Database of good practices on ageing

Older adults

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using the app on social participation among study participants aged over 60. The study found that app users demonstrated a significantly higher level of social engagement in hobbies and club activities compared to non-users.

The programme's foundation is rooted in the findings of the Japan Agency for Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), which indicates that a community health promotion strategy emphasizing social interaction among older individuals effectively mitigates the risk of disability. Hitachi is also seeking to collaborate with other companies to further develop the app, as well as to establish partnerships with businesses and local authorities.

The app has been shown to have a positive impact on the social participation of older adults. Additionally, the data collected by the app benefits various business sectors by offering insights into the elderly population.

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シニアの「社会参加」を促し、介護予防を支援する新事業を立ち上げ | 株式会社 日立製作所のプレスリリース
Effects of a Mobile App to Promote Social Participation on Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial - PubMed

Individuals over the age of 65 who need support but wish to remain in their place of residence.

Despite some issues arising from living closely together, the residents of the two houses reported an improvement in their living conditions compared to before, in terms of both facilities and feelings of loneliness.

Senior Shared Housing was promoted as part of the 2019 Community-Based Integrated Care Pilot Project run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Busanjin-gu launched an integrated elderly care project including this housing initiative, which is funded by national, city and district budgets.

The housing project showcases how different concepts of living together in old age could be realised to support and improve the lives of many older people.

65살부터 ‘보증금 200·월세 15’…친구랑 20년 살 수 있는 집

The primary beneficiaries were older adults and residents in underdeveloped areas of China. At the same time, retired professionals also benefited by gaining opportunities to stay active, contribute to society, and improve their well-being through meaningful engagement.

The programme mobilized over 7 million senior volunteers across China by 2024, delivering 4,000+ community projects and benefiting 400 million people, while enhancing participants’ well-being and generating ¥8 billion (US $1.2 billion) in social value.

The Silver Age Action Plan was launched by the Chinese government in 2003 and coordinated by the National Working Commission on Aging. It mobilized retired professionals through provincial and local programs, with funding from government budgets. Implementation involved partnerships with local governments, community organizations, and public institutions, allowing volunteers to serve in healthcare, education, agriculture, and public services across rural and urban areas.

The Silver Age Action Plan is considered a good practice because it combines active aging with community development, mobilizing millions of retirees to address social service gaps in underdeveloped areas. It demonstrates strong government coordination, broad societal participation, and measurable impact—benefiting both service recipients and older volunteers. The program’s adaptability and 2024 renewal further highlight its sustainability and relevance in addressing population aging.

• https://journal-innovations.com/assets/uploads/doc/f20e3-188-204.09432.pdf
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8914025

Retirees aged 50 and above who wished to remain active and contribute through volunteering at DOST centers.

Since its launch, the “Volunteer DOST” program—including Silver DOST—has involved over 5,200 volunteers (as of mid-2022), enabling retirees to engage in public service, gain new skills, and enrich their leisure time while supporting frontline social services.

Under the DOST Agency, established in 2019, the “Volunteer DOST” initiative introduced three subprograms in late 2019: “Young DOST,” “Silver DOST,” and “Distant DOST”. Volunteer performance is evaluated through observation, feedback, and appreciation letters.

It empowers active ageing by integrating retirees into voluntary public service roles, enhancing their social engagement and sense of purpose while strengthening intergenerational collaboration and public service delivery.

• https://sosial.gov.az/en/media/news/6-years-have-passed-since-the-establishment-of-dost-agency
• https://www.esn-eu.org/practices/silver-dost-establishing-respect-all-ages

Women and men aged 50 years or over in Northern Kazakhstan

The project was developed through the "University of the Third Age" movement in Kazakhstan and in line with the Governments life-long learning strategy. 

The Silver University is a good practice because it provides a cost-effective, scalable, and inclusive model of lifelong learning that directly improves digital literacy, social participation, and wellbeing among older persons, while leveraging existing university systems.

Philosophy of Well-being: Quality of Life and Inclusion of the Elderly Population of Kazakhstan in the Era of Digitalization | BULLETIN of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Historical sciences. Philosophy. Religion Series

Older persons in Kazakhstan

By 2021, nearly 800 older adults from all over Kazakhstan had joined the program. The roadmap was approved in April 2021 and is set for implementation through 20

It promotes the participation of older persons. 

Roadmap for the Development of Volunteering 2021–2023 | Ageing Policies Database - UNECE

The program targets mature workers aged 45 and above within Victoria—particularly those in employment at risk, recently unemployed, or seeking to transition into new roles or careers. It supports both individuals and their employers.

Since November 2018, BUSY At Work has supported over 7,000 participants across multiple states, helping mature-aged workers access career guidance, create tailored career plans, and pursue upskilling or career transitions with funding of up to AUD 2,200 toward eligible training.

The Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment designed the free program; it is delivered via contracted organizations like BUSY At Work. Participants undergo personalised assessments followed by one-on-one career advice and training recommendations, with co-funded training accessible through the Skills and Training Incentive.

It offers flexible, evidence-based support that enables mature workers to remain productive—combining career advisory services, training funding, and a tailored, participant-centric model for lifelong employability.

• https://www.busyatwork.com.au/national-contract-skills-checkpoint-for-older-workers/

This initiative benefits all Singaporeans aged 25 and above, including students, early-career individuals, mid-career workers, and senior professionals—along with employers, training providers, and unions.

In 2023, approximately 520,000 individuals participated in SSG-supported training—200,000 of whom were mid-career workers using enhanced subsidies. Employers also stepped up: 23,000 organizations supported around 228,000 employees in training.

Developed through collaboration among SSG, Workforce Singapore, industry partners, and unions, SkillsFuture rolled out via SkillsFuture Credit, targeted subsidies (e.g., Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy), and employer incentives. Implementation uses digital platforms (MySkillsFuture), training partnerships, and major public campaigns.

SkillsFuture integrates inclusive lifelong learning with data-driven, scalable delivery—ensuring broad participation across life stages while aligning skills development with evolving industry needs.

• https://www.ssg.gov.sg/newsroom/more-employers-and-mid-career-workers-taking-up-ssg-supported-training

Older persons in the Republic of Korea regardless of their level of digital literacy or their mobile network provider.

The results of independent research support the programme's effectiveness, showing improvements in long-term and working memory, as well as language fluency. After two years of using the service, the incidence rate of dementia among the study participants was found to be 3.24%, which is significantly lower than average.

Brain Talk Talk was developed through a collaboration between three organisations: a telecommunications company, a foundation and a university.  It builds on the Meta Memory Classroom brain exercise programme by providing voice-based artificial intelligence content. Since 2022, the basic package of this service is available to senior users free of charge.

The digital innovation enables cognitive training for older individuals in a user-friendly way, as it is built into a speaker. It offers advanced functionality that extends beyond that of an intelligent assistant.

Primary beneficiaries are the older residents of the island who are enabled to age in place. Nursing professionals also benefit through the opportunity of community retreats and learning - and if they work on the island through flexible employment options.

Having nursing stations in remote areas is key to provide palliative care and residents enrolled in the IoT‑based healthcare services feel more secure about ageing in place, while the shared lunches have helped create a more vibrant community and strengthened social ties. The initiative has been widely regarded as successful and is now being replicated in the city of Niimi in Okayama Prefecture.

Within five years, the social enterprise has achieved financial viability as the home-visit nursing services are covered through medical and long-term care insurance systems, and as Nurse & Craft also generates revenue through fees for its IoT‑based health services, and from the health‑tourism activities offered through its Tobishima Nurse Retreat.

Bringing nurses to the island helped older residents overcome the technology gap, enabling them to use telemedicine and other digital health tools. The nurses also act as intermediaries between patients and doctors and can arrange follow‑ups when in‑person care is required. In a super‑ageing society, preventive care plays a critical role. This initiative is also innovative because it compensates nurses not only for managing chronic conditions but also for encouraging healthy habits and supporting social engagement.

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