The Platform
The Platform
Older people and emergency situations
Learn more about how to respond to older people's needs as well as recognise their contributions in emergency and humanitarian contexts.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit older people hardest. This policy brief, intended for planners, policy-makers and politicians, was produced by the 16 cities of a Healthy Ageing Task Force and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. During the pandemic, cities provided leadership and innovative programmes to meet the four key challenges of survival, equity, creating conditions for people to adapt and thrive, and ensuring older people have a voice which is listened to and acted upon. Drawn from the experience of the cities, five lessons should inform age-friendly, resilient and adaptive cities for all types of health emergency: building resilience together; using a cycle of preparedness, response and recovery; adopting an all-hazards approach; investing in community infrastructure; and creating systems for feedback from older citizens. Older people should not be left behind when cities prepare for, respond and recover from future crises.
MoreAt any age, intersecting factors such as poverty, disability, social isolation and exposure to abuse can increase the risk of vulnerability and weaken resilience in the case of adverse events. The COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, natural disasters, and war are examples of adverse events that have disproportionately affected vulnerable persons, including many older persons. Often, the capacities and vulnerabilities of older persons remain invisible as their voices are less heard and their needs less known due to a lack of data and research, and their insufficient involvement in decision-making. A key challenge, therefore, is to inform, design and implement comprehensive policies that protect vulnerable older persons from adverse outcomes, enhance resilience and allow them to fulfil their full potential in later life. The policy strategies presented in this Policy Brief cover the areas of income and housing, health and long-term care, prevention of violence, abuse and neglect, and social participation as well as the importance of adequate data and research and the involvement of older persons in decision-making.
MoreThe violence in Northeast Nigeria is now in its second decade. Amid the conflict, older people’s perspectives and human rights have been largely ignored, despite the distinct and often disproportionate risks they face, whether in their villages, in military detention, or in displacement. This report examines specific violations and abuses that older people have suffered disproportionately, linked also to the intersection of older age, gender, and disability. It also analyses how the humanitarian response has failed to uphold many older people’s rights, including related to food, health, shelter, and participation.
MoreThis document provides guidance for UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) staff and partners on protecting the rights of older persons in situations of forced displacement or statelessness. When responding to the phases of forced displacement (flight, displacement, return, resettlement or integration), UNHCR staff and partners need to ensure that older persons’ rights to independence, participation, self-fulfilment, dignity, and care are met without discrimination. To do this, teams should develop a thorough understanding of both the needs and capacities of older persons in displaced populations. Systematic application of UNHCR’s Age, Gender and Diversity Policy is central to ensuring that all persons of concern to UNHCR, including older persons, enjoy their rights on an equal footing with others, and are able to participate fully in the decisions affecting their lives and those of family members and communities, taking into account the diversity that exists among older persons. Furthermore, the UNHCR Policy on Older Refugees calls on UNHCR staff and partners to address the protection and assistance needs of older persons and ensure their equality of access to all measures that promote their participation and wellbeing.
MoreThis publication is a regional assessment on the situation and needs of older persons on the move in the Americas. Human mobility is no longer a temporary phenomenon but a prolonged one, lasting on average 20 years for refugees and more than 10 years for 90% of internally displaced persons (IDPs). This means that while on the move, persons age in most cases, without the support of a social protection system. The main purpose of this assessment is to present an overview of the situation and the priority needs of older persons on the move in Latin America, with a focus on some countries in the Andean region and the northern part of Central America. The analysis also includes the impact and worsening of older persons’ access to and exercise of their rights and services, under the current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, this study will provide data and evidence for decision-making, public-policy design, and the implementation of programmes that promote the rights of older persons on the move throughout the region and during the entire displacement cycle, including in emergency contexts.
MoreThis report was created to analyse the situation and the quality of life of older persons in Serbia during the COVID-19 pandemic and especially during the state of emergency in Serbia between 16 March and 6 May 2020. Based on the analysis of all the available data collected from older persons, experts, service providers, independent regulatory bodies and decision-makers, focusing on access to services and reviewing it using the rights-based approach and the “leave no one behind” principle, a set of recommendations was developed for public policy makers and civil society. These recommendations should contribute to decreasing the vulnerability of and risks for older persons in future epidemics, emergencies and crises. The lessons learned from the COVID-19 epidemic and response, the identified challenges and gaps brought to light, the way support systems in society transformed to respond to the emergency, all these should not be viewed as a mere reaction to the concrete pandemic, but be built into the development plans under the Agenda 2030 to build inclusive and adaptable systems that will not only mitigate the immediate effects of an emergency but contribute to building resilience in society.
MoreBetween 2001 and 2019, emergency crises in the UNECE region affected an estimated 130 million people, injuring over 90 million, and making nearly 674,000 people homeless. Though generally disproportionately impacted by emergency crises, older men and women are often neglected in disaster risk reduction strategies and emergency responses. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of older persons carrying the burden of severe illness and mortality as well as of acute loneliness and isolation. As of September 2020, nearly 9 out of 10 COVID-19 related deaths reported in the UNECE region have been among adults aged 65 years and older. Disaster risk reduction and preparedness plans need to be "older persons friendly and inclusive" to prevent and mitigate the potentially devastating implications of emergency crises among them. The challenge is not only to protect older persons and ensure essential services provide for their needs, as part of the emergency response and recovery after crises, it is also to account for the diversity of this population group, recognize their capacities and harness their experiences to maximize the preparedness for and minimize the impact of emergencies.
MoreIn March-April 2020, advocacy organisation National Seniors Australia asked its members aged 50 and older to participate in a short, voluntary survey about the COVID-19 crisis. The survey asked two questions: 1. What issues or concerns would you like to bring to the attention of the Government about the COVID-19 virus pandemic? 2. What resources do you need to deal with risks of COVID-19? In total, 1100 people provided at least one text response to the survey. Survey participants shared a number of issues and concerns. These included inadequate access to essential food, groceries and pharmaceutical items; financial stress brought upon them by the pandemic or exacerbated by it; overlooked digital needs; overlooked emotional needs; and overlooked transport needs. In the later weeks of the survey, some participants wrote about the impacts of enforced isolation on their mental health; their changing income or workforce situation due to economic changes during the pandemic; and ageist attitudes emerging from the association of older age and frailty in public discourse. A number of survey participants responded from the perspective of being a carer for other adults or children. They sought clearer guidance on appropriate behaviours under COVID such as isolation and social distancing during caring activities; help with contingency planning for emergencies; access to personal protective equipment for carers; recognition for carers' essential role; and increased funding to support carers.
MoreRestoring community strength following devastation of natural disasters requires focused and enduring commitment. The most pressing recovery priorities are universal: meeting urgent health needs, securing safe shelter, accessing food and water, re-establishing communication and transport connections, and resuming social and economic networks. Older people bring particular strengths and vulnerabilities to their communities in disaster recovery. This Australian report draws on national and international research and policy to describe those strengths and vulnerabilities, and proposes corresponding practical, community-level actions that can be incorporated into recovery plans and actions. These actions have potential to mitigate the negative individual health and wellbeing impacts wrought by disasters thus expediting the recovery process and deepening community resilience.
MorePopulation ageing, coupled with a predicted increase in the number of humanitarian emergencies, will result in large numbers of older persons impacted by emergencies in the future. Older persons are often overlooked in emergency relief systems, which worsens their capacity to respond and adapt in crises. Promoting the rights of older persons in emergencies, supporting their effective engagement in the design and implementation of humanitarian actions and confronting ageism are essential for an inclusive humanitarian response. An age-inclusive emergency response requires adequate financing and a solid knowledge base.
MoreThis publication examines the impact of conflict and displacement on older people in areas of Myanmar. It looks at the specific ways older people are affected by conflict, both in the violations they suffer and the psychosocial impact. There are tens of thousands of older people among the more than one million people displaced within Myanmar or to neighbouring Bangladesh. This publication also analyses how and why humanitarian assistance is falling short in responding to their needs.
MoreThis report provides the first analysis of dementia in humanitarian settings. The report analyses existing tools and guidelines which mandate inclusive support for people at risk, concluding that better implementation of such tools is sorely needed for people with dementia in humanitarian settings. One in every 70 people around the world is impacted by crisis and urgently needs humanitarian assistance and protection. More people are being displaced by conflict, food insecurity is rising and due to climate change, natural disasters are becoming more frequent. People with a so-called ‘hidden’ disability like dementia can be left behind in receiving humanitarian assistance and protection if those responding do not ’see’ their condition. While there are guidelines in place to mandate inclusive support for people at risk, they are rarely being implemented for people with dementia and do not currently go far enough to meet their needs. The report, produced by ADI, Alzheimer’s Pakistan and Global Alzheimer’s & Dementia Action Alliance, calls on governments and humanitarian actors to recognise the unique needs of people with dementia, before, during and after emergencies. Many of the solutions exist already and through collaboration it can be ensured that no one is left behind in an emergency because of their dementia.
MoreThis is a collection of resources on mental health and psychosocial support relevant for humanitarian responses in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, made available by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. The resources listed also have specific relevance to how older people can be supported and protected in conflict situations. Resources are available in English, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, and Ukrainian.
MoreThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected the mental health and well-being of older people. As a high-risk group for severe disease and mortality, older people had to be especially cautious to avoid contracting the virus. Adherence to public health and social measures left them facing extended periods of social isolation, interrupted care services and exclusion from societal life. Living with the Times is a mental health and psychosocial support toolkit developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG), co-chaired by the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The toolkit specifically addresses the coping needs of older people during the pandemic. It contains five large posters and an instruction manual for caregivers that can be printed out or used on screen.
MoreThis communication toolkit contains a series of simplified messages and reminders based on WHO's technical guidance on infection prevention and control in the context of COVID-19.
MoreThis manual / toolkit is a compilation of many resources developed by HelpAge International and other agencies to address the issue of age inclusion in disaster risk management (DRM). It customises the messages to suit the need for age inclusive DRM across Asia Pacific region and other parts of the world. This toolkit outlines the process of age inclusion in programming for disaster risk reduction. It draws from existing resources developed by HelpAge International and other development agencies on age inclusive disaster risk reduction. The toolkit provides an introduction to concepts, policies and frameworks that guide disaster risk reduction, with a special focus on those linked to age and disability. This is followed by insights and tools to support age inclusion in risk assessment, planning, preparedness, resilience building and advocacy.
MoreThis good practice guide is an outcome of the research conducted by Oxford Brookes University over three years (2014-2017) evaluating the practices of six humanitarian organisations (Red Cross, Islamic Relief Worldwide, HelpAge International, Concern Worldwide, CBM International, Christian Aid International) to make their humanitarian practices more inclusive of older people and people with disabilities, as a part of the Age and Disability Capacity Programme (ADCAP). The good practice guide has identified nine change themes that organisations can embed to make their humanitarian response and planning more inclusive. Humanitarian actors can use the collection of practical examples and approaches identified in the guide, for purposes such as when: designing new inclusive programmes; adapting current programmes to make them inclusive; adjusting organisational frameworks and programming tools to make them inclusive; undertaking systematic reviews of organisational policies and practices from an inclusion perspective; reviewing and developing staff competencies on inclusion; and developing staff training tools on inclusion based on good practice examples.
MoreThis is a section dedicated to older persons taken from UNHCR’s Handbook for Emergencies, whose 4th edition was originally published in 2015 but is now available fully online and constantly updated. The Emergency Handbook guidance is published in the form of “Entries”, self-contained units of content. Entries are structured along seven main topic areas: 1. “Getting ready”: Emergency preparedness; 2. “Protecting and empowering”: Community based protection; protection interventions, asylum, specific needs, registration, legal standards and principles; 3. “Delivering the response”: Programme planning and management, sector guidance and good practises by operational context (urban, rural, camps), standards and indicators, UNHCR management procedures for administration, finance, human resources, supply and information and communication technology (ICT); 4. “Leading and coordinating”: Setting strategy, coordination, emergencies, resource mobilisation and information management; 5. “Staff well-being”: Support and advice for emergency responders, also in terms of psychological and physical well-being; 6. “Security”: Security and risk management guidance, in view of emergency responders and persons of concern; 7. “Media”: Working with journalists and mass media, including print, visual and digital media.
MoreThis online course from the World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean provides an overview of how humanitarian workers can support their communities by providing appropriate mental health and psychosocial support during emergencies. The online course also covers how to address the needs of older people during emergency situations in the subsection on caring for vulnerable populations.
MoreAge-Friendly Environments (AFE) ECHO is a multi-session learning cycle in English, aligned with the latest approaches and guidance from the World Health Organization on age-friendly cities and communities. AFE-ECHO is part of the Age-friendly Environments Mentoring Programme (MENTOR-AFE), and is an innovative opportunity for capacity building of representatives from Member States that are interested to develop age-friendly cities and communities at the national, regional, or local levels. The program structure provides a safe environment where participants can share knowledge and learn from experts and other learners through collaborative problem-solving, to gain the skills necessary to advocate and drive the age-friendly model within their own city and/or community. Key features of the AFE-ECHO course include: the learning cycle comprises 5 one hour sessions; sessions take place over a 2-month period; there is no cost to participate and all sessions are hosted using Zoom video conferencing. Participants need to be in a position where they can or will be able to influence the development of age-friendly communities so that they can apply their learning. Participants are expected to attend all 5 sessions, as the experience and knowledge is cumulative.
MoreIn the 21st century, demographic shifts are making a significant impact on the structure of populations, bringing forth the phenomenon of an ageing population. Healthy Ageing for Impact in the 21st Century gives participants the building blocks to become future leaders in this critical area. This course will provide participants with the competencies needed to work on this agenda as part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), showcasing that societal change for Healthy Ageing can be achieved at scale in an impactful manner.
MoreA joint assessment by UNHCR and HelpAge International, 'A claim to dignity: ageing on the move', has shown that older people on the move in the Americas have greater difficulties accessing their rights and services – including during the COVID-19 pandemic. This video summarises the key messages and conclusions from the joint assessment and report.
MoreGray Panthers NYC made this video to honor more than 182,000 nursing home lives tragically lost to COVID-19. Please join us in remembering these lives and pushing for a long-term care reform that will allow all older persons to live longer, healthier lives.
MoreAround the world as many as 14 million older people with disabilities are currently caught up in humanitarian crises. They are among those most at risk of being left behind when communities flee danger. Those who do reach safety often find themselves excluded from humanitarian assistance and protection. Their experiences and opinions are rarely sought. Donors, policymakers and providers must work together with older people with disabilities to end this exclusion.
MoreThis two-day meeting will bring together key stakeholders for a discussion on the gaps and fragmentation in the protection of the human rights of older persons in the international human rights law and mechanisms. The meeting will take stock of the progress made, assess the remaining challenges, identify opportunities and develop concrete proposals to accelerate efforts to close the gaps in the existing human rights protection system for older persons.
MoreThroughout the years, different stakeholders have struggled for the effective promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons. As a result, landmark steps have been taken at international level to strengthen the protection of this group, including the UN Principles for older persons (1991), the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002, the creation of the Open-Ended Working Group for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons (2010), the creation of the mandate for the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons (2013), and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), as well as the adoption of specific Resolutions in the framework of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.
MoreTo disseminate the UN Global Report on Ageism more widely, the ASEM Global Ageing Center (AGAC) is publishing its Korean translation during the ASEM Forum on Human Rights of Older Persons. The theme of the forum is Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons in Emergency Situations, and Session 4 of the forum will mark the publication of the Korean translation of the report.
MoreThis is a comprehensive list of guidance resources related to community and home-based care for older people in the context of COVID-19, maintained by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the COVID-19 Health Help Desk initiative.
MoreThe WHO Ageing Data Portal, part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform, brings together data on available global indicators relevant to monitoring the health and well-being of people aged 60 years and over. Through maps, charts and tables, the portal offers tailored options for visualization and analysis of the data. This information will strengthen the visibility of older people, help inform action to improve health and well-being in countries in line with global, regional and national commitments. The Data Portal also offers detailed country profiles to help provide more information at the national level.
MoreThis database provides a searchable list of age-friendly practices implemented by members of the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities, and beyond. In practical terms, age-friendly environments are free from physical and social barriers and supported by policies, systems, services, products and technologies that promote health and build and maintain physical and mental capacity across the life course; and enable people, even when experiencing capacity loss, to continue to do the things they value.
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