
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

Rebuilding resilience during trauma: a focus on mental health
On World Mental Health Day (10 October), we want to shine a spotlight on the mental health support needed by older refugees such as Abbas.

Rita, 80, Colombia: 50 years of dedication to older people
HelpAge International wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Rita Duarte - her organisation, Provida, is one of our founding members.

Tatiana’s journey as a Ukrainian refugee in Moldova
Tatiana meets daily with other Ukrainian refugees in Moldova to practice Nordic walking together.

Older people who survived the drought in Somalia
Somalia has faced a severe drought, the worst in 40 years, forcing many older people to flee their home villages.

Older Ukrainians reaching out to their peers: A story of how kindness spreads
Mykola (64) and his wife Nataliia (65) fled the war in Ukraine and are now helping spread kindness within their displaced community.

War in Ukraine: The vital role of older people in supporting their communities
70-year-old Lyudmila is a social care worker in eastern Ukraine. In addition to talking about her own experience, she echoes the thoughts of the people she has worked with.

#PensionsForPalestinians: How pensions can support older people in Palestine
Social pensions can help provide a much-needed safety net for older people who may otherwise be left without any income.

Older people in Malawi face devastation and uncertainty in the wake of Cyclone Freddy
Among the hardest hit were older people, who now find themselves grappling with the loss of their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones.

Video: Older people who survived the catastrophic earthquake in Syria
We look at the survivors who now have to rebuild their lives, and at the humanitarian response of HelpAge's partner SEMA.

Hope in the midst of disaster
Stories of older people who survived the catastrophic earthquake in Syria.

Resilience in repression: older people in Myanmar two years after the military coup
Two years after the military coup in Myanmar, older people support each other and their families despite difficulties created by the new regime.

Robina Bughio, 56, Pakistan
Robina Bughio, 56, is a widow living in the village of Hadi Bux Shah in the suburbs of Shahpur Jahania, in Shaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh Province.