“I find helping older people incredibly rewarding. My home visits help older people in so many ways. I am able to take care of some of their healthcare needs such as checking their blood pressure or diabetes”
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.
“My name is Muayad, and I was one of the first to join a local organisation called Hope Revival, as a specialist healthcare worker caring for older patients.
I find helping older people incredibly rewarding. My home visits help older people in so many ways. I am able to take care of some of their healthcare needs such as checking their blood pressure or diabetes, all the way through to making a practical difference to their lives by cooking them nutritional meals or cleaning their homes. Sometimes I help them with transport so that they can attend vital medical appointments. Health specialists like me, who can travel to older people homes, make a real difference to the older people I see psychologically too. My visits bring extra social interaction and boosts their well-being.”
The impact of the earthquakes on older peoples’ lives
“Immediately after the earthquakes I helped older people secure decent shelter and basic health services such as surgical and reconstructive operations. Nowadays, I am at the centre of longer-term medical treatment for those coping with chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart problems or those being rehabilitated since they were injured in the earthquakes.
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.”
Offering practical so 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.
“We now provide them [older people] with complete nutrition plans, and help them take care of their homes, such as taking care of their cleanliness, and securing all the necessary supplies.
As many older people continue to live in their temporary shelters, visits from healthcare workers such as myself 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.