Health policy
Global population ageing will provide major health challenges in the 21st Century.
But health providers are unprepared for this challenge.
Globally, chronic illness now causes more deaths and disabilities in older people than communicable diseases.
Older people are the main caregivers in many poor households in low- and middle-income countries. Often, they are caring for other older people.
As populations age worldwide the need for care will grow enormously, especially among the oldest old.
A nurse looks after an older woman patient at a public health centre in Haiti.(c) Frederic Dupoux/HelpAge International
The difference we are determined to make
We are lobbying health service providers and governments to ensure a healthy old age by:
- Supporting older people to manage chronic illness.
- Establishing non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, as a key health priority.
- Improving the availability of age-friendly healthcare.
- Supporting older people's self-care and care-giving within families and communities.
- Including older people in schemes to finance health services.
Examples of our impact so far
- We have provided training for national home-based carer programmes in eight countries in Africa and Asia and delivered health services and training to nearly half a million older people in low-income countries worldwide.
- In Bolivia, our work on "age-friendly" health care resulted in 95 health centres assessing the health needs of older men and women within their areas. These centres are now planning activities like starting home visits and care.
- We have built strategic partnerships with agencies engaged in chronic and non-communicable diseases such as blindness, mental health/dementia, heart disease and strokes. Including the Pan American Health Organisation, Alzheimer's Disease International and WHO's Ageing and Life Course Department.