During a recent visit to Ethiopia, for the launch of HelpAge Ethiopia as an independent national organisation, I found myself thinking deeply about care – who gives it, who receives it, and who is so often left out of discussions on care and its unequal burden.
Around the world, we talk a great deal about unpaid care and how it continues to shape women’s lives. Yet older women – especially the grandmothers holding families together – remain largely invisible in these discussions. Their labour is constant, essential, and rarely acknowledged. It is they who often step in when tragedy strikes or when poverty forces tough choices. Their work allows others to study, earn a living, and survive. And still, their contribution is taken for granted.
In Ethiopia, this reality came into sharp focus. I met partners and community groups who are trying to ease the pressures facing older carers. But one encounter stayed with me more than any other.
I spent time with the Eneredada Elder People Association, a remarkable local Older People’s Association (OPA) working closely with HelpAge Ethiopia. They have created a simple but powerful model that supports grandmothers aged sixty and above who are caring for grandchildren who have lost their parents, or who themselves live with limited mobility or illness. These women receive hot meals, basic healthcare, home support, clothing and, when possible, a small cash payment.
But what struck me most was not the services offered, valuable as they are. It was the sense of dignity these women had reclaimed together.
One grandmother told me quietly that through this initiative she had found her confidence again. For years she had felt isolated, overwhelmed, and unseen. Now she has a community around her – women who understand her struggles, stand beside her, and raise their voices together when they need to. She spoke with pride, not burden. It was a moment that reminded me why this kind of work matters so deeply.
I also met a staff member who had been supported by the programme as a child. She told me, “I understand how it helped my grandmother; now I am able to support many grandmothers through this programme.” That full-circle journey captured the very heart of community care: compassion passed from one generation to the next.
Older women carry so much – children, grandchildren, spouses, and often the emotional weight of holding families together. Yet the world continues to undervalue and overlook their work. Initiatives like Eneredada shine a light on their contribution. But they cannot stand alone. We need decision-makers to listen, to recognise older carers, and to act with intention.
Here is what must change:
- Recognise: Governments should acknowledge the immense burden older women carry and uphold their rights as caregivers.
- Reduce: Communities need stronger services and basic infrastructure – water, energy, transport, health centres and school meals – so that older carers are not left to cope alone.
- Redistribute: Care should be shared more fairly. Flexible work arrangements, paid leave and accessible childcare and eldercare can help families shoulder responsibilities together.
- Reward: While no payment can truly match the value of unpaid care, social protection that accounts for age and gender allows older carers to live with stability and dignity.
- Represent: Older carers know what they need. Their voices must shape policy, budgets and local planning. Support groups and advocacy spaces are essential for ensuring they are heard.
- Resource: Governments must invest in gender‑responsive policies and programmes so older carers have the support they need.
As I left Ethiopia, I kept returning to the grandmother who told me she had regained her sense of self. Her words were a reminder that care is not a policy topic alone; it is a human story. When we recognise and support the women who hold communities together, we do more than ease their load. We honour their strength, restore their dignity, and build a more just and compassionate society for all.
