The Platform
The Platform
Integrated Care
Equitable and affordable access to good quality, person-centred health care is key for fostering healthy ageing.
Learn moreThe 2025 United Nations International Day of Older Persons will serve as a platform for older persons to share their aspirations, advocate for their well-being, and call for the full enjoyment of their human rights. This year's commemoration, themed "Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights,” will take place in-person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City ECOSOC Chamber (tbc), on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm EST.
MoreHalfway through the “Decade of Healthy Ageing”, global experts on ageing will address the central role of the brain in maintaining one’s health and quality of life. The opportunities and challenges for older people for a healthy life across the life span will be explored from various perspectives.
MoreAnyone, anywhere, can be lonely or socially isolated. But in the last decade, science has transformed our understanding of how important social connection is for our health and well-being. The WHO Commission on Social Connection (2024–2026) was set up to see the issue recognised and resourced as a global public health priority. The Commission has now published their flagship report. Learn more about how we can harness the #PowerOfConnection together to transform communities and societies across the globe.
MoreWHO is launching the "Framework to implement a life course approach in practice" in a virtual event that will feature speakers from Ministry of Health representatives, WHO and global experts from around the world. The aim of a life course approach is to optimize health trajectories for people of all ages in every country. The session will highlight examples of how a life course approach can be used to reorient health systems to produce health for all, what is already being done in practice, and what more can be done. A life course approach includes a good start to life, optimal development (of infants, children, adolescents and youth), adult health and well-being, healthy ageing, and a dignified death at any age.
MoreThis inter-institutional initiative, led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with other United Nations agencies and the inter-American system, aims to promote effective actions, favor the prioritization of measures at the local level and serve as a basis for reporting on the progress made during the Decade of Healthy Aging 2021-2030. Its purpose is to provide evidence-based information on the health and well-being situation of older persons in the Region of the Americas. This initiative consists of a series of publications is divided into four parts, namely: the demographic situation in the Region, aging and health, the various areas of action of the Decade of Healthy Ageing and other related emerging issues. Each part will be updated with new reports, articles, and data on a regular basis.
MorePeople worldwide are living longer, but the opportunities that arise from increasing longevity depend strongly on the health and well-being of older populations. Healthy ageing needs to be fostered by creating integrated and responsive primary health care systems and services; ensuring access to long-term care for older people who need it; changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing; and cultivating age-friendly environments. If these actions are underpinned by activities to address socioeconomic inequities, then they can improve the health and well-being of current and future generations.
MoreIn a new Surgeon General’s Advisory, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warns about the public health crisis that loneliness, isolation, and disconnection pose to the American public. Loneliness and isolation are widespread, with approximately half of U.S. adults experiencing loneliness. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Strengthening the social fabric of our communities is essential in order to improve the health of people and communities and must be a national priority. Addressing loneliness is as vital to protecting our health as addressing obesity, tobacco, or addiction. The Surgeon General’s Advisory lays out lays out a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection, which has never been done before in the United States. It includes six pillars detailing recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connection in their lives, communities, and across the country. By strengthening our relationships, increasing connection, and rebuilding the social fabric of our nation, we can improve the health of people across the country.
MoreThis research brief synthesizes scholarship and research exploring the concept of ageism, its multifaceted forms, impacts, and redresses. Ageism is defined as the stereotyping, prejudice, and/or discrimination of individuals on the basis of their age. It is one of the most pervasive, yet least acknowledged and socially accepted forms of prejudice. Though little recognized, ageism is a significant societal issue and mounting public health concern for the growing global elder population and communities worldwide. Biased attitudes and actions are observed at the individual, societal, and systemic levels. Age-prejudice can be implicit, subtle or evident, and consequential harms may be immediate and/or enduring. Resulting injuries include increased morbidity, marginalization, social privation, and financial damages. Effective interventions embrace education, awareness, intergenerational programs, and outreach.
MoreThe WHO Framework to implement a life course approach in practice summarizes current evidence to reorient health systems to produce health and well-being, draws on global examples of implementation, and proposes next steps. A life course approach acknowledges that health and well-being depend on the interaction of multiple protective and risk factors, particularly during sensitive and critical periods throughout people’s lives and across generations. It strengthens equity by recognizing how critical periods, transitions and cumulative exposures shape health trajectories. This framework targets a wide audience including governments, civil society, and other non-state actors committed to applying a life course approach and informs discussions on redesigning primary health care programmes to improve life course health trajectories.
MoreA significant portion of older individuals experience mental disorders. Yet, these often go unnoticed and untreated, being overlooked as normal ageing or overshadowed by other health issues. This is especially true for older women, those with lower socio-economic status, and long-term care facility residents. To effectively promote and protect the mental health of older adults, addressing the treatment gap and the negative impacts on individuals and their families is crucial. This policy brief outlines the determinants and prevalence of mental health issues among older adults in the UNECE region and features concrete policy strategies and examples aimed at improving mental health of older persons from across the UNECE region. The policy examples featured in the brief include measures to eliminate stigma, improve mental health literacy and combat ageism. They also include measures aimed at prevention and early detection, tackling psychosocial challenges and supporting older persons during challenging life events. Furthermore, the brief includes policy examples for integrating mental health services into care, improving access to treatment, protecting mental health in emergencies, and enhancing research and data collection.
MoreThis instalment of the Social Protection Spotlight brief series from the International Labour Organization explores the role of universal social protection in promoting healthy ageing, reducing disease and disability among older persons by ensuring equitable access to healthcare, pensions, and long-term care services.
MoreMore than 2.2 billion people worldwide have a visual impairment or vision loss, and this number is poised to grow because the risk increases with age. Over 90% of vision impairment worldwide is avoidable. However, an estimated 802 million older people across the world are living with preventable vision loss but have no access to eye care. As part of the agenda for healthy ageing, advocates and stakeholders across the vision and ageing communities must collaborate and communicate to policymakers and the public the importance of good vision and eye health to healthy ageing. Advocates and stakeholders must call upon governments across the world to consistently incorporate vision and eye health across all ages, including older adults, into relevant policy initiatives and commit to implementation. This brief outlines the need for action to support a life course of healthy vision and outlines 6 policy windows to help achieve this.
MoreIs Dementia a normal part of ageing? Someone suffers from dementia every three seconds. What are the causes? Can we prevent it? Is there a cure? Dr Katrin Seeher explains in Science in 5.
MoreDid you know that chronic low back pain is a major cause of disability across the world impacting people’s physical capabilities, sleep, participation in work, school and relationships? What kind of treatment should you ask for? Which treatments do not work? Learn to manage your low back pain from Dr Yuka Sumi in the World Health Organization's Science in 5 series.
MoreThis feature video story shows how local community and hospital promote health and prevent diseases by creating an age-friendly environment in Saitama, Japan. By expanding preventative health services, organizing group activities, and emphasizing the importance of health-conscious choices, local residents are empowered to take control of their own health and well-being. Through effective service coordination, multidisciplinary care, and strong community support, it demonstrates how age-friendly environments can contribute to fostering a sense of community and promoting positive lifestyle choices for individuals of all ages.
MoreWhat is an evidence and gap map? How do we use them during the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing to improve the lives of current and future generations of older people, their families, and their communities? Evidence and gap maps are interactive tools that help researchers and decision makers discover existing evidence on a given topic, find solutions supported by evidence, and identify gaps in the evidence where more research is required. In this video, learn more about WHO's work to develop evidence and gap maps as part of a multi-year project for the Decade to summarise, disseminate, and increase the uptake of evidence towards deeper integration within policy and practice.
MorePolicy interventions to meet the needs of older persons and bring societal development into harmony with demographic change span across many policy areas including education, health, labour and social affairs. They address challenges such as ageism and take steps towards creating enabling environments for active and healthy ageing. The UNECE Ageing Policies Database allows you to browse ageing-related policy interventions developed by UNECE member States across Europe, North America and Central Asia. The database is a tool for knowledge sharing, peer learning and monitoring of policy developments over time. It showcases policy innovations in the field of ageing across 14 broad policy themes. Developed by the UNECE Population Unit and the UNECE Standing Working Group on Ageing it provides easy access to a wealth of policy actions, searchable by country, policy theme or policy instrument.
MoreIn a new Surgeon General’s Advisory, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warns about the public health crisis that loneliness, isolation, and disconnection pose to the American public. This Resource Library supports the Advisory by outlining recommendations and useful resources to support different stakeholder groups in the United States implement the Framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection. Individuals and organizations can use this framework to address the public health problem of social disconnection and strengthen social connection. The recommendations and resources outlined in this Resource Library can also help stakeholders around the world combat loneliness and promote social connection in their own contexts.
MoreA programme of work at the University of Sheffield supports and promotes the sexual rights of older adults, part of which involves providing reliable information about sexual health and sexual well-being as we get older. Through research, older adults consistently highlight the lack of available information on sexual issues for the over 50s. The website Age, Sex and You has been designed to meet these needs. It provides general information, all in one place, about the sexual changes that can occur with older age. It can be difficult to talk about sex because it is a private topic, and sexual health campaigns rarely include older adults. As a result, there is a silence around the sexual issues as we get older and a need to improve sexual health awareness in this area. Age, Sex and You is a public health website that is free to use. It aims to support healthy sexual ageing for the millions of older adults to whom sex and intimacy are important.
MoreActive ageing is a multidimensional concept referring to a situation where people continue to participate in the formal labour market, engage in unpaid productive activities (such as care provision to family members and volunteering), and live healthy, independent and secure lives as they age. Active ageing policies thus need to address this variety of dimensions: enable possibilities for longer working life, ensure social involvement, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide opportunities for independent living for both men and women. Monitoring such policy implementation requires a comprehensive tool that encompasses the multitude of aspects of active ageing. The Active Ageing Index (AAI) is such a tool. It captures various facets of active ageing: it measures how much of older men and women’s potential to contribute to the economy and society is used and to what extent their living environment enables them. They contribute by working, volunteering, providing informal care, living independently, and staying healthy. AAI offers a flexible framework that can be applied to different countries and at national as well as subnational (regional and local) levels. It depicts the current situation and highlights the areas where future gains can be made. A country might have high results in one domain, for example employment, with relatively low results in another one, such as independent living. This signals that matters enabling independent living need particular attention.
MoreJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is an incorporated administrative agency that delivers Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. JICA is one of the worldʼs largest bilateral aid agencies, supporting developing countries in addressing their development challenges through flexible combination of various cooperation modalities, such as Technical Cooperation, Finance and Investment Cooperation, and Grants. JICA has 96 overseas offices and operates in approximately 140 countries and regions of the world (As of July 2023). JICA also has 15 domestic offices across Japan that serve as a nexus linking developing countries with regions in the country. These domestic offices promote international cooperation that takes advantage of the characteristics of these regions and contribute to their development through such cooperation.
MoreThe Fred Hollows Foundation is a global leader in eye health and international development with a clear purpose: to make sure everyone has access to high quality, affordable eye health care. The Foundation continues the vital work of Professor Fred Hollows’ whose vision was a world where no one is needlessly blind or vision impaired. The Foundation works in more than 25 countries throughout East and South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and the Pacific, and has a 30-year history of working with national health ministries and partners in lower- and middle-income countries to improve health systems and eliminate avoidable blindness. The Foundation has restored sight to more than 3 million people over the past 30 years, and in the last 5 years alone, it has conducted more than half a million cataract surgeries. With its distinct focus on disadvantaged communities and on those who are most affected by avoidable blindness, the Foundation has improved the lives of many older people worldwide and is committing additional efforts to foster healthy ageing through eye care and other interventions.
MoreSAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is an organization that advocates with and on behalf of and offers supportive services and resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers.
MoreThe Alliance for Health Innovation brings together a diverse set of cross-sector stakeholders committed to health innovation through the lens of equity and healthy aging. Its mission is to establish the importance of innovation in achieving healthy aging through investments, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships – both for the value to patients and for health system sustainability.
MoreCommonAge is a charitable organisation, advocating to ensure older people are fully recognised in society, and are supported and enabled to live well in an all-age friendly Commonwealth. We support the view that a healthy ageing population is much less expensive one for governments to support, and therefore is less of a burden on taxpayers and health systems. We actively lobby governments, encourage sharing of ideas and promoting intergenerational activities, hold both physical and virtual events, and support ongoing research into issues affecting older people in the Commonwealth.
MoreEstablished in 2013, Bihani Social Venture is Nepal’s first social enterprise working to foster age and disability inclusive communities focusing on older adults. To promote a society inclusive of older people, Bihani offers innovative and diverse services and activities. Our primary focus is on individuals above the age of 50 (however not limited to it) while our secondary focus is on families, institutions and organisations who directly or indirectly work or interact with elders.
MoreAssociation of Senior Living India (ASLI) is a national organization formed with a vision to catalyse the growth and development of the elder care sector in India. The prime objective of the association is to create a platform for all the players in the senior continuum (independent living, home care, assisted living and lifestyle & technology providers) to draw knowledge, learn best practice and act as a single point of reference.
MoreBAGSO is an umbrella organisation of about 120 civil society organisations that are run by or work for older people. As such, it calls on politicians, society and businesses to offer conditions that allow for a good and dignified life in older age. In important policy areas, BAGSO puts themes on the political agenda that are relevant for healthy and active ageing. In statements and position papers, BAGSO identifies requirements for good quality of life in older age and provides recommendations for political action at federal, state and municipal level.
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.
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.
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.
MoreMusic for Dementia is a cross-sector national campaign to make music an integral part of dementia care in the UK. We already include more than 200 organisations from the NHS, care sector, third sector and music sector plus thousands of individual supporters, many with lived experience. All over the country there are pockets of excellence, where general practitioners are prescribing music, musicians are leading dementia choirs and music therapists are providing specialist services. Carers and individual families are discovering the difference that can be made to the life of someone living with dementia, by choosing the right song or piece of music at the right time. Music is the powerful, but as yet underused tool for supporting people living with dementia and must become an integrated part of dementia care. Music for Dementia is calling for greater collaboration between government, the music sector, health and social care and communities working at the grassroots to ensure that everyone living with dementia has access to music as part of their dementia care.
MoreThe Easierphone app provides a simple, clear home screen and easy to use apps for Android and iOS phones. To solve technical problems, Easierphone can be remotely supported by a family member. Optional monitoring of well-being and emergency protocols can provide peace of mind for older people and their families. Easierphone empowers primary users to effectively use a smartphone. This is achieved by simplifying the interface and core applications, and by enabling secondary users to remotely assist them. Comfort and well-being of both primary and secondary users are improved.
MoreWith the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) by the 73rd World Health Assembly on 3 August 2020 and by the 75th General Assembly on 14 December 2020, countries have committed to 10 years of concerted and collaborative action to improve the lives of the older people (defined as age 60 years and over), their families and the communities in which they reside. To enable countries to monitor and evaluate the Decade's progress and impact, a monitoring and evaluation framework and standard set of indicators and measures are needed. These indicators should monitor healthy ageing, social determinants of health, health conditions, behaviour risks and well-being of older people. Guidance on measures, data collection, analysis and reporting are urgently needed to support global, regional and national monitoring of the actions, programmes and policies. To provide advice on the monitoring and evaluation framework, prioritizing and standardizing indicators and how to improve ageing and health measurement globally, WHO, in collaboration with UN DESA, UNFPA, ITU, ILO, UN Women, established the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation of the United Nation's Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030).
MoreThe Scorecard reports on, measures, and compares current country-level performance in vision monitoring, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, care, and support for innovation. It also showcases best practices and highlights areas for improvement. The 15 countries included in our first edition of the International Vision Health Scorecard are Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
MoreThis guide is designed to support older people to stay healthy at home while physical distancing during COVID-19 outbreaks and to prepare for healthy ageing in the new normal.
MoreThe facilitator guide is comprised of nine topics which we advise teaching in sequential order to allow volunteers to see the full range of materials available. The tools, talking points and activities included allow volunteers to teach communities in an interactive way. The assessment topic allows volunteers to assess community needs and develop a healthy ageing programme for each community based on its unique needs. The assessment determines which topics will be taught and the priority of each topic at any given time in the programme. All topics allow participants to learn and practise key knowledge and skills to coach community members through social and behaviour change techniques and to set a supportive environment for healthy ageing at the community level.
MoreThis document represents the first set of guidelines for Age Friendly Primary Care Centres in Ireland. They form part of the suite of resources made available to support Irish society to prepare for population ageing. Ireland is following an international trend of population ageing. This means that the median age of the population is increasing because people are living longer. The number of older people in the country will in future make up a much greater proportion of the population. By 2051, the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to increase to 1.6 million in Ireland, while the number aged 80 and over will increase to over half a million. This demographic trend presents a challenge for how services are provided, especially health care services.
MoreiSupport is a self-help skills and training programme for carers of people with dementia. Worldwide, around 55 million people have dementia. Dementia causes significant psychological and emotional impact on families and carers. In five modules, iSupport teaches carers what dementia is and how to respond to common challenges of caregiving. The five modules are (i) introduction to dementia; (ii) being a caregiver; (iii) caring for me; (iv) providing everyday care; and (v) dealing with behaviour changes. Carers can choose to work through all modules and lessons consecutively, or select the lessons that are the most relevant to their everyday lives. All lessons consist of brief readings, descriptive examples and several exercises. Carers receive feedback as they work through each exercise.
MoreIn the 21st century, demographic shifts are making a significant impact on the structure of populations, bringing forth the phenomenon of an ageing population. Healthy Ageing for Impact in the 21st Century gives participants the building blocks to become future leaders in this critical area. This course will provide participants with the competencies needed to work on this agenda as part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), showcasing that societal change for Healthy Ageing can be achieved at scale in an impactful manner.
MoreIn WHO's first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Training in Assistive Products (TAP), you will have the opportunity to join other learners around the world in taking the first TAP module "Introduction to Assistive Products". The first round of the MOOC is open for two weeks, 10 - 24 November 2022. It takes 1 to 2 hour of self-paced study to complete the module online. The training complements other WHO tools and resources in supporting countries to improve access to assistive technology. TAP is currently available in 10 languages, including the six UN languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
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