Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

Health in older age
Overall, participants note improvements in health
promotion initiatives and in the general provision of,
and access to, health-care services. However, they
continue to face problems relating to the cost of
health-care services and medicines, and to the length
of waiting lists. In all regions, the rising cost of
medicines, medical consultations, home care and
transport are highlighted as a source of stress and
anxiety. Participants described short-sighted policies
– for example, providing free health consultations
but requiring payment for expensive basic medicines
which are often not stocked in regular pharmacies
or at health-care centres.
When discussing barriers to accessing health care,
many participants, particularly in developing countries
and the countries of Eastern and Southern Europe,
refer to a lack of medicines and equipment to treat and
diagnose age-related diseases. They also say that they
often experience the behaviour of health professionals
as a barrier to receiving the health care they need.
In many cases, they are told that their health issue is
“part of the old-age disease”, which cannot be treated,
or that they are seen as a burden.
Enabling and supportive environments
When discussing the physical environment,
participants say that the most pressing issue is the
safety and accessibility of public transport, which
allows them to visit family and friends and access
services. Many participants express dissatisfaction
with the state of the roads, bus services and the cost of
public transport. However, even when transport is free,
which they see as a great improvement, many of those
taking part in the consultations speak about bus drivers
who lack respect for them, sometimes ignoring them
and even leaving them behind when they are standing
at the bus stop. The cost and accessibility of local
transport also remain major concerns in rural and
urban areas alike.
Further exploration of the issue of age discrimination
and images of ageing reveals examples of abuse, mainly
by family members, ranging from violent disputes over
property and assets to neglect when an older person
is dependent on the care of others. Many participants
also express concern that they do not feel respected
by their family or wider society. They would like their
contributions to receive more recognition and they
value being respected and, for example, being given
priority in public places.
A seamstress from Sri Lanka with a sewing machine bought
with a loan from her older people’s association. Older people speak
of difficulties in accessing credit.
Reports from participants indicate that older women are
at particular risk of discrimination, including cases of
killings related to allegations of witchcraft. The majority
of participants also feel that the media generally does
not project an appropriate image of older people and
often portrays them in a negative light.
Mayur Paul/HelpAge International
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