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Forgotten families: older people as carers of orphans and vulnerable children
- Author:
- HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
- Publishers:
- International HIV/AIDS Alliance, HelpAge International
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This report shows that provided appropriate support is available, older people and orphans and vulnerable children can overcome some of the challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The case studies featured in this report describe innovative ways of dealing with some of the difficulties faced by older-headed households. These community-driven programmes demonstrate the impact that minimal additional resources and appropriate technical support can have. They cover a wide range of responses, including the use of non-contributory pension schemes in South Africa, home-care services in Zambia (which have enabled families to stay together), and training for older people to be counsellors in Sudan. In Vietnam, older people’s clubs, led by local leaders, are helping older people to cope with the stigma and discrimination in their communities.If international commitments on HIV/AIDS and poverty reduction are to be met, the report suggests that the following recommendations need to be implemented at local, national and international levels: provide direct income support to address the financial needs of older carers of orphans and vulnerable children; ensure policies and programmes designed to meet the health needs of families affected by HIV/AIDS include older people and orphans and vulnerable children; ensure access to universal and flexible education services for orphans and vulnerable children that recognise their changing roles, time commitments and financial constraints; provide older people with information and training on HIV/AIDS and the rights of children and older people develop policies and programmes that address the psychosocial needs of older carers and orphans and vulnerable children ensure the involvement and participation of older carers and orphans and vulnerable children, in community structures, and in formulating national policy for poverty reduction and supporting families affected by HIV/AIDS; undertake research and collect comprehensive age-disaggregated data on the needs and roles of older people and orphans and vulnerable children, to design HIV/AIDS interventions that are inclusive of older people.