Jo MaherHIV & AIDS Coordinator

HelpAge International

Intergenerational Poverty

Older people

• The proportion of older people is increasing

• Older People are consistently among the poorest

• Older people are often ‘invisible’ or ignored

• Increasing interdependence between older and younger people

The impact of HIV and AIDS

90% of AIDS related care is provided at home, often by older women.

Up to two-thirds of people living with AIDS are cared for by their parents in their 60s and 70s.

Over 60% of orphaned children live in households headed by their grandparents in severely affected countries

The Cycle of CarePhase of HIV

Generation of Family

Children/Young

Generation

Parents/Middle

Generation

Grandparents/Older Generation

Family life sans HIV

•School•Cared For by parents•Warmth & Care

•Economic Earners•Care Providers for elderly & children

•Retired from work•Cared for by Adult children•Secure

Phase 1Weakening of

family & loss of income

•School most of the time•Caring breaking down•Lack of warmth

•Work on/off•Health weakening•Concern for children

•Supplement family income•Care for children & sick adults•Insecure

Phase 2Morbidity &

mortality

•School absentee•Caring neglect•Trauma of death of parents

•Stop Work•Sick•Stress & physical pain•Death

•Sole economic providers•Carers for sick & children•Stress of Caring

Phase 3Older person as head of family

•School on/off•Cared for by Grandparents•Loss of parents

•Deceased

•Earners•Carers•Worry & weary

Phase 4Grandchildren

reach working age

•Finish school & find work•Care for grandparents•Pressure to support

•Deceased

•Retire•Cared for by grandchildren•Some security

Older people’s time

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The cost of care

Rural Mozambique: Cost of caring for a child = $21Cost of caring for a person living with HIV = $30Income of an older person = $12

Tanzania:Tanga: Cost of caring for a child TSh25,000 ($19)Pera: Older women spent 80% of their time looking after children

2005: < 10% of households supporting children were reached Declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS: five years later. Report of General Secretary, 2006

Social protection in the form of a social pension

Realise older people’s rights

Reduce poverty

Tackle HIV and AIDS

Effectively support the most vulnerable

Older people and decent work

Older people work:

• A high proportion are economically active

• Older people’s capacity to earn income is often low

• Often work is under recognised, under valued and under paid

Universal social pensions

After a lifetime of work older people have a right to a pension:

• Pensions reduce old-age and household poverty

• Pensions are affordable

• Universal right to social security and to a secure old age

Universal social pensions as % of GDP

Source: Pensions Watch, HAI, 2006

1% 2%

Universal social pensions - coverage

In 17 countries surveyed, 24.3 million people over 60 receive a social pension.

83% do not receive a social pension because they are means-tested or the age limit is set too high.Source: Pensions Watch, HAI 2006

The impact of pensions

Lesotho old age pension

Basic consumption, services for older people and dependents, income generation.

Ethiopia Meket cash for relief programme

Mothers able to spend time with children, livelihoods protected from shocks

Zambia Kalomo pilot cash transfer schemeBasic consumption, school related expenditure, investment

Mozambique food subsidy programme

Income invested in informal saving schemes during harvest

Older Citizens Monitoring: Promoting good governance and uptake of pensions in Bangladesh

• Older people formed associations

• Monitored allowances and access to health services

• Discovered low take up

• Lobbying improved coverage and delivery

Core recommendations

Implement social transfers as a right and entitlement

Introduce national instruments with costs integrated into national development plans

Incorporate cash transfers into a bigger social protection package

Ensure that transfers are regular, predictable and sufficient to ensure the most positive impact on wellbeing

Make universal schemes clear and simple

A time of opportunity