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Disaster resilience in an ageing world : how to make policies and programmes inclusive of older people

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
2014

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“This publication aims to promote age-inclusive resilience-building among practitioners and policy-makers. It gives a comprehensive overview of how resilience-building programmes should be designed and implemented to ensure the inclusion of older people. It also highlights the benefits of including and empowering older people through DRR and resilience-building activities. By applying an older people lens to DRR programming, which involves assessing the specific vulnerabilities and capacities of older people and encouraging them to take a more proactive role, we can support older people to become more resilient – with wide ranging benefits for themselves, their families, and their wider communities. We have included case studies to highlight good practice, demonstrating what can be achieved by working for and with older people” 

Sustainable development in an ageing world : a call to UN member states on the development agenda beyond 2015

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
AARP OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION ON AGING
September 2013

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This paper responds to UN discourse and highlights that the post-2015 development framework should be inclusive of older people along with others and address the rights and needs of people of all ages. It provides recommendations to the UN Member States with regard to ageing and the post 2015 agenda

Mainstreaming ageing into the post-2015 process

BEALES, Sylvia
March 2012

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This policy brief presents information supporting an accountable, rights-based and age-inclusive post-2015 policy framework that supports people across their life course, and across social, economic and environmental domains. It oulines the core issues, areas for action and related recommendations

Psychosocial care and support for older carers of orphaned and vulnerable children : policy guidelines

MLILO, Ncazelo
MEINTJES, Berenice
2011

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This policy guideline is "intended to offer a concise description of the concept of psychosocial support and how it relates to older carers of orphaned and vulnerable children in a time of HIV and AIDS. It offers recommended strategic focus areas which may be used to influence policies which provide support for older carers. Policy makers may find the guidelines helpful in providing ideas to effect changes that will improve the wellbeing of older carers"

Psychosocial care and support for older carers of orphaned and vulnerable children : programming guidelines

REGIONAL PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT INITIATIVE (REPSSI)
HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
2011

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"These guidelines were especially developed with the aim of impacting on the wellbeing of older carers living in situations of poverty and in a time of HIV and AIDS. The aim of this set of resource materials is to enable home based caregivers, development facilitators and peer counsellors to have relevant information and guidance on strengthening psychosocial care and support to older carers. The ideas proposed can be used individually or in groups as resource materials...The guideline comes in eight units...Each unit begins with an introductory section which gives community caregivers important background information about the topic being discussed. Each section is accompanied by four types of activities: reflection exercises, case studies, practical application and finally planning exercises and general tips...A range of annexes is appended to this guideline for more detailed reference to issues raised in the unit discussions"

Humanitarian response for older people in Haiti : three months on

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
2010

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"This review is a snapshot of how the cluster system and individual agencies have supported and integrated older people’s needs into emergency response and relief efforts in the first three months after Haiti’s earthquake. The report provides an overview of what is being done to address older people’s needs; highlights any areas of good practice; assesses challenges; and recommends ways forward to ensure a more comprehensive response to the needs of all vulnerable groups"

The impact of HIV/AIDS on older people in Cambodia

JOHN, Kylie
SAINSBURY, Candice
2009

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This report presents the findings of a study in 15 rural villages to obtain information on the roles of older people in HIV/AIDS affected households and to identify potential interventions to meet their financial, psychosocial and other support needs. Research methods included case studies, in-depth interviews and focus groups with older carers of children in Cambodia to understand their problems and to explore their support needs. The findings demonstrated that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has led to significant changes in the responsibilities and needs of older people and that older people in HIV/AIDS affected households are vulnerable to extreme poverty, and at times, destitution. The report concludes with recommendations for possible local response interventions to address the needs of older people impacted by HIV/AIDS

Salt, soap and shoes for school: evaluation report|The impact of pensions on the lives of older people and grandchildren in the KwaWazee project in Tanzania’s Kagera region

HOFMANN, Stefan
et al
August 2008

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This report examines the findings of a project supporting older people and their dependents in Tanzania. It reveals that even small pensions are effective in bringing stability and dignity to the lives of older people and help to improve the quality of life of other household members

An untapped resource : how supporting older people with social protection will help achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs)

PEARSON, Anna
SLEAP, Bridget
WALKER, Astrid
2008

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This report finds that interventions aimed at achieving the MDGs must also respond to the intergenerational nature of poverty and to rapid population ageing. It asserts that it is essential to adopt a rights-based approach because this will ensure the needs of the poorest and most marginalised groups are met

Rebuilding lives in longer-term emergencies : older people's experience in Darfur

BRAMUCCI, Gina
2006

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This report draws on experiences of working in West Darfur and in comparable protracted emergencies to suggest ways to identify and respond to these longer-term needs among older people and their families. It also advocates for the integration of ..."work with older people into a broader cross-generational approach that helps to build the capacity of communities affected by protracted conflict and violence, so that they can function effectively beyond the period of the crisis"

Age and security : how social pensions can deliver effective aid to poor older people and their families. Summary report

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
2004

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This is a summary of a report published by HelpAge International, which highlights the benefits of non-contributory pensions for older people. Social pension schemes (either universal or means tested) are in place in a number of developing countries, including Senegal, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh and India and the evidence shows that they are effective means of ensuring that basic material needs are met. The report argues that social pensions will: help achieve the Millennium Development Goals; contribute to the human rights agenda; effectively target aid at minimum cost and improve the life chances of orphans and vulnerable children

HIV/AIDS and ageing : a briefing paper

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
2003

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This briefing paper outlines the difficulties related to HIV that are facing an aging population. It challenges the notion that older people are not vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection, outlines why they are being missed by information and service campaigns, describes difficulties associated with caring for their children and grandchildren who have become sick with AIDS. It takes a rights-based approach in advocating for the inclusion of older people in awareness and service provision programmes, and calls for more research into the effects of HIV/AIDS on an aging population. It points out the value of older people as agents of change and care-givers and argues for directed benefits to older people. It ends with an agenda for action on recognising the intergenerational nature and socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS

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