Helping older people live full and secure lives | Age helps

Helping older people lead full and secure lives

Haiti earthquake

Wilner, 74, is part of HelpAge's cash transfer programme to help older people recover from the earthquake. Photo: Frederic Dupoux/HelpAge International At least three million people, including 200,000 older people, were affected directly by the Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010. 

Older Haitians have had their lives destroyed but they want to play an active part in rebuilding their country.

Since the earthquake struck two years ago, HelpAge has been working with local partners and older people themselves to help them accomplish this.

Achievements so far

Distribution of relief items

• 25,000 older people and their families received food, cash, essential basic items, shelter, mobility aids and Tough Stuff kits (solar panel kits with radio and lamp).
• Following Hurricane Tomás, we distributed 221 tents and 45 tarpaulins, to older people and their families in 17 camps.

Physical and emotional health

• Over 13,500 older people received medical consultations and free medication at clinics run by HelpAge's health partners.
• Over 200 home based carers were trained to provide care in 93 temporary camps. These carers regularly visit 4,000 of the most vulnerable older people.
• Over 3,000 older people received eye examinations and reading glasses.
• More than 6,900 older people have taken part in psychosocial activities, including recreational days out, games and therapy sessions.

Housing and protection

• 1,080 older people have received temporary shelter through the work of HelpAge community workers. A further 13,000 older people have has their housing needs registered and passed on to agencies involved in supplying temporary housing.
• 88 older people's associations have been set up in camps to take into account older people's basic needs. These groups organise literacy training, help older people access services and have given hygiene training to older people to prevent cholera.

Livelihoods

• More than 4,350 older people have received five monthly payments of 700 Haitian gourdes (US$17.7) through the mobile payment system T-Cash Voilà.
• 1,384 beneficiaries received interest-free loans of 6,060 gourdes (US$150) to set up micro-entreprises.  
• Over 2,100 older people benefitted from a cash-for-work programme for services provided to their communities.
• 2,770 older people filled application forms for our job centres programme to help them find work.

Information exchange and awareness raising

• 27 weekly radio shows were produced and distributed through a network of 15 radio stations. The programmes educate the public and camp residents about the problems faced by older people.
• 13 television shows about older people's lives have been produced and broadcast on Télé Soleil. A further 50 radio stations and 15 TV channels have broadcast announcements to raise awareness of the need to remember older people.
• 6,000 newsletters have been distributed to educate people on cholera prevention and hurricane preparedness.

Capacity building and training

• HelpAge local partner in Haiti, the Institute for the Study of Integrated Care (IPESI), has trained 100 medical staff from local organisations and hospitals.
• We worked with several local organisations to support older people affected by the earthquake: CARPA, Institut de Promotion et d'Etude de Soins Integres (IPESI), Radio Télé Soleil, Academy for Education and Health (AES), Mosctha, Growing, Acting and Building Together (GACE), Group for the Management of the Poor (GGD), ALA, Panos Haiti

Suzanne can now read after dark, using her solar powered Tough Stuff lamp.

5,000 older people got a HelpAge Tough Stuff kit - solar panel kits with a radio and lamp. Of these: 90% said that the kit is useful. 37% have been able to earn an income from it. 98% of the older people interviewed said that the lamp made them feel safer at night. Older people say they can now socialise at night, cook in the dark and are less dependent on candles and kerosene, which can be dangerous in camp situations. There has been over a 90% reduction in the use of kerosene among those using the Tough Stuff kit. The kit also saves money. 77% of older people who have the kit say they now spend less on batteries. Read more about Suzanne and her Tough Stuff kit. Back to top of page.

What next?

In 2012 we will continue our work to support older people affected by the Haiti earthquake. Just a few of our plans include:

• Helping the most vulnerable older people to leave the camps and resettle them with host families.
• Continuing to secure incomes for older people by supporting older people's associations to start up work programmes.
• Training members of older people's associations on psychosocial care, nutrition and how to control and prevent chronic diseases.
• Working through older people's associations to ensure that older people are better supported during future emergency responses and recovery situations.

Comment on this page

Comments submitted for this page

• Abaker Mohamed Adam (29th July 2011)

  Really itis the age one who mostly died in silience for sometimes they stay for hours and without meal or giving what they had to their children that is why itis esential to look after them and their children mostly int in poor aslums.
  Abaker

• Md. Shahadat Hossain (9th July 2011)

  It is really great initiatives to help the aged people in Haity those who suffered by earth quake. There are some innovative works like older people’s association which is not effective only to get the support form helpage but it also create social impact on aged people.