East Asia Pacific

Since 1998, we have worked with partners across the East Asia Pacific region to run projects, carry out research and raise awareness of older people's issues.

We work with more than 40 partners providing services for older people, and training governments, academic institutions and development organisations in how they can provide better support to older people.

HelpAge and its partners share insights and experiences and together we actively lobby governments to provide better health services, care at home and income security.

Where we work in East Asia Pacific

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We work in the following countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, The Philippines.

Supporting older people in East Asia Pacific

• In Thailand, we helped almost 5,000 older people attend health promotion activities and increase their access to health services.
• We successfully lobbied the government to introduce an old age pension in the Philippines.
  
• In Cambodia, we helped 120 village health support group volunteers, 60 older people's association leaders and 13 health centre staff to receive training on primary health care and older people's health-related problems. 
• We have joined with the China National Committee on Ageing to help local governments plan for the impact of rapid ageing in China.
• We worked with older people in Laos to build 1,023 household latrines in 18 villages and more than 7,000 people in 16 villages now have access to clean water.
• Our older people's self-help groups in Myanmar have initiated income-generating ventures, which have benefited more than 9,000 family members in 30 villages.
• We established 160 community clubs in North Central Vietnam that strengthen community links and help older people support each other.
  

What next?

• We will campaign on the need for pensions - carrying out research and advising governments.
• We will help older people in poor rural areas start up small businesses or learn skills that will earn them money.
• We will work to make sure that all countries put in place programmes to provide care for older people at home.
• We will make sure older people's needs are recognised when disasters strike.