Age-inclusive health care in humanitarian emergencies
01/15/2025
A recent systematic review in The Lancet Healthy Longevity highlights critical gaps in understanding and addressing health needs of older adults in humanitarian contexts. As global conflicts, climate-related events, and other environmental disasters increase in severity, the need for age-inclusive health care is critical.
“There are gaps in what we know about the health problems older adults face in crises, but we do know there are significant barriers to accessing age-appropriate care,” said Jason Nickerson, PhD, Investigator at Bruyère Health Research Institute and Humanitarian Representative to Canada for Doctors Without Borders. “We need to better understand and address barriers and health needs in emergencies.”
Older adults face a wide range of barriers to care during emergencies, including inaccessibility of services (including if they are too far or unsafe to reach), a lack of geriatric expertise from health care providers who are not equipped to address the unique needs of older adults, and broadly, age discrimination, leading to neglect or mistreatment.
Even the challenges individuals face, such as poor mobility, low health literacy, and dependency on others for access to care, can exacerbate barriers.
Is there a way to better support older populations during emergencies? The review’s authors suggest prioritizing response and research efforts of aging populations in conflict settings, humanitarian emergencies in understudied regions, and focusing on neglected health issues, including mental health conditions, communicable diseases, neurocognitive disorders, and nutrition.
Review authors emphasized that older adults’ participation in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care services can significantly improve the accessibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of care. Ensuring that older adults are not just receiving care but are active contributors to health care planning is essential to improving outcomes in a disaster response.
“This is a starting point for improving the care we provide to older adults in emergencies,” said Nickerson. “As we continue to study this area, we have a chance to better understand the health needs of older adults and promote health equity for older adults.”
Health needs of older people and age-inclusive health care in humanitarian emergencies in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review was published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.