The Platform
The Platform
Innovate for a better older age
Focused research, new metrics and methods could give a far better understanding of healthy ageing and are essential for evidence-informed policy and evaluation.
Learn moreThe UN declared 2021–30 to be the Decade of Healthy Ageing, and efforts are being made to maximise the functional ability of people over their life course. Yet older people are marginalised and perceived as a burden, particularly those with ongoing loss in capacity. Nowhere is this more conspicuous than in the context of long-term care (LTC) worldwide, where older people in some settings encounter a loss of independence and other violations of their human rights. Such experiences can range from deprivation of liberty and loss of legal capacity and consent to coerced institutionalisation, exposure to abuse, neglect, and disrespect, and persistent use of restraints. These circumstances create inequity, injustice, and indignity for older people. Overcoming these societal and political challenges requires the lens of human rights and a rethinking of the provision of LTC so that it respects the rights of older people and addresses their diverse needs and preferences in fragile LTC systems. A new Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care for Older Persons aims to take just such an approach, fostering person-centred LTC in accord with the WHO Healthy Ageing framework. Our Commissioners bring a wealth of perspectives drawn from different regions, care settings, and areas of interest, with expertise in geriatrics, geropsychology, geriatric psychiatry, gerontology, nursing, palliative care, primary care, social work, clinical epidemiology, health economics, health policy, and regulation. The Commission will work in co-creation with a group of older people from different regions with lived experience of LTC.
MoreInvesting in people’s health is vital for everyone’s wellbeing and to ensure that we can truly benefit from the “longevity dividend” that could result from an ageing population. Yet we know that across the globe, action and investment in healthy ageing and preventative health continues to lag. This is where the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index comes in. It ranks 121 countries against six indicators: life span, health span, work span, income, environmental performance, and happiness. This allows us to compare how sustainable different countries are, both in terms of longer lives and the extent to which their governments are investing in efforts to prevent ill health and support healthy ageing. We know prevention is better than cure. We know what works. Now we need to see action.
MoreSHIFT (Sexual Health In the over ForTy-fives) is part of the Interreg 2Seas Programme, receiving funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Running from 2019 to 2022, the project involves partners from across the “2Seas” region: UK, The Netherlands, and Belgium. The objective of SHIFT is to empower people aged over 45 to participate in sexual health services, and improve their sexual health and wellbeing. There is an additional focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups across the 2Seas region. As the SHIFT Evaluation Partner, the University of Chichester has thus far carried out both qualitative and quantitative Needs Assessments on the awareness, attitudes and needs relating to sexual health and wellbeing among adults over the age of 45 in the 2Seas region. Additionally, they will be carrying out a final evaluation of the project in 2022.
MoreUncertain Futures is a participatory research project centered around a collaborative artwork at Manchester Art Gallery, which aims to highlight intersectional issues in work for women over 50 focusing on gender, age, race, disability, migration and socio-economic backgrounds. Developed by an Advisory Group formed of women over 50 years of age linked to Manchester’s diverse communities in collaboration with artist Suzanne Lacy, Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester City Council Work and Skills, Uncertain Futures aims to co-research conditions around access to work, issues within work and issues leaving work for women over 50 with the University of Manchester: School of Social Sciences, Department of Law (Dr. Elaine Dewhurst) and Manchester Metropolitan University: Department of Social Care and Social Work (Dr. Sarah Campbell). An additional work package has been added to highlight the impact of what the group has termed the “Covid+ effect” on discrimination and inequality: how existing forms of discrimination and inequality have been exacerbated by Covid-19. Uncertain Futures will open in 2021 with an installation in the Gallery hosting interviews with 100 women from all walks of life, alongside workshops, talks, and media presentations that explore survival and equity issues. The research aims to understand the interconnection between women's experiences of work with their age, race, gender, and other relevant aspects of their identities. The research involves an analysis of the interviews alongside the development of a website which will host policy and research briefings on these challenging topics.
MoreGlobal Intergenerational Week is about raising awareness of the power of intergenerational connections and relationships, and recognising the benefits they can bring to individuals, families, and communities. In a post-pandemic world that is too often characterised by division, loneliness, and social isolation, intergenerational connections can offer a powerful antidote. They bring together people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences, and create opportunities for learning, sharing and growth, leading to the creation of stronger and more resilient communities.
MoreThe For Equality in Ageing initiative is a national awareness campaign that aims to challenge societal and individual attitudes towards older people in Ireland. The campaign has been developed by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, in collaboration with a consultative group who provided expert input into the campaign.
MoreAge Without Limits is a new campaign from Ageing Better (UK). Launched in January 2024, The Age Without Limits campaign aims to change the way we all think about ageing and support a growing movement of people and organisations working to make society more age-inclusive. Ageism is the prejudice that’s hidden in plain sight. It’s embedded in our society and even accepted as normal by those of us who are older. We see and hear casual ageism every day in the media, on TV, at work, in pubs, on social media, in family conversations. It doesn’t have to be this way. Thinking negatively about ageing and older people has been accepted and ignored for too long.
More#OlderNotOver is HelpAge International's three-year campaign that will champion a fuller, more authentic portrayal of what life really looks like after 60, from America to Zimbabwe. We’re calling on every member in the global HelpAge network to help change how the world sees and treats older people. But you don’t have to be a member of the global network to get involved. If you want to grow older in a world that doesn’t demonise and penalise people once they get to 60, we’d love to have you on board. Together, we can create a powerful movement that truly champions older age in all its glory.
More1in6by2030 is a global, collaborative project that brings together photographers from around the world to put a human face on one of the most important "statistics" of our time — the fact that by the year 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be over the age of 60. Earth’s population is about to become the oldest it has ever been. In the seven years leading up to 2030, photographers around the world will show us what it looks like to live in this historic time. This is a historic moment for the world — one filled with challenges and also huge potential — as individuals, societies and governments confront one of the most fundamental population shifts in human history. This seven-year-long project launched in 2023 will feature a series of photo essays that bring these issues to life from around the world.
MoreThe Global Coalition on Aging Bone Health Initiative was convened in 2022 to address the importance of bone health on the global public health agenda. Experts project that half a billion people will soon be living with osteoporosis, which weakens their bones and increases the risk of fragility fractures – fractures that occur because of weaker bones. Every 3 seconds, an older adult suffers a fracture, resulting in an estimated 9 million fractures globally every year. Approximately 33 percent of women and 20 percent of men aged 50 and older will experience osteoporosis-related bone fractures. More importantly, we know that individuals who sustain fragility fractures ddare a readily identifiable group at high imminent risk of sustaining second and subsequent fractures.
MoreAgeFriendly.org is a data-driven technology platform that aims to provide trusted content about the aging journey, help validate and elevate all things “age-friendly”, and invite older adults and caregivers to share reviews and ratings about programs, businesses, health care providers and other services where they live, work and thrive. Experts have used the term “age-friendly” for the last 15 years to describe and assess successful approaches to improving quality outcomes for older adults in cities, workplace, homes and provider settings. Providers around the globe are innovating and creating “age-friendly” best practices to better serve fast growing populations of older adults. Consumers too are recognizing and adopting this term, fueled by consumer-facing media in the U.S. that has used the term over 300,000 times in just the last two years. A missing link in this burgeoning “age-friendly” ecosystem has been a feedback loop: the ability for providers to collect consumer feedback at scale and use it to guide the creation of better programs and services that truly live up to the promise of “age-friendly.” User-generated rating and reviews sites exist in many categories (like travel) to promote authenticity, create trust and drive purchasing decisions. To date, a comparable site that elevates and connects “age-friendly” providers with older adults has not existed. AgeFriendly.org aims to address this gap.
MoreThis weekly research report, delivered via email and also available via a dedicated webpage, is compiled by the Foundation for Social Connection’s Social Isolation and Loneliness Workgroup (SILWG). Each week, the Workgroup brings together the latest publications, events, and research on the general topic of social isolation and loneliness, including but not limited to older people. The compiled information is generally sourced from the academic / research sector.
MoreAt the invitation of the Government, the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr. Claudia Mahler, will conduct an official country visit to Malaysia from 9 to 20 December 2024. During this visit, the Independent Expert will assess the human rights situation of older persons and progress in the implementation of the State’s obligations to ensure the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. She will also identify challenges and formulate recommendations to the State and relevant stakeholders, related to the realisation of all human rights of older persons. Following the country visit, the Independent Expert will present an official report with her findings, conclusions and recommendations at the Human Rights Council at its 60th Session (September-October 2025). The conclusions and recommendations made by the Independent Expert are a useful tool for States to improve measures to ensure the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. The Independent Expert will begin the visit in Kuala Lumpur and intends to travel to the states of Penang and Sarawak, undertaking field visits to both urban and rural areas, to gain first-hand understanding of issues related to older persons. During her visit, and as a means of gathering information from all relevant stakeholders, she intends to convene meetings with Government officials; National Human Rights Institutions, representatives from non-governmental and civil society organizations; academia; community-based groups and older persons. She will also meet with relevant international agencies working on issues related to older persons in Malaysia. At the end of the visit on 20 December 2024, the Independent Expert will debrief relevant Government officials on her preliminary findings, and in line with established practice, she will also hold a press conference in order to share the preliminary findings with the broader public. Additional information on the venue and time of the press conference will be shared prior to the visit.
MoreFirst established in 2004 as the State of Kuwait Prize for Research in Health Promotion, the State of Kuwait Health Promotion Foundation’s ‘His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for the Promotion of Healthy Ageing’ is awarded to individuals, institutions and/or nongovernmental organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to research, health promotion, policy and/or programmes on healthy ageing, as per the Statutes of the Prize. It is a bright mark on the pages of the close and deeply rooted relations between the State of Kuwait and the World Health Organization, which date back to May 1960, the date of the State of Kuwait’s accession to membership in the organization.
MoreThe Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation (HAPI) seeks to recognize and amplify innovative policies, programs, services, and products that address the challenges facing aging societies, help extend healthy and meaningful lives, and improve the provision of care to older adults. In the next 30 years, the number of people 65 and up in East and Southeast Asia is expected to double. Rapid population aging requires creative approaches from both the public and private sectors to meet the challenges and to create vibrant, healthy, and resilient societies where people can enjoy long, productive lives. Grand Prize winners will receive a trophy and will be invited to participate in a study tour in Japan. All winners will receive a commemorative certificate and their innovations will be featured prominently on the AHWIN website. We want to share your solution with the world!
MoreThe WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event, International Telecommunication Union, Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), and other stakeholders are pleased to invite the WSIS multistakeholder community, governments, civil society, private sector, international organizations, academia and others to submit ICT projects and initiatives to the fourth edition of WSIS Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize starting from 10 February 2024. Given the release of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing’s Action Areas, we continue to encourage innovators from all sectors to connect their submissions to this seminal global effort. Specifically, this year, we ask the candidates to connect their submissions to the categories of technology that supports preventative health, technology that enables an older workforce and technology that makes intergenerational connections. The Prize addresses two global megatrends: the emergence of digital technologies and ageing populations, both of which are already bringing about important socio-economic changes worldwide. The Prize aims to promote digital ventures within the Silver Economy and support possibilities for economic, social and political growth from increased digital inclusion and age-friendly digital environments. It celebrates digital solutions that can leverage the contributions of older generations, reduce their age-related vulnerabilities and foster their socio-economic development to achieve healthier and wealthier inclusive societies. The Prize will be awarded to the most innovative and impactful technology that enables healthier and more active ageing, consistent with the goals and principles of The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and will be presented as part of the High-Level week of the WSIS Forum 2024.
MoreThe National Academy of Medicine (“NAM”), with support from Johnson & Johnson Innovation, the Bia-Echo Foundation, and the Yun Family Foundation, will issue up to 18 Catalyst Awards in 2024 to U.S.-based innovators. Each Catalyst Award includes a $50,000 cash prize as well as exclusive access to additional funding opportunities, occasions to connect and collaborate with innovators from around the world, amplification of your award-winning idea, and resources to enhance your project and professional development. The NAM is currently seeking bold, new, and innovative ideas that aim to extend the human healthspan (i.e., the number of years lived in good health), especially approaches that challenge existing paradigms or propose new methodologies or concepts. High-risk ideas that could potentially yield high rewards and, in turn, dramatically change the field of healthy longevity are encouraged. Ideas may focus on any stage of life, as long as they ultimately promote health, functioning, meaning, purpose and/or dignity as people age. Applications may also originate from any field or combination of fields (e.g., biology, chemistry, medicine, engineering, behavioral and social sciences, technology, data science, and policy). The NAM strongly encourages individuals with diverse backgrounds, ideologies, and perspectives to apply. Ideas or projects that aim to reduce health disparities, promote health equity, combat ageism, or apply human-centered design principles to engage older adults in the work, are also of strong interest to the NAM. The NAM does not seek to fund existing programs (or slight variations thereof), approaches that are primarily public awareness, educational, or advocacy campaigns, nor products that are already commercially available.
MoreThe Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr. Claudia Mahler, will focus her next thematic report on legal capacity and informed consent of older persons. The report will be presented to the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in September 2024. In this report, the Independent Expert will examine the human rights of older persons who are deprived of legal capacity and the ability to provide informed consent, as well as the underlying causes for the restriction of these rights in old age. The report will take stock of laws and polices that address issues of decision-making autonomy, legal capacity, and informed consent for older persons, including measures in place to assist older persons to retain their legal capacity and challenge decisions that would deprive them thereof. The report will also explore the tension between protection and autonomy that permeates discourse on the rights of older persons, and will draw on existing standards to examine how the right to legal capacity and informed consent can be understood and applied in the context of old age. The Independent Expert will address the issue from an intersectional perspective, in exploring the interactions with other social factors such as gender, sex, race, ethnicity, language, Indigenous identity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, social status, place of origin, and immigration status. The objective of the report is to provide a catalogue of good practices put in place by Governments, as well as an analysis of the gaps in the existing framework and the challenges faced by relevant stakeholders.
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