Older people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia face problems that are are unique to the region. Under Communist and Socialist regimes that were established from the 1920s onwards, provisions were made for old age that included adequate state pensions, health care and other social care services.

However, in the 1990s, huge political changes took place in the area, the most important being the collapse of the Soviet Union. Conflicts over sovereignty rights also erupted throughout the region.

Older people are vulnerable and many have suffered great hardship during recent changes, and have felt the effects of the resulting socio-economic decline.

Issues facing older people today

Although the promise of European Union integration has provided an incentive for governments in South-East Europe – in particular, to provide better services for older people – these older generations are still among the poorest compared to younger age groups in many countries in the region.

HelpAge International's main focus in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is to work with those countries in the region that are unlikely to meet international targets on poverty.

The main contributory factors to poverty in old age are:

• poor and inadequate pensions
• a lack of health services
• an absence of family support, caused by the migration of younger generations to areas that are more affluent
  
• a lack of income-generating opportunities for older people
• extreme weather conditions, such as the severely cold winters, which mean increased expenditure on heating, warm clothing and food.

The way forward

HelpAge International is supporting older people and their organisations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in various ways:

• setting up self-help groups to help communities support the most vulnerable older people
• setting up income-generation schemes
• carrying out advocacy work with national and regional governments to help target resources for older people
• working with civil society to strengthen sevice provision around key areas such as access to health care.