Older people in Ukraine at risk of being left behind

Volodymyr & Zina live in a frontline village in Eastern Ukraine. With ongoing shelling, they are living in their basement with a basic set up of bed, chairs and dishes.

Age International – the international arm of Age UK – has been working in Eastern Ukraine since 2014 where more than four million people, a disproportionate number of them older, were directly affected by military conflict. With partner HelpAge International, Age International has been providing aid to those older people affected and helping to rebuild their lives. Eight years later, we find that older people are again at huge risk from a second conflict in Ukraine, with parts of Eastern and Southern Ukraine severely impacted. Millions of people are fleeing for their lives, seeking safety in other parts of Ukraine or even over the border to neighbouring countries such as Moldova, Poland and Romania. However, older people and those with disabilities are at risk of being left behind without care or support. Many cannot escape from affected areas nor seek shelter from bombings due to lack of mobility. They are also at risk of violence and neglect. For older people left behind, life has become lonely, and days are punctuated by nearby shelling.

Olga, 71, lives alone in a village where the closest bomb shelter is several kilometres away. She can hardly walk due to pain in her legs and joints and does not own a car. She said: “I constantly hear explosions, and I don’t know if they will reach me. Everyone needs peace and quiet: children, adults, and older people. I do not want to worry about the lives of my children and grandchildren, and about what will happen to me tomorrow.” Ekaterina, 70, is a widow whose two daughters live in Russia. In 2011 she fractured her hip due to osteoporosis and has had trouble walking since. She said: “I am feeling very lonely. Because of the conflict, my daughters can’t come to me. I live on the line of contact, where they shoot almost every day. The shelling is what worries me the most. What if they hit the house, and blast the windows, roof, doors out? Who will help me?” In March 2022, the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) launched its Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and has raised more than £260 million so far. Age International and its local partners have already supported 11,000 older people and their families, providing 150,000 hot meals, medications and hygiene kits, as well as providing mental health support for older people and their families in Ukraine and those seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.

For more information about Age International’s work in Ukraine or to donate go to www.ageinternational.org.uk/ukraine

Celebrating our love of stories and storytelling

We are a nation of storytellers. A big part of our lives is devoted to telling or writing stories about what we did, where we went, and who we spent time with. The love of stories is hardwired into us all. It is one of the strongest ways we connect with one another and share our experiences. So, it’s not surprising that 2022 has been designated Scotland’s Year of Stories by Visit Scotland. Activities are being held across the country to celebrate stories inspired by, created, or written in Scotland. We know many Age Scotland members have wonderful stories to tell and we would love to hear from members who have a story to share or are running activities to enable older people to tell their stories. We hope to run some Age Scotland Storytelling gatherings for members ourselves later in the year.

For further information about Scotland’s Year of Stories: www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/stories Share your story with Age Scotland Email: members@agescotland.org.uk Tel: 0333 323 2400.

We hope you enjoy this story from Ian Grant, former Gardening Correspondent with Daily Record who during World War II travelled the length and breadth of Scotland to encourage and advise people on growing their own food.

Sausages

My “Dig for Victory” activities took me all over Scotland. Once, in Skye, my film show came to an abrupt halt because the local butcher started making sausages. It was before the Hydro-Electrical people were in operation. Current in many places was supplied by small generators, often run by a garage. Arriving at the hall for my talk I was unable to find a power outlet but, discovering that a local man ran films on Saturday evenings, I set out to find him. He was most helpful. At the back of the hall, he explained, there was a small window, behind that he had a small structure as a projection room. I was to feed my cable through the window and he would connect it to his socket. Fixing up equipment I asked about the current, the voltage etc. It was DC, the voltage being anything from 180 to 220. That suited me. I switched on and found the screen quite bright. My local pal, however, warned me that in the evening when various places were using the juice, the voltage might be well down, and, he added, if the butcher starts making sausages I was sunk. I had a good turnout of people, everything was going nicely when suddenly the projector gave a groan and the light faded. My pal, sitting just in front of my machine, turned and whispered, “Sausages”.

Ways to wellbeing in later life

Health is more than the absence of illness. The World Health Organisation defines it as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. If that appears far off and out of reach, there’s reassurance in research. This shows small adjustments to how we live day-to-day can, over time, be transformational.

Be social : Connecting with others is perhaps the most powerful thing you can do for wellbeing. If you are not already part of a community group, find and regularly attend one that matches your interests. Information about local groups can be found in places such as libraries, and online.

Move : Moving makes you feel good and boosts long-term health. If you have got out of the habit, start small. Move for a few minutes each day, doing something fun that makes you a little warmer and gets your heart rate up a bit. A couple of times a week develops your strength and balance - activities such as yoga and gardening are ideal for this. It’s never too late to start.

Notice : Being more aware of how you are in the moment– mindfulness – enhances wellbeing. For a few minutes a day, try breathing in slowly for a count of four, and out for a count of six, to calm and anchor you. Record your thoughts and feelings in a daily journal. A practice of writing about what you are grateful for can boost positive feelings.

Learn : Trying something new or rediscovering a past interest can make you happier and healthier. Celebrate the joys of being a beginner. Research suggests this is better for brain health than coasting on expertise.

Give : Neuroscience shows helping others lights up the brain’s reward centres. Kind words, helping family and friends, and volunteering all have a great wellbeing payback.

Eat and drink smart : Eating more and a variety of fresh foods, and less highly processed ones, will boost physical and mental health. 1.5 to 2 litres of liquid a day is vital. Water is best, but other drinks and foods contribute, excluding alcohol and sugary beverages.

If you belong to a community group, Age Scotland’s Health and Wellbeing Team would love to hear about any collective habits you’ve formed to improve wellbeing so we can share your great ideas and experiences with other groups. Email us at healthandwellbeing@agescotland.org.uk or call 0333 323 2400.