grandchildren had information about state provisions such as childcare services and free medical insurance.[2]

Social security

Millions of older people have no pension or other regular income.

In three communities in Zambia, only 4% of older people received a pension, the majority of them men.[3]

Work

Sometimes older people cannot get a job because they are considered too old. They may be forced to take low-paid jobs that are unsafe or demeaning. In Peru, older people said that job advertisements often specified that applicants must not be older than 35.[4]

Health

Sometimes health services are out of reach to older people, or health workers refuse to treat them. In 15 communities in Mozambique, nearly nine in ten older people had to pay for healthcare that was legally free.[5]

References

[1] HelpAge International, Bolivia: characteristicas socioeconomicos de la población Adulta Mayor, Encuesta de hogares MECOVI, 2001, HelpAge International and Bolivian National Institute of Statistics, La Paz, 2002

[2] HelpAge International, Grandparents and grandchildren: impact of migration in Moldova, HelpAge/UNICEF project: findings and recommendations, February 2008

[3] M Kamwengo, The situation of older people in Zambia, HelpAge International, 2006

[4] HelpAge International, Working for life: making decent work a reality for older people, May 2009

[5] Helpage International, Interim narrative report (year 1), ONG–PVD/2007/134-482, 2009, unpublished