Transcript Maher
Intergenerational Poverty Jo Maher HIV & AIDS Coordinator HelpAge International 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 Care Phase of HIV Family life sans HIV Generation of Family Children/ Young Generation Parents/ Middle Generation Grandparents/ Older Generation Phase 1 Weakening of family & loss of income Phase 2 Morbidity & mortality Phase 3 Older person as head of family Phase 4 Grandchildren reach working age •School •Cared For by parents •Warmth & Care •School most of the time •Caring breaking down •Lack of warmth •School absentee •Caring neglect •Trauma of death of parents •School on/off •Cared for by Grandparents •Loss of parents •Finish school & find work •Care for grandparents •Pressure to support •Economic Earners •Care Providers for elderly & children •Work on/off •Health weakening •Concern for children •Stop Work •Sick •Stress & physical pain •Death •Deceased •Deceased •Retired from work •Cared for by Adult children •Secure •Supplement family income •Care for children & sick adults •Insecure •Sole economic providers •Carers for sick & children •Stress of Caring •Earners •Carers •Worry & weary •Retire •Cared for by grandchildren •Some security Older people’s time QuickTime™ and a Sorenson Video 3 decompressor are needed to see this picture. The cost of care Rural Mozambique: Cost of caring for a child Cost of caring for a person living with HIV Income of an older person = $21 = $30 = $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 1% Source: Pensions Watch, HAI, 2006 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 meanstested 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 scheme Basic 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