Database of good practices on ageing

Senior citizens of Japan

By Feb 2019, there were 10,592 users of the service, and seniors often used the service for many months in a row. A study by Inagaki and Awata (2020) showed that the service had a positive impact on mental health of elderly who live alone in social isolation.

Japan Post is Japan's national postal service. The Minamori Watch over service allows older persons all over Japan to subscribe to receive one 60-minute home visit or have daily phone check ins (for a monthly fee of Y1000). 

Addresses the large number of seniors living alone in Japan, and allows seniors to take charge of their lives by subscribing to have social interaction and health check ins.

Does the Home-Visit Communicating Service by Postal Workers Improve the Mental Health of Older Persons Living Alone? | Innovation in Aging | Oxford Academic

Older persons and whole of society 

The call center receives thousands of calls every year, showing that it is a well-accepted mechanism to raise complaints. 

The Immediate Response Hotline was developed by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of reforms to improve access to the Ombudsman and increase the efficiency of citizen complaints and inquiries. It was established by creating a unified call center reachable via the number “916”, consolidating previous hotlines into one modern telephone and IT-supported service. This development was carried out under the National Action Plan on Promotion of Open Government (2020–2022) to expand citizens’ ability to lodge appeals and ensure rapid handling of complaints. The unified hotline operates 24/7 across the country, including weekends and holidays, enabling people to call for immediate assistance from the Ombudsman’s Office.

The hotline is considered a good practice because it provides continuous, low-threshold access to human-rights protection services through a 24/7 unified call centre, removing barriers such as written applications or physical travel. It is replicable, as it relies on standard call-centre infrastructure that can be integrated into national human-rights institutions, and sustainable, as it is embedded within the Ombudsman’s permanent institutional framework and referenced in national and international policy reporting.

Microsoft Word - Law Ombudsman.doc

Hotline for Immediate Response by the Office of the Ombudsman | Ageing Policies Database - UNECE            

Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS), Ministry of Education (MoE), World Bank (WB), Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), ADB

The incusion of an additoinal question in HIES 2019 provided data that allowed the calculation of NTAs for Maldives

Discussion with an NTA consultant and the National Bureau of Statistics on an additional question could be incorporated into a questionnaire that had already been developed.

It facilitated for better analysis in the country; Poverty & inequality analysis, NTA analysis. And provided information on the number of students in tertiary education for Ministry of Higher Education.

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Poor older persons in Sri Lanka

Seniors reported an increase in dignity as many seniors were able to move into their first permanent home, saying it restored their status in the village. The programme also encouraged many adults to move back to their families and care for their parents, as the improved living conditions made multi-generational living more comfortable.

This programme was developed as a poverty alleviation project to solve homelessness, and was later further defined into a elderly-friendly housing model. The goal transitioned from simply building shelter to creating age-friendly havens that support ageing in place.

This initiative has shown how a small change in the life of an older person can improve their quality of life greatly. The programme supports the "ageing in place" concept, allowing seniors to live out their days safely at home.

NSE

Those aged 55 or over

80% of Singapore's elderly population lives in this senior friendly housing. This programme is highly successful, as it has been ongoing from 1998 until present day.

Developed as a response to the finding that Singapore would become a 'super aged' society by the year 2026, which triggered the need to provide adequate housing. 

This programme allows older persons to have autonomy in their living situation, they can have access to housing that suits their physical needs, and the short leases allow them to have freedom to choose where they want to live. Supports the ageing-in-place philosophy.

HDB | For Our Seniors

Middle-aged and older workers who receive short, job-embedded training to upgrade skills, plan post-retirement pathways and stay employed up to age 70.

In 2024, 31.9% of Japanese employers secured job opportunities up to age 70, up from 29.7% in 2023, with SMEs leading at 32.4%.

Delivered through Human Resources Productivity Support Centers at JEED Polytechnic Centers: 1) counseling & “Human Resources Training Plans,” 2) short skills-upgrade seminars for employees, 3) productivity-improvement training (explicitly including middle-aged and older employees and know-how transfer), and 4) dispatch of instructors and facility/equipment rental.

This programme is tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises, offering flexible, short-format courses and on-site support that align with real production schedules. Its intergenerational approach equips middle-aged and older workers to adapt to evolving roles while transferring skills to younger colleagues. JEED’s tools—including grants guidance, planning resources, and training—are closely aligned with Japan’s post-2021 legal framework to promote employment up to age 70. The initiative has achieved measurable progress, with steady annual growth in companies adopting age-70 employment measures between 2021 and 2024, demonstrating strong system-level impact.

• https://www.jil.go.jp/english/jli/documents/2025/053-03.pdf

Older and younger persons in the respective communities benefit from stronger social ties. Older persons overall benefit from a changed image of ageing and older persons. 

In Japan, participation in the initiative led to a stronger sense of belonging in the community, according to a research study. In the Philippines and Nepal, quantitative research found that Ibasho significantly enhanced social ties among older persons. 

The project was developed through a community-driven approach. The Ibasho project engaged with local communities to understand their needs, cultural context, and aspiration and jointly define their goals. The Ibasho team provides capacity-building. 

The practice led to empowerment of older persons, changes the image of older persons and is an intergenerationanl project. 

Creating Community Resilience Through Elder-Led Physical and Social Infrastructure | Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness | Cambridge Core

Building social capital with elders’ leadership through a community hub “Ibasho” in the Philippines and Nepal

The primary beneficiaries were older adults in China, particularly those with limited digital skills or access. The policy aimed to help them navigate smart technologies and access essential services like healthcare, transportation, and government support more easily.

The initiative ensures older persons’ access to essential services by retaining manual systems, enhancing digital interfaces with age-friendly features, and expanding nationwide volunteer and training programs, thereby promoting digital inclusion, autonomy, and social participation.

The policy was issued by the State Council in 2020 and coordinated across key ministries. Local governments adapted it through specific work plans—adding manual service counters, redesigning apps, and offering training. Tech companies supported implementation by upgrading platforms. Regular follow-ups ensured progress and consistency nationwide.

The policy is a good practice because it combined top-level coordination with local innovation to quickly close the digital gap for older adults. It ensured equal access to essential services during emergencies like COVID-19, promoted inclusive technology design, and launched sustainable training and volunteer programs. Its success has been widely recognized as a model for balancing digital advancement with social equity.

• http://wza.isc.org.cn/gtxd/flxg/20250520/4018.html
• https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/fzggw/jgsj/shs/sjdt/202111/t20211103_1302853.html

People requiring care in Kazakhstan, including children with disabilities and home-bound older persons without family caregiver. 

People who previously had no access to care—especially home‑bound older adults and persons with disabilities—are now eligible for state‑provided in‑home support.

The development of home‑based services occurred alongside broader reforms aimed at improving social welfare, aligning with international standards, and addressing gaps in long‑term care.

The practice provides access to care, reaches vulnerable older persons and facilitates ageing in place.