
Older people’s stories
Older people are speaking out and we are listening. Our collection of life stories captures the strength and resilience behind a lifetime of experience.
Browse our story collections

Lifelong connections: stories of older people in Ukraine
Older people in Ukraine share the relationships that give them strength, showing how connection can protect, inspire and prevent abuse in later life.

Two months on – ‘‘We just want to live in peace again’’
Older people’s stories from the Myanmar earthquake

An older couple’s fight for safety and dignity after the Myanmar Earthquake
For older people like Daw Than Than Swe, 74, and her husband U Aung Kyaing, 86, the earthquake has become a prolonged ordeal of uncertainty, stress, and loss.

“I prayed and prayed”: Daw San Lwin’s story of survival and strength after the Myanmar earthquake
Older people like 70-year-old Daw San Lwin are often unseen in humanitarian responses, yet bear the brunt of crises with limited support and declining health.

“I’m afraid to even go upstairs”: Daw Pyone’s struggle to survive after the Myanmar earthquake
For older people like 62-year-old Daw Pyone, the earthquake was a brutal blow to an already fragile existence, exposing the deep vulnerabilities that come with age, ill health, and poverty.

“All I want is a home”: Daw Kyi Kyi Win’s life after the earthquake in Myanmar
After surviving the March 2025 earthquake, 86-year-old Daw Kyi Kyi Win now faces a different kind of struggle - reclaiming her dignity, health and a safe place to call home.

“If it happens again, I will die”: a story from the heart of Myanmar’s earthquake
87-year-old Daw Khin Myaing’s story of survival and strength after the Myanmar earthquake

“I’ve never experienced a loss like this”: One man’s struggle to rebuild after the Myanmar earthquake
For older people like U Tin Win, the earthquake didn’t just destroy property - it unravelled the fragile threads of dignity, stability, and family unity.

“Everything collapsed around us”: A grandfather’s story of survival and strength after the Myanmar earthquake
61-year-old U San Win’s harrowing experience captures the heartbreak and resilience of those living through the Myanmar earthquake disaster.

Voices of older people in Myanmar after the earthquake
Older people in Myanmar share their experiences after the earthquake - stories of loss, resilience and urgent need for shelter, food and support.

The lives behind the numbers: stories of older Ukrainians adapting to displacement
Three years into the full-scale war, discover the stories of older Ukrainians who are not just surviving but adapting and thriving in the face of crisis.

I never left: Mohammad’s story of survival during the war in Lebanon
At 72, Mohammad chose to stay in his home during the war in Lebanon, facing rockets and isolation. His story highlights the challenges older people face in crises.