Muayad, 24, is delivering tailored healthcare to older people
On 6 February 2023, two major earthquakes hit southern Türkiye and northern Syria. While the disaster affected people of all ages, the impact was more severe on older people, many of whom have limited mobility, chronic health conditions, and who may have been more socially isolated.
“I provide older people with primary health care, such as measuring blood pressure, measuring diabetes, and analysing blood haemoglobin. I help them with their daily tasks during my periodic visits to their homes, and I also help them travel to health centres or to visit their relatives.”
“My name is Muayad. I am a health care worker who specialises in helping older people.”
“When the Hope Revival organisation (Age International local partner in Syria) proposed a project to care for older people, I was quick to join because it was the first project to focus on this group that I truly cared about.”
“Helping older people brings a lot of feelings of self-satisfaction. I provide older people with primary health care, such as measuring blood pressure, measuring diabetes, and analysing blood haemoglobin. I help them with their daily tasks during my periodic visits to their homes, and I also help them travel to health centres or to visit their relatives.”
They thank us and grant us with beautiful prayers and bring us an indescribable feeling of happiness. Our visits directly make a clear difference in their lives, as some of them were in a bad psychological state [after the earthquakes] and most of them neglected taking care of their physical health because they were unable to, or could not go to health centres or bear the costs of treatment.”
The impact of the earthquakes on older people’s lives
“The first days were very difficult, and I can say that even until now, months after the disaster, we are still suffering from the shock of the earthquakes, and the shock caused by the fear that accompanied us for many weeks due to the continuous aftershocks.
The earthquake not only affected the families directly injured, but it also harmed the patients who were neglected as a result of the limited health capabilities available.”
“There were many people who did not accept medical treatment and refused to follow-up on treatment for their health condition due to the shock they suffered from the loss of a relative or the loss of a child. Of course, after they got therapy, their psychological condition improved and they returned to accepting treatment as before.”
“If the organisation had not existed, the majority of people would still have had psychological problems because there are no psychological staff to attend to this number or treat these people.”
Offering practical help to older people’s needs
Today, Hope Revival helps provide older people with psychosocial support, assistive products such as walkers, crutches and wheelchairs, home healthcare visits as well as transport when needed. Key to this work, is helping integrate older people back into society and preventing further isolation and loneliness.
As many older people continue to live in their temporary shelters, visits from healthcare workers such as Muayad will continue to make a huge difference.
When crisis and disaster hit, older people’s needs are often ignored. Thanks to the support of the Grandparents United community, Age International and our partners can provide more essential services, like tailored healthcare to older people who may otherwise be forgotten.