A groundbreaking report by The Fred Hollows Foundation and CBM Australia has unveiled a critical issue: the intersection of ageism and ableism systematically disadvantages older people with disabilities in development and humanitarian crises. The report exposes significant gaps in policies and programs, rendering this vulnerable population invisible and excluding them from essential support.
Dr Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez, who spearheaded the research at The Fred Hollows Foundation, highlighted a fundamental misconception. “Disability is normalised in older age as if it were an inevitable part of ageing,” she explained. “This misconception undermines efforts to remove the barriers to participation and access to services faced by older people with disabilities.”
The report reveals a consistent underrepresentation of this demographic in decision-making processes. “As a result, their unique needs are frequently overlooked in development and humanitarian programmes, including access to assistive technologies or specialised services for individuals with cognitive decline,” Dr de la Fuente-Núñez added.
Kerryn Clarke, Head of Policy and Advocacy at CBM Australia, emphasised the compounding effect of gaps between ageing and disability programs and legal protections. “For example, in some countries older people are forced to choose between old-age benefits and disability allowances, reducing their financial security,” she stated.
The need for urgent policy changes is underscored by rapidly ageing global populations and the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and over in the Indo-Pacific is projected to soar from 466 million in 2015 to 1.14 billion. This region, vulnerable to natural disasters, often sees older people with disabilities facing restricted access to healthcare and heightened safety risks. “For example, evacuation warnings tend to rely on visual or auditory cues, leaving older people with visual or hearing impairments unable to access this critical information,” Dr de la Fuente-Núñez noted.
The report highlights a glaring lack of effective practices addressing the intersection of ageing and disability, despite existing research on each area separately. To address this, the report provides key recommendations for governments, Older People’s Associations (OPAs), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and the development and humanitarian sectors.
Recommendations include developing inclusive policies and laws, providing targeted support programs like accessible warning systems, fostering better collaboration between agencies, implementing comprehensive education programs to dispel stereotypes, enhancing research and data collection, ensuring meaningful representation in decision-making, and sharing successful initiatives globally.
“This report is a call to action to create a more inclusive and equitable future for older people with disabilities,” the report states. By addressing the intersecting biases of ageism and ableism, we can ensure that no one is left behind in development and humanitarian policy and practice.
This article was first published in Third Sector.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
