As part of the HelpAge Global Network, HelpAge USA advances the wellbeing and inclusion of older people around the world. We work with the news media to provide background, expert interviews, and other information and to ensure that the voices, stories, and contributions of older people are recognized and heard.
When disaster strikes, older people are often among the hardest hit. Social isolation and inaccessible services can make it difficult for them to secure food, water, medical care, and safe shelter in the ways that other people can. In Myanmar, the recent earthquake highlighted these challenges, leaving thousands of older people facing urgent and life-threatening
In recent days, northern Pakistan has been hit by devastating floods that have killed more than 340 people and displaced at least 160,000. Homes, livelihoods, and health care services have been destroyed, leaving communities struggling to survive. For older people, the situation is particularly dangerous. Many older Pakistanis are stranded, unable to walk to safety or
The world’s oldest humanitarian crisis: Millions of older Ukrainians continue to suffer after three years of war After more than three years of conflict, millions of older Ukrainians are facing a deepening crisis, according to a new HelpAge report released today. Older people make up one quarter of the country’s population but accounted for half
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
On Earth Day 2025, HelpAge USA and the University of Southern California Institute on Inequalities in Global Health (IIGH) co-hosted a global webinar on the critical intersection of climate change, older people, and community action. The event spotlighted the views of HelpAge USA’s Friendship Bench DC Grandparents, alongside global examples of how older people are leading the way in responding to climate-related challenges. Moderated
