Support Older People in Ukraine

More than four years into the war in Ukraine, older people across the country are still facing displacement, reduced access to care, and ongoing uncertainty. For the more than 9 million Ukrainians aged 60 and over, these challenges have become part of daily life.

But thanks to supporters like you, older Ukrainians are not navigating this crisis alone.

Community Safe Spaces

Your support is helping create consistent, reliable places where older people can connect and find support. Through HelpAge’s Community Safe Spaces, more than 4,500 older people have accessed psychosocial support, group activities, and essential services.

Located in community centers and similar settings, these spaces provide a sense of routine, belonging, and stability in the midst of disruption. Over time, many have begun to feel like a second home.

In Kolomyia, a town in southwestern Ukraine, older people who were once participants are now leading activities themselves. Natalia (75), displaced from the Donetsk region, now works as a social worker. Tamara (76), a former choir director, leads musical sessions. What began as a place to receive support has become a space where older people are contributing, leading, and rebuilding a sense of purpose.

Community-Led Action

Within these spaces, older people are also coming together to form grassroots initiative groups—identifying local challenges and working toward practical solutions.

In the towns of Stryi and Sheptytskyi, these groups have helped install ramps in public buildings and create more accessible outdoor spaces with seating and exercise equipment. They are also working with local authorities to ensure these improvements continue over time.

Your support is helping make this possible, empowering older people to make a difference and shape their communities.

Looking Ahead

As the conflict continues, the need for steady, reliable support remains critical.

Community Safe Spaces and initiative groups help create that continuity—offering stable places, trusted relationships, and community-led solutions that last beyond immediate aid. Combined with direct support, they ensure that older Ukrainians are not facing these challenges alone.

Thank you for standing with older people in Ukraine. Your support is helping provide not only essential assistance, but connection, dignity, and hope.

Links:

• Read more about older Ukrainians four years into the war
• Learn more about our work to support older Ukrainians