While the State of the world’s older people helps to highlight the realities of ageing, there is a lack of data on the countless aspects of older people’s lives.

Basic statistical information on older people exists globally, such as the population aged 60-80 and 80 plus, but detailed information on older people’s livelihoods, physical and mental health, access to (and exclusion from) services, abilities and vulnerabilities is rarely documented.

Information on how age, gender and other socio-cultural and economic factors affect older people’s access to services is also lacking. Collection and analysis of this data would enable policymakers and practitioners to provide more effective and appropriate services that reach those that need them most.

Poverty, work and money

UNDESA’s 2006 Population Ageing Wallchart indicates that, in least developed countries, 70% of men and 40% of women over the age of 60 work. However, there is no record of the type of work they do, how this differs according to gender and how their work changes as they become older.

Another area where virtually no hard data exists is older people’s savings and debt practices in the developing world. HelpAge International’s work in Tanzania, India and Bangladesh has shown that older people are often excluded from both formal and informal lending schemes.

A greater understanding of how, when, how much and from whom older people borrow, and lend to, would enable more accurate programming and better targeting of policy recommendations.

Age-related factors such as chronic disease, widowhood, and caring responsibilities can have a detrimental impact on older people’s income and work to keep them in poverty. Efforts to identify how these factors combine to negatively affect older people will help researchers and policymakers implement more appropriate and sustainable solutions.

Health 

General data on health of older people is limited. Information on the prevalence of certain illnesses and disabilities is available, such as blindness, tuberculosis and respiratory disease, as outlined in the State of the world’s older people.

However, more detailed evidence of how chronic illnesses affect older people is needed. Particularly lacking is data on the incidence of common age-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and arthritis. These are often easily treatable and can be prevented through community health education and good nutrition. Likewise, virtually no data is available which explores older people’s mental health issues.

HIV and AIDS

Little is known about data on the incidence of HIV in the over 60s. The only HIV prevalence data that is made regularly available is on the 15-49 age group.

But HelpAge International’s programmes to support older people affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa and Asia found that clinics record the sex and age of everyone who comes for testing. However, the clinics do not forward data on over-49-year-olds to national statistics offices, because this data is not requested. Read more in HIV and AIDS: Facts and figures

This leads to a gap in information on the treatment, health, nutrition, information and support needs of over 60s who test positively.

There is also limited information on the HIV status and related health requirements of grandparents who act as carers of orphaned and vulnerable children. This is despite evidence from 2002 World Bank research illustrating the great level of interdependency between older carers and the children for whom they care. In South Africa and Uganda over 40% of children live with grandparents and in Zimbabwe, over 50%.
Source: Forgotten families: Older people as carers of orphans and vulnerable children, HelpAge International and International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2003.

The need for disaggregated data

Without data disaggregated by age and sex, gaps in service and information provision cannot be properly met.

HelpAge International endorses a policy of collecting disaggregated data separately for men and women in each of the following 10-year age brackets: from 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and over 80. This data should also detail who is head of household, ethnic background and other demographic information, such as health status and land ownership.

Recommendations

• Governments, UN agencies and other organisations should collect and publish data that is disaggregated by age and sex. This should include population, employment, poverty levels, and access to services, such as health and social security.

• Existing data, for example from censuses and household surveys, should be further analysed to show household composition by age, sex and socio-economic status.
• Household and HIV and AIDS surveys should identify carers by age and sex, support received, income and expenditure, and access to HIV and AIDS services. Disaggregated data on the needs and roles of older people and orphans and vulnerable children should also be collected.