Database of good practices on ageing

Graduates and individuals with a 10th‑grade education interested in geriatric care benefited—specifically, around 11 students enrolled in the one‑year PG Diploma and 520 caregivers completed the three‑month Certificate Course during 2015–16.

The programme successfully trained over 520 bedside caregivers, thereby expanding the pool of skilled personnel tasked with addressing elderly healthcare needs. This strengthened support frameworks for senior citizens and contributed to improved geriatric service delivery through enhanced caregiver competence.

Built upon the National Policy on Older Persons, NISD designed institutionalised training courses—with curricula covering gerontology, counselling, management, and practical placements in old‑age homes and hospitals. Admission was merit‑based, and courses were offered free of cost to ensure accessibility.

Because it provides free, structured, and competency-based training that produces a dedicated cadre of geriatric caregivers, filling a critical skills gap while enhancing elder care capacity.

• https://www.nisd.gov.in/annual_report/annual_report15-16.pdf

All Cambodian citizens benefit, as the plan targets prevention and control of the four main NCDs—cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes—by addressing major risk factors like tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, and inactivity.

The WHO–UNDP‑supported investment case estimated that implementing recommended NCD interventions would avert over 180,000 deaths and generate nearly 700,000 healthy life‑years gained over 15 years, while restoring approximately KHR 1.7 trillion (US $417 million) in economic productivity.

The plan was crafted by Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, building on its 2013–2020 NCD strategy, and developed through a multisectoral consultation. It outlines governance structures, legal drafting schedules, and an action matrix assigning responsibilities across multiple ministries and development partners.

It integrates cost-effective, WHO-recommended “best buys”, is developed through multisectoral coordination, and shows quantifiable health and economic impact—making it scalable, evidence-based, and practical across sectors.

• https://uniatf.who.int/docs/librariesprovider22/default-document-library/cambodia-ncd-report.pdf?sfvrsn=12263136_1

The whole population of Bangladesh, with focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly people, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

The anticipatory action framework under NPDM has expanded to cover 200,000 vulnerable households in 15 climate hotspots. Ahead of Cyclone Mocha, 45,000 individuals received anticipatory cash transfers, reducing losses and strengthening resilience.

Led by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), NPDM 2021–2025 was drafted through extensive desk reviews (previous NPDM, Sendai Framework, SDGs) and nationwide consultations engaging multi-sector and whole-of-society stakeholders.

It mainstreams anticipatory action within national disaster governance, ensures inclusive participation, and strengthens preparedness and rapid response capacities.

• https://www.undrr.org/news/visionary-leadership-comprehensive-risk-management-supporting-resilience-building-bangladesh

Citizens of Sri Lanka of all ages

This plan was developed though stakeholder consultation and in alignment with global ageing frameworks such as MIPAA.

his policy uses a rights-based model, treating older persons as rights holders rather than passive beneficiaries. Categorizes elderly as recognized citizens that have autonomy and works towards diminishing age discrimination throughout Sri Lanka. Additionally, this model adopts a life-course approach.  It also aims to strengthen healthcare systems specifically to prepare for a rapidly ageing population.

Senior citizens aged 60 and above across India, particularly those facing economic insecurity, ill health, lack of shelter, or social isolation.

The policy established a framework for state-supported well-being—covering financial and food security, shelter, healthcare, protection against abuse, and access to services. It paved the way for legislative and programmatic measures, such as the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, enhancing legal safeguards, maintenance support, and establishment of old-age homes.

Formulated in response to demographic shifts and vulnerabilities identified in 1999, the policy was developed with multi-sectoral input. Implementation involved coordination across ministries—Health, Transport, Panchayati Raj, Urban Development, etc.—with institutional mechanisms like awareness campaigns, training programs, transport concessions, and legal provisions under the 2007 Act.

It offers a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to ageing—linking policy to law, services, and social protection—ensuring older persons’ dignity, security, and inclusion for decades to come.

• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1907149

Primarily senior citizens (aged 60+) across Bhutan—especially those vulnerable or without family support—who gain priority access to services and social protection.

The programme ensures that 725 elderly individuals across all 20 administrative unites receive regular medical check‑ups, financial assistance, and support for funeral rites. It also facilitates priority access for senior citizens in hospitals, banks, and public transport, enhancing their inclusion and dignity.

Development began around 2018, with multi‑sector consultations and research. The government, alongside the Royal Society for Senior Citizens (RSSC), facilitated workshops and sensitization programs (e.g. in December 2024), while integrating the policy into the 13th Five-Year Plan and allocating resources for its rollout.

It is a good practice because it provides holistic, rights-based support—combining financial, health, and infrastructural measures—through cross-sector collaboration, ensuring older adults are dignified, included, and empowered in society.

• https://www.bhutantoday.bt/%F0%9D%90%81%F0%9D%90%A1%F0%9D%90%AE%F0%9D%90%AD%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A7-%F0%9D%90%85%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%9C%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%AC-%F0%9D%90%83%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%A6%F0%9D%90%A8%F0%9D%90%A0/

The beneficiaries will be older men and women in Maldives. 

The policy raised increased awareness also leading to the launch of an action plan to implement the policy. 

The policy is a revision of an earlier policy document, taking into consideration new regional priorities as committed to in the Fourth Asia-Pacific Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It was developed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development of Maldives with support from international experts and ESCAP. Stakeholders were consulted in several stakeholder consultations and their inputs included. 

The policy includes recent developments and was developed in collaboration with stakeholders. It is also supplemented with an action plan. 

Older persons in Bangladesh

It was developed as a national policy and referenced/embedded in later sector plans and national social protection strategy documents, which are used to operationalise policy commitments through programmes and implementation plans. 

It provides a national, cross-sector framework for ageing, helping coordinate action beyond one-off projects. It supports policy coherence and creates a platform for expanding measurable programmes.

All Indian citizens aged 60 and above, especially those facing poverty, ill‑health, or living in rural areas; the policy also emphasized support for vulnerable subgroups such as older women and the chronically ill.

The programme introduced state support for income security (e.g., pensions), healthcare access (geriatric wards, mobile clinics, caregiver training), and shelter and welfare services.

NPOP was formulated in line with both constitutional mandates and the UN‑declared International Year of Older Persons (1999) Implementation involved multiple ministries coordinating measures in health, transport, rural development, information, and urban planning. Mechanisms included setting up an autonomous National Council for Older Persons to ensure coordination.

It institutionalized a multi-sectoral, rights-based framework for elder welfare, introducing structured state support across diverse domains and establishing a coordinating council—setting a scalable benchmark for integrated aging policy.

• https://journal.gerontechnology.org/archives/2230-2710-1-PB.pdf

Beneficiaries included all Cambodian citizens, with a focus on vulnerable groups not yet covered by social protection—such as children, women, pregnant mothers, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. The UN Joint Programme specifically reached about 200,000 poor pregnant women and children under 2 years old.

The programme supports around 200,000 vulnerable pregnant women and children under 2, extending social protection coverage, promoting inclusive assistance, and improving early childhood well-being through integrative cash transfers and institutional capacity building (mptf.undp.org†source). By 2024, Cambodia’s social protection system had reached 7.5 million people nationwide.

The framework was grounded in the National Strategic Development Plan and Rectangular Strategy Phase III, developed through collaboration between multiple ministries and development partners (ILO, UNICEF, EU, GIZ, USAID, JICA, etc.)，It was implemented through the National Social Protection Council (NSPC), supported by legal frameworks, monitoring and evaluation systems, and UN Joint Programme assistance in training, institutional strengthening, and programme integration.

It adopts a lifecycle and inclusive approach, institutionalizes coordination across government and partners, and ensures sustainability by embedding social protection in Cambodia’s long-term development strategy.

• https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20250220/1bc71509129b4578bebfa16a4cacc912/c.html