Who looks out for older people in a conflict or disaster? Elders, often ignored and denied precious resources in a crisis, in fact survive precisely because they have learnt over a lifetime how to cope. Why do aid agencies disregard such useful sources of knowledge? Recent guidelines by HelpAge International (HAI) suggest practical ways to help older people and to recognise their potential in a crisis. Older women especially, are extremely vulnerable but the priority given, for example, to children is rarely accorded their grand parents. Agencies frequently lack the expertise and capacity to address older peoples’ needs which can result in discrimination and unnecessary hardship.