Older carers

This section looks at issues relating to older people who provide care for orphans and other vulnerable children. Other sections look, in general, at issues facing carers and in detail at child-headed households.

Key points about older people and HIV/AIDS are:

1. Older people are sexually active and vulnerable to being infected with HIV. They also take on much of the burden of caring for children and sick adults. Much of this burden falls on women.

2. Poverty is the main problem facing most older carers. Their income is often declining because of age. Their caring responsibilities mean they have less time available to generate income.

Older People and HIV/AIDS

Older people are sexually active and vulnerable to being infected with HIV. They also take on much of the burden of caring for children and sick adults. Much of this burden falls on women.

Poverty and Older Carers

Poverty is the main problem facing most older carers. Their income is often declining because of age. Their caring responsibilities mean they have less time available to generate income.

Other Issues

Other issues affecting older carers include:

Stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. In some situations, older people have been accused of witchcraft because of this.
Older people may be denied their rights. These rights include access to information and health care. They also involve being treated equally and fairly.
Older people may also be frail and in need of care and support themselves.
Information about HIV/AIDS is rarely focused on older people.
Research into HIV/AIDS and its effects often excludes older people.

Resources

Living Together, Mozambique: Project Profile: How to Keep Children in School: Support the Grandparents (Eng)

This is a very brief case study of a project being supported in Mozambique by Help Age International and UNICEF. It focuses on providing support to older carers.
Help Age International/UNICEF, 2003, PDF, 2 pages, 87 kb.

HIV/AIDS and Ageing: A Briefing Paper (Eng)

This briefing paper looks at a variety of ways in which HIV/AIDS impacts on older people.
Help Age International, 2003, PDF, 15 pages, 115 kb.

HIV/AIDS and Older People: the African Situation (Eng)

This leaflet looks at the issues relating to older people and HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Help Age International, 2002, PDF, 2 pages, 74 kb.

Meeting on African Children Without Family Care; Windhoek, Namibia; 30 November 2002 (Eng)

At this meeting participants shared knowledge, information, concerns, experience, and possible solutions relating to alternative forms of care for children without family care in Africa.
UNICEF, USAID, FHI, 2002, PDF, 15 pages, 145 kb.

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Building Blocks: Africa-wide Briefing Notes: Supporting Older Carers (Eng)

This document is part of a series focused on supporting those working with orphans and other vulnerable children in communities in Africa. This one focuses on supporting older carers.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance/Help Age International, 2004, PDF, 32 pages, 281 kb.

Building Blocks: Africa-wide Briefing Notes: Supporting Older Carers (Fre)

Building Blocks: Africa-wide Briefing Notes: Supporting Older Carers (Por)

Ageing and development. News and analysis of issues affecting the lives of older people (Eng)

This is a newsletter focusing on older people in developing countries and the issues they face. This issue explores the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of older people.
HelpAge International, 2004, PDF, 416KB, 12 pages

Forgotten families, Older people as carers of orphans and vulnerable children (Eng)

This report draws on the experience of programmes in Africa and Asia to give policymakers and others tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic an overview of the issues, as identified by older people themselves.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance/HelpAge International, 2003, PDF, 249kb, 28 pages

Participatory research with older people: a sourcebook (Eng)

This is a non-specialist sourcebook designed to help with all stages of participatory research with older people, and offers a clear overview of the whole process which will be particularly helpful when designing research.
HelpAge International, 2002, PDF, 427kb, 96 pages

Caring for the future: Coping strategies, support programmes and policy responses for olderpeople caring for orphans and other vulnerable children in Africa (Eng)

This document outlines coping strategies, support programmes and policy responses for older people caring for orphans and other vulnerable children in Africa
HelpAge International, 2004, PDF, 80kb, 5 pages

Impact of AIDS on older people in Africa: Zimbabwe case study (Eng)

This is a report of a pilot study investigating the impact of HIV and AIDS on older people in Zimbabwe
World Health Organisation, 2002, PDF, 1240kb, 59 pages