VOICES OF ELDERLYVOICES OF ELDERLYrecommendations- Madrid Plan recommendations- Madrid Plan

of Actionof Action

Mathew CherianMathew Cherian

Chief Executive, HelpAge IndiaChief Executive, HelpAge India

Older persons Access to Food, Older persons Access to Food, Shelter and Medical CareShelter and Medical Care

Rushed to Tsunami Areas on 27 Rushed to Tsunami Areas on 27 DecDec

Treatment started for all for Treatment started for all for injuries, and other ailmentsinjuries, and other ailments

Moved Vans from Bangalore, Moved Vans from Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore to the Chennai and Coimbatore to the coastcoast

Use of about 200 volunteers Use of about 200 volunteers from colleges in Tamilandu and from colleges in Tamilandu and doctors.doctors.

Health needs continue from day Health needs continue from day 1 all through the year.1 all through the year.

Major ailments are respiratory Major ailments are respiratory and lung infections in older and lung infections in older persons.persons.

Ensure access to care .Ensure access to care .

Restoring livelihoods and income- Restoring livelihoods and income- Disaster Programmes need to focus Disaster Programmes need to focus

on livelihoods for elderlyon livelihoods for elderly Kallipattu, Kovalam 50 Kallipattu, Kovalam 50

kms south of Chennaikms south of Chennai Lost all members of familyLost all members of family Now runs a saree shop. Now runs a saree shop. Specific destitute elderly Specific destitute elderly

have been taken by have been taken by HelpAge ( 2000 elders HelpAge ( 2000 elders under Adopt a Gran)under Adopt a Gran)

HelpAge provided Access to Food HelpAge provided Access to Food with Dignity- 12000 older persons with Dignity- 12000 older persons

Month 0+ ..1mMonth 0+ ..1m Leelama 72 collecting food Leelama 72 collecting food

rations at Cuddalore.rations at Cuddalore. Many older people Many older people

complained of unsuitability complained of unsuitability of food supplied by other of food supplied by other agencies during relief agencies during relief operationsoperations

Many complained that they Many complained that they were unable to stand in were unable to stand in long queueslong queues

Many complained that they Many complained that they could’nt compete with could’nt compete with younger people.younger people.

Acess to TraumaCounselling Month Acess to TraumaCounselling Month 1+..1+..

Grief CounsellingGrief Counselling Immediate needs were food and temporary Immediate needs were food and temporary

shelter.shelter. After that psycho social needs were After that psycho social needs were

addressed.addressed. Counselling to older women and men, Counselling to older women and men,

varying sleep disorders detectedvarying sleep disorders detected HelpAge mobile medical units along with HelpAge mobile medical units along with

Psycho Social counselorPsycho Social counselor

Income Security and Social Security Income Security and Social Security provisions of Social pensions- provisions of Social pensions- Lobbying with Govt( GO 380)Lobbying with Govt( GO 380)

HelpAge India managed to release social HelpAge India managed to release social pensions for social security. Inclusion of dalits and pensions for social security. Inclusion of dalits and lower castes in the list. Photos and enrollment lower castes in the list. Photos and enrollment organised by HelpAge for Govt.organised by HelpAge for Govt.

Important achievement as 6 months pending Important achievement as 6 months pending pensions were paid by Government for all poor pensions were paid by Government for all poor elderly right across the coast of Tamilnadu, and elderly right across the coast of Tamilnadu, and temporary ration cards (many were lost)temporary ration cards (many were lost)

Ensuring a regular cash income post Disaster is Ensuring a regular cash income post Disaster is important for all people more so for the elderly.important for all people more so for the elderly.

Participation of Older People -Boats Participation of Older People -Boats for 300 older persons- Livelihoods for 300 older persons- Livelihoods

Month 4 +Month 4 + Livelihood Restoration in Livelihood Restoration in

Elderly self Help Groups in Elderly self Help Groups in fishing communities ( 128 fishing communities ( 128 ESHG’s formed)ESHG’s formed)

Group formation is Group formation is essential for taking care of essential for taking care of group needs and day care group needs and day care when growing olderwhen growing older

Assets and title in the Assets and title in the name of older personsname of older persons

THE HOLDING STRUCTURE- THE FUTURE – REDUCTION OF POVERTY

BOTTOM UP – DEMAND SIDE

Month 6- Community Centres for Month 6- Community Centres for Day CareDay Care

Multi-purpose Community CentresMulti-purpose Community Centres for the for the elderly and construction and maintenance of a elderly and construction and maintenance of a cyclone resistant shelter.cyclone resistant shelter.

Long term support necessary for elders in Long term support necessary for elders in groups.HelpAge India prefers this approach and groups.HelpAge India prefers this approach and has left home construction to Government has left home construction to Government agencies.agencies.

Prevention from displacement is an important Prevention from displacement is an important issue relating to protection of elders.issue relating to protection of elders.

Advocacy with other agencies and Advocacy with other agencies and the governmentthe government

Older people are equally affected, people from lower Older people are equally affected, people from lower castes need special attention.castes need special attention.

Agencies need to look at special needs of elderlyAgencies need to look at special needs of elderly Pensions , Rations and Cash transfers are necessary post Pensions , Rations and Cash transfers are necessary post

disaster.disaster. Livelihoods in Groups and Long term protectionLivelihoods in Groups and Long term protection Day Care and Community Care for elderlyDay Care and Community Care for elderly Report released by Chairman Planning Comission, Mr Report released by Chairman Planning Comission, Mr

Montek Singh AhluwaliaMontek Singh Ahluwalia UNDPUNDP supported Tamil Nadu Tsunami Resource Centre supported Tamil Nadu Tsunami Resource Centre

organized a workshop on organized a workshop on “Women and Elderly in “Women and Elderly in Tsunami” on the 31st August’05 in Chennai. HelpAge India Tsunami” on the 31st August’05 in Chennai. HelpAge India made its recommendations and organised the event.made its recommendations and organised the event.

One year laterOne year later

Candle light memorial Candle light memorial on the beach..on the beach..

Lessons learntLessons learnt

Recovery is more than just cash reliefRecovery is more than just cash relief Partnerships are the key to recovery and HelpAge India Partnerships are the key to recovery and HelpAge India

and International and local NGO’s worked together. The and International and local NGO’s worked together. The Local NGOs provided the local knowledge.Local NGOs provided the local knowledge.

Older people can also help in all phases of work.Older people can also help in all phases of work. Community Groups are important in recovery process.Community Groups are important in recovery process. Cash transfer and social pensions are useful methods in Cash transfer and social pensions are useful methods in

recovery of older people.recovery of older people. Transparency and Accountability are important and our Transparency and Accountability are important and our

social mapping and information has helped in community social mapping and information has helped in community programmesprogrammes

Social infrastructure AND FUTURE needs to be built after Social infrastructure AND FUTURE needs to be built after disasters.disasters.