Listening, learning, and honouring the strength of older people: a visit to Meshmesh, Lebanon

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In Meshmesh, I met older people who welcomed us with warmth, humour, and remarkable resilience. At a local health centre, I watched a dedicated team provide care that extended well beyond medicine, offering dignity, support, and genuine human connection. I was accompanying Chris McIvor, our Regional Representative for Eurasia and the Middle East, who was in Lebanon to mark the launch of the new Ageing Unit by Amel Association International. Together, we witnessed the power of community-led care – and the difference it makes when older people are supported by those who truly understand them. 

The Ageing Unit is an important step in HelpAge’s localisation journey. As part of our commitment to shift power and responsibility to national partners, this new unit will act as a technical and coordination hub. It will support local advocacy, strengthen services for older people, and ensure that the unique challenges they faced in Lebanon are brought to the forefront of decision-making. 

Our visit to Meshmesh brought this vision to life. 

Operated by Amel, the Meshmesh Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) plays an important role in delivering healthcare services in northern Lebanon. In addition to providing essential services such as general medicine, cardiology, gynaecology, and diagnostics, the centre runs a truly exceptional outreach programme for older people. A dedicated multidisciplinary team—consisting of a physician, two nurses, a psychologist, a case manager, and a social worker—brings medical care, mental health support, and psychosocial activities directly into the homes of older individuals. 

What we do isn’t just about medicine,” one of the nurses told us. “It’s about reminding people they matter.

Nurse at the Meshmesh Primary Health Care Centre

Later that day, we travelled to a nearby village where a group of older women had gathered for a psychosocial support session led by the Amel team. The session focused on mental wellbeing, ageing, and the importance of community engagement. The room was filled with warmth—laughter, storytelling, the occasional burst of a traditional song. These women had lived through war, displacement, and economic hardship, yet they radiated strength. 

“I don’t want to be invisible,” one woman said. “I still have things to say. I still have things to give.” 

 Another woman said: “These sessions are the only time I leave the house and feel truly myself. We learn, we laugh, and we feel alive again.” 

 Their words underscored why localisation matters. By investing in local leadership and supporting organisations like Amel, we ensure that care is rooted in trust and understanding – delivered by people who speak the language, share the culture, and understand the daily realities of those they serve. 

These are the stories that stay with you. The people we met today - staff and community members alike - do extraordinary things, often with very little. It’s humbling.

Chris McIvor, HelpAge International Regional Representative, Eurasia and Middle East.

I couldn’t agree more. 

Amel’s new Ageing Unit is a statement of intent. It represents a shift from delivering aid to enabling leadership. And it reflects HelpAge’s unwavering belief that older people have the right to age with dignity, supported by systems that understand them and shaped by voices from within their own communities. 

This blog was written by Ahmad Jaber, Senior Communications Manager, HelpAge International.