Why older people matter

Making sure that older people are included in EU development policies and programmes isn't just about being fair. It's about recognising the incredibly important role older people play in societies, particularly in developing countries.

Older people in developing countries are not just grandparents. Often they are the primary carer of grandchildren or those who are sick. Through their role as carers, workers, teachers and leaders, older people make a huge contribution to the wellbeing of society. But they do so without any support or care themselves. No healthcare. No pensions. No break.

Taking care of older people in developing countries means taking care of the next generation too. Actively including older people in development policies and programmes will not only make the world a better place for older people. It will make the world a better place for everyone.

About Age Demands Action

HelpAge International's Age Demands Action (ADA) campaign is a grassroots movement to fight age discrimination and demand that rights of older people everywhere are protected. ADA isn't about campaigning on behalf of older people. Quite the opposite. ADA is led by older people themselves. We give them the tools and support they need to fight age discrimination and poverty. And we do so in over 60 countries across the globe.

HelpAge International and network partners in 4 European countries – Slovene Philantrophy (Slovenia), Zivot 90 (Czech Republic), Cordaid (Netherlands) and AgeAction Ireland – are leading the Age Demands Action campaign in Europe. This year, as part of the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations, we are bridging the gap between young Europeans and older people in developing countries through the Make it Ageless movement.

Find out more about Age Demands Action

About the European Union

The European Union (EU) is the world’s largest aid donor. It’s an incredible force in the fight against poverty. But it could do even more. By that, we mean recognising older people’s contributions and capabilities, and actively including them in EU development policies and programmes.

WHY OCTOBER?

1 October is the UN International Day of Older Persons, a key day of action. Across the world, older people mobilise public support and meet their governments asking for change.

It’s a vital opportunity to show the EU that older people matter and must be included in EU development policies and programmes.

References

UNDESA, Population Ageing Wallchart 2006, Population Division 2006

UNDESA (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs), Population Division, ‘World Population Ageing 2009', New York, United Nations, 2009

Forteza A, Lucchetti L and Pallares-Miralles M, ‘Measuring the coverage gap', in R Holzman, D Robalino and N Takayama (eds), Closing the coverage gap: role of social pensions and other retirement income transfers, Washington DC, World Bank, 2009