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Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings | Collections | MSF Science Portal
Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings

Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings

Globally, the number of older people is rapidly increasing, with those aged 60+ expected to more than double by 2050—yet in humanitarian crises, they remain one of the most neglected groups. Older adults often face higher risks due to chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and limited access to appropriate care, especially in low-resource or emergency settings. Despite these needs, humanitarian responses rarely prioritize them, and data on their health and mortality are often lacking.


This collection reflects MSF’s ongoing examination of its own data and practices to identify pathways toward more age-inclusive services in humanitarian crises. It includes analysis of data from MSF-supported mental health services, inpatient departments, and sexual violence services, and further offers several calls to action and reflections on why older people remain overlooked in humanitarian crises. However, MSF also acknowledges major challenges remain, including inadequate age-inclusive services, data gaps, and the need for more geriatric expertise.


Watch this space for more publications from a Lancet Healthy Longevity series on healthcare rights and needs of older people.


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See more collections

Safe abortion care at MSF

Safe abortion care at MSF

Unsafe abortion is a major cause of maternal death, and the only one that is completely preventable. Yet over 30 million unsafe abortions occur each year, leading to at least 29,000 deaths and millions of serious complications—nearly all in low- and middle-income countries. MSF teams see these tragic consequences first-hand, treating thousands of patients every year with severe, potentially life-threatening effects from unsafe abortion.


To mark International Safe Abortion Awareness Day (28 September 2024), this Collection presents highlights of MSF’s work on safe abortion care (SAC) as a way to reduce maternal death and injury. By re-assessing and reshaping how our projects deliver SAC in fragile and conflict-affected settings, we have been able to significantly expand services in those contexts and across MSF projects globally. In parallel, we also conducted in-depth studies of abortion complications and their contributing factors in fragile settings, where a dearth of evidence limits understanding of women's needs in accessing comprehensive care. These findings are helping to identify gaps in service delivery and inform operational decision-making.

The endTB project

The endTB project
Neglected tropical diseases

Neglected tropical diseases
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The endTB project aims to find shorter, less toxic and more effective treatments for ‘multidrug-resistant TB’ (MDR-TB) through:

  • access to new drugs
  • two clinical trials
  • advocacy at national and global levels

Covering 18 countries, the project is a partnership between Partners In Health, Médecins Sans Frontières, Interactive Research & Development and financial partners Unitaid and the Transformational Investment Capacity (TIC) of MSF. This collection contains the final and intermediate results of the studies, advocacy reports, and study presentations. For more information about the endTB project, visit https://endtb.org/.

Each year hundreds of thousands of people die from a neglected tropical disease, while many more suffer serious illness or lifelong disability. Yet as we mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day on 30th January, global progress towards eliminating these diseases is threatened by shifting global health priorities and declining investment in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.


The content collection linked below offers a snapshot of MSF’s work on managing some of the most deadly NTDs, finding better tools and models of care for highly affected populations, and advocating for greater access to care and increased global funding. Several authors describe our programs and lessons learned from a decade of treating snakebite victims in sub-Saharan Africa. Two studies evaluate shorter, less toxic treatment for visceral leischmaniasis, while a policy analysis proposes critical steps towards eliminating this horrific disease in East Africa. Last, reports from Sokoto, Nigeria describe the collaborative development of a comprehensive model of care for noma.

Journal Article
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Research

Health conditions of older adults in complex humanitarian settings in low- and middle-income countries: a retrospective analysis of 2019–2025 data from Médecins Sans Frontières-supported inpatient departments

van Boetzelaer E, Keating P, Caleo G, Oluyide B, Masum RR,  et al.
2025-11-01 • BMJ Global Health
2025-11-01 • BMJ Global Health

BACKGROUND

Inpatient admissions of older adults in humanitarian settings in low-income and middle-income countries remain poorly documented, likely leading to g...

Journal Blog
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Perspective

Symposium on ageing in crisis: Advancing the overlooked healthcare rights and needs of older people in humanitarian crises

van Boetzelaer E
2025-10-29
2025-10-29
Journal Article
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Research

Differences in sexual violence against younger and older adults in complex humanitarian settings: a retrospective analysis from Médecins Sans Frontières in 2019–24

Van Boetzelaer E, Biru T, Idris A, Keating P, Staunton M,  et al.
2025-10-16 • Lancet Global Health
2025-10-16 • Lancet Global Health

BACKGROUND

Sexual violence against older adults in humanitarian settings is poorly documented, leading to gaps in prevention and delivery of support services. T...

Journal Article
|
Research

Differences in mental health between younger and older adults in complex humanitarian settings in low-income and middle-income countries: retrospective analysis from Médecins Sans Frontières-supported mental health services, 2019–2024

van Boetzelaer E, Sleit R, Rodriguez E, Kagomba Barathi G, Escobio F,  et al.
2025-09-26 • BMJ Global Health
2025-09-26 • BMJ Global Health

BACKGROUND

Humanitarian emergencies increase the risk of development or exacerbation of mental health conditions. This study documents how mental health differs...

Journal Article
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Research

Mental health of older adults in humanitarian settings in low- and middle-income countries: a retrospective analysis from Médecins sans Frontières-supported mental health services, 2019–2024

van Boetzelaer E, Keating P, Wasara N, Rodriguez E, Escobio F,  et al.
2025-07-05 • BMJ Global Health
2025-07-05 • BMJ Global Health

BACKGROUND

More complex humanitarian emergencies have a profound impact on a rapidly growing ageing population. There are few data available on the mental healt...

Journal Article
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Review

Health needs of older people and age-inclusive health care in humanitarian emergencies in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review

van Boetzelaer E, Rathod L, Keating P, Pellecchia U, Sharma S,  et al.
2024-12-30 • The Lancet Healthy Longevity
2024-12-30 • The Lancet Healthy Longevity
Journal Article
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Commentary

Involving older people in the preparedness, response, and recovery phases in humanitarian emergencies: a theoretical framework on ageism, epistemic injustice, and participation

van Boetzelaer E, van de Kamp J, Keating P, Sharma SK, Pellecchia U,  et al.
2024-01-01 • The Lancet Healthy Longevity
2024-01-01 • The Lancet Healthy Longevity
Journal Article
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Letter

The disproportionate vulnerability of older people in humanitarian emergencies

van Boetzelaer E, Franco OH, Moussally K, Khammash U, Escobio F
2023-10-20 • Lancet
2023-10-20 • Lancet
Journal Article
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Commentary

Elderly people in humanitarian crises, a forgotten population: A call for action

van Boetzelaer E, Browne JL, Vaid S, Pellecchia U, van de Kamp J,  et al.
2023-07-17 • PLOS Global Public Health
2023-07-17 • PLOS Global Public Health
Journal Blog
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Perspective

Conflict in eastern Ukraine is a reminder that older people are especially vulnerable in emergencies

Simonyan G
2019-06-04 • BMJ Opinion (blog)
2019-06-04 • BMJ Opinion (blog)
Journal Article
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Research

Risk factors for mortality during antiretroviral therapy in older populations in resource-limited settings

O'Brien DP, Spelman T, Greig J, McMahon J, Ssonko C,  et al.
2016-01-01 • Journal of the International AIDS Society
2016-01-01 • Journal of the International AIDS Society
INTRODUCTION
An increasing proportion of adult patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings are aged >50 years. Older populations on ART appear to ha...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Should mortality data for the elderly be collected routinely in emergencies? The practical challenges of age-disaggregated surveillance systems

du Cros PAK, Venis S, Karunakara U
2013-10-10 • Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2013-10-10 • Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Data on the elderly are rarely collected in humanitarian emergencies. During a refugee crisis in South Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières developed a prospective mortality surveillance syst...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Ending neglect of older people in the response to humanitarian emergencies

Karunakara U, Stevenson F
2012-12-18 • PLOS Medicine
2012-12-18 • PLOS Medicine