The community making the world a better, fairer place for older people

Alison Marshall

CEO, Age International

Everyone, regardless of age, deserves to live their life with dignity and respect. That’s why Age International has created ‘Grandparents United.’

Life in the Thar Desert, in north-west India, is tough. Getting water every day often means a gruelling trek over many hours. Inayado, 70, told us that this left her little time or energy for anything else. Age International supports a local organisation to install rainwater harvesting tanks, which are then owned and maintained by older people in the community.

Inayado had one of these water tanks installed in her village, and it transformed her life. Now, not only does she have access to clean water nearby, but it’s also given her a sense of pride and respect. She shares: “Since the tank was constructed, I’ve gained respect. People in the community see what we’ve done.”

Help older people live with dignity and respect

Many older people, like Inayado, struggle to access what they need to live with dignity. Age International believes in building a fairer world with older people. They are bringing together supporters who share this belief. Grandparents United is a community of people who donate monthly to Age International.

The community helps to fund healthcare,
life-saving emergency support and
income security for older people.

Sharing the challenges and the joys that ageing brings

Signing up to Grandparents United enables supporters to join a growing group of people who understand the challenges but also the joys that ageing can bring. The community helps to fund healthcare, life-saving emergency support and income security for older people around the world living in poverty and facing some of life’s most challenging situations.

It also helps fund initiatives such as older persons associations, which are run by older people and provide much-valued social connections. You don’t need to be a grandparent to join Grandparents United; you just need to believe that together, we can make a real and long-lasting difference for older people.