Zimbabwe's new Unity Government has suspended the use of the Zimbabwean dollar for a year. It has been replaced by the South African rand, Botswanan pula and US dollar.

For thousands of older people it means their savings are worthless. They have no way of acquiring foreign currency, which they need to buy food and other essentials.

Kate Holt visited older people living in care homes across Zimbabwe to hear how the economic collapse has affected them. View photos from Kate’s trip here.

The homes are supported by HelpAge Zimbabwe and HelpAge International, with funding raised through Help the Aged's Sponsor a Grandparent programme.

They are helping older people get back on their feet and earn an income.

Thank you to all our sponsors.

This year we are celebrating 35 fantastic years of Sponsor a Grandparent, our unique overseas sponsorship programme that was developed to create a way for caring people like you to help disadvantaged older people and their communities in over 30 countries worldwide such as India, Peru, Ethiopia and Russia.

The programme was created in 1973 when a group of schoolchildren in Scotland wanted to help older people overseas. It was originally called Adopt a Granny and in 2005 the scheme changed its name to Sponsor a Grandparent to reflect the wide nature of work it undertakes to support older people in their countries.

Together we now support over 30,000 of the most vulnerable older people in the world to develop long-term income-generation schemes, pay for medical care, and support their families and grandchildren, many of whom have been orphaned by AIDS.

These achievements are clearly something to celebrate and would be impossible without the valued support of people like you. So thank you to our sponsors! But we must continue our vital work. Did you know that the number of grandparents acting as sole carers has doubled in the last ten years and we need your support more than ever. If you would like to become a sponsor please click on the donate button now.