Forgotten Families: Older People as Carers of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Policy Report

摘要

As the HIV/AIDS epidemic strikes at the heart of family and community support structures, large numbers of older people are assuming responsibility for bringing up orphans and vulnerable children. Family structures are changing. Often the middle generation - both men and women - is completely absent, leaving the old and young to support each other. This means that families of older carers and orphans and vulnerable children are compelled to take on new roles. o Current global figures estimate that 16 million children under 15 have already lost either one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. o Recent studies found that in South Africa and Uganda, 40% of children were living with their grandparents, and in Zimbabwe, over half. Older people make up a significant proportion of the poorest, and HIV/AIDS exacerbates the extreme poverty faced by older-headed households. This compromises the ability of older carers to care adequately for children (as they face difficulties obtaining sufficient food, clothes and shelter), and limits their access to health care and education services.