The Caribbean has one of the fastest-growing older populations in the developing world. In most Caribbean countries, more than 10% of the population is aged 60 or over.

Older people in the Caribbean are severely affected by poverty. The Caribbean is recognised as a middle-income region. But, in most countries, over 30% of the population lives in poverty, because of poor economic growth,  the skewed distribution of income and the high cost of living.

There have been significant losses in export earnings following the introduction of trade liberalisation policies, and the public debt in most countries is high. Crime and violence have increased significantly in all Caribbean countries.

Issues facing older Caribbeans

Critical issues facing older people include:

• economic security and livelihoods
• chronic illness and limited access to health care and medication
• poor housing
• social isolation, and lack of social integration and participation
• neglect and abuse.

Traditionally, older people have depended on their children and grandchildren for support, but many of these relatives are not in a position offer help.

Most older people do not receive a pension because they have not worked in the formal sector. Some older people do receive benefits through public-assistance programmes for the poor.

Many active older people want to remain part of the labour market, but face discrimination in getting work and accessing credit.

Chronic illness is common among older people in the Caribbean. High transport costs and limited money to pay for medical fees mean that many cannot get the medical attention they need. More and more older people are suffering from strokes and diabetes.

HIV/AIDS is becoming a serious public health issue. In Haiti, an increasing number of older people have to care for their sick adult children and orphaned grandchildren, although there is very little research into the impact HIV/AIDs is having on the lives of older people.

Many older people's homes, particularly in rural areas, are in a state of disrepair, and lack running water and toilet facilities.

The Caribbean has to contend with natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. One hurricane can almost wipe out a country’s economy, as happened in Grenada in 2004. Volcanic eruptions can be equally disastrous, as in Montserrat in1995, where two-thirds of the country was destroyed beyond rehabilitation. Older people tend to be worst affected by natural disasters. In Grenada, 70% of those who died as a result of Hurricane Ivan were older people.

Migration to cities by younger people, changes in the family structure, the growth of individualism and materialism, and economic hardships have all led to increasing isolation, and the neglect and abuse of older people.

The way forward

Older people are calling for greater access to health care and social services, income support, the enactment of laws to protect their rights, and training and awareness for family members and wider society about their needs, concerns and rights.

The work of HelpAge International and our partners, combined with awareness created by the International Year of Older Persons in 1999 and the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002, have led to a number of improvements for older people. Governments have begun to pay greater attention to the needs and concerns of older people, and are developing programmes, services and national policies on ageing.