Ignoring the rapidly ageing population will jeopardize Ukraine’s recovery

• Ukraine has the largest percentage of older people affected by conflict in the world.
• 90% of older people unable to pay for basic medical needs.
• The war-damaged infrastructure puts strain on struggling healthcare system.
• Government of Ukraine and its international partners must plan for changing demographics now to have successful recovery later.

A failure to meet the needs of Ukraine’s older population could seriously undermine the country’s recovery efforts, according to HelpAge International in a briefing published ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in London from 21-22 June.

Ukraine’s rapidly ageing population has major implications for the social and economic recovery of the country. At least 25 per cent of Ukraine’s population were over the age of 60 before the Russian invasion – one of the highest percentages of older people of any country in the world – and this is on the rise.

A fundamental shift in the country’s demographics

Older people made up a quarter of Ukraine’s population before the outbreak of the war, and this has increased since the start of the conflict. Many younger people have left the country, while older citizens have chosen to stay at home. This trend is likely to increase if Ukraine is successful in acceding to the EU, granting people the right to free movement across Europe.

Any social and economic recovery plan for the country will have to factor in the needs of an older population caused by this change in demographics. It is essential that the recovery process engages all population groups and is informed by disaggregated data. The government will not only need to rebuild its health and long-term care services but make these fit for an ageing population. They will also need to deliver accessible housing and infrastructure and develop a sustainable pension system.

Sixteen per cent of public health facilities had been damaged or destroyed after just one year of war, while the number of people with disabilities had gone up by an estimated 130,000, and countless numbers of people were struggling with mental health issues.

“The war is exacerbating the need for long-term care and support in the community, making it very important to develop systems that will be more responsive to the rising needs of an older populace. Ukraine’s population is changing, and it is time for support efforts to acknowledge it,” said Dimitrije Todorovic.

Institutional long-term care curtails older people’s independence

Prior to the war, Ukraine was on a clear path to deinstitutionalisation of care for children, people with disabilities and older people. However, within the first four months of the war, more than 4,000 older people, including those who had been living independently prior to the war, are reported to have been placed in state institutions. This adds to the estimated 41,000 older people and people with disabilities living in institutions before the conflict. While these institutions may be a safe shelter during the war, prolonged stay increases isolation and puts older people in danger of institutional abuse and neglect.

Reversing the process of over-reliance on institutions will keep Ukraine committed to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that it ratified in 2010. More importantly, it will ensure that older people can enjoy a life of independence, autonomy and choice.

“The war has hit older people the hardest as they are the ones who stayed behind, isolated and deprived of support systems. No efforts to support Ukraine to recover can ignore this and any path to recovery and EU integration for Ukraine must prioritise policies ensuring equality, inclusivity, and age-friendly communities,” said Dimitrije Todorovic.

Testimonies and photos to accompany the briefing are available

Tamara, 69, has been displaced twice since 2014. Last year, she was evacuated to Lviv and moved from shelter to shelter until she was offered a place in a nursing home. With a pension of only £43, she struggles to cover her medical needs and is not able to afford a knee replacement surgery that she needs.

Arkadyy, 66, was displaced with his 91-year-old mother to a state institution. He would like to see his home again but, without more support in the community, it is difficult for him to see how he could care for his mother outside the institution.

Valentina, 65, is a survivor of Russia’s invasion in Irpin. She has lost sight in one eye and her vision is deteriorating in the other one. While she receives some medicines for general conditions for free, she cannot afford treatment for her eyesight.

Alla, 64, was displaced with her 88-year-old mother a year ago. She wants to go home one day but her home has been destroyed and she worries about compensation for the repairs.