Help the Aged tsunami exhibition

Kali from Pudakalpakkam, India: "I was in my hut when suddenly I heard this roaring sound. I turned to see this huge wave approaching. I rushed out of the house as fast as I could, leaving everything behind." Photograph: John Cobb/Help the Aged

Ariyamala lost her house and possessions. She supports her husband and her son’s family. She sifts through the ruins in Nagapattinam, India, in search of plastic to sell Photograph: John Cobb/PR

Older people are often the unrecognised carers of children and other vulnerable adults. When Fauziah lost her daughter in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, she took over care of her grandson, Mohammad Photograph: John Cobb/PR

The tsunami swept away Ramasamy’s daughter, son-in-law and two of his grandchildren. Now he looks after his remaining two grandchildren while living at a relief camp on Nagapattinam railway station, India Photograph: John Cobb/PR

Kullapattu from Soolerikattuppam, India, says: "I was woken by the noise of crashing waves. It sounded just like thunder. I ran out of my house and screamed for someone to help me." Photograph: John Cobb/PR

Distribution of emergency relief immediately following a disaster can be chaotic. Older people are sometimes pushed aside Photograph: John Cobb/PR

Aiysha receives regular medical assistance from Help the Aged's mobile medicare unit (MMU) in Chennai, India. The MMU treats her for high blood pressure and an eye infection Photograph: John Cobb/PR

When Sakyan lost her job in the tsunami in Indonesia, Help the Aged gave her a cash grant to buy four goats. Now Sakyan has milk and will be able to sell goats once they breed Photograph: Peter Caton/PR

HelpAge India provides meals to 242 older people in their own homes through the meals on wheels service in Chennai Photograph: Penny Tweedie/PR

A community-based healthcare programme for older people in Aceh, Indonesia Photograph: Peter Caton/PR

Health services must provide first aid immediately after an emergency; but later must the other health needs of older people. In Sri Lanka, Help the Aged provided hearing aids to those in need Photograph: Shahidul Alam/PR

Replacing the tools of the trade for older people who were working before disaster struck enables them to get back on their feet quickly. In the longer term, facilitating access to credit – often denied to older people by banks – means they can set up businesses again. Photograph: Penny Tweedie/PR

Every month, a mobile health unit provides basic medical check-ups and exercise practice for older people in 170 villages in Bireuen, Aceh, Indonesia Photograph: Peter Caton/PR

This Older People’s Association in Indonesia provides older people with support to counter loneliness and isolation, helps them gain access to entitlements and gives them a voice Photograph: Peter Caton/Peter Caton

In Palpanacherry, HelpAge India desalinated the land. Three years later, the rice crop is almost as productive as it was pre-tsunami Photograph: Penny Tweedie/PR

Help the Aged provided Balakrishnan (far right) with a loan so he could buy a new fishing boat. He now earns enough money from fishing to support his family in Thalanguga, India Photograph: Penny Tweedie/PR

Salvia lost her shop in the tsunami. She received a cash grant through her local Older People’s Association in Indonesia to buy goods to sell Photograph: Peter Caton/PR