News Room

WASHINGTON, DC — A new evaluation of Friendship Bench DC—an official adaptation of the Friendship Bench model developed in Zimbabwe and led by HelpAge USA—reveals that community-based, culturally grounded emotional support can lead to measurable improvements in mental health and help rebuild trust in care among those historically underserved or overlooked by traditional systems. The evaluation, conducted

New research finds Age Inclusion Specialists catalyze a more inclusive and participatory humanitarian system Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2025) — HelpAge USA, in partnership with HelpAge International, today released a new report documenting an innovative initiative to advance the inclusion of older people during humanitarian crises. Older people are among those most at risk in armed

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, with its epicenter located near Sagaing city, 12 miles northwest of Mandalay. The earthquake, the worst in over a century, was followed by strong aftershocks, further shaking a region already dealing with conflict and displacement. Sagaing is home to 1.3 million internally displaced persons

At HelpAge USA, we are deeply concerned about the devastating global impacts of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding freeze, particularly its consequences for older people, who are often among the hardest hit in humanitarian crises. The sudden loss of funding for critical programs means that millions of older people—many of whom already

Bangladesh is at the heart of the climate crisis, with its population increasingly feeling the impact of extreme weather events.   Among its citizens, older people are particularly at risk, yet they remain a largely overlooked group in climate action.   “I can feel how the temperature, rain, cold, and even the harshness of the river and sea