Database of good practices on ageing

Older persons in Brunei Darussalam

The Activity Centre provided seniors with a place to interact with peers, engage in activities, and continue learning, while also acting as a focal point that supports community involvement and strengthens relationships across generations and improves their quality of life.

PKWE was implemented through multisectoral collaboration involving government agencies, private sectors, non‑governmental organisations and local communities. It is administered by an Administrative Committee made up of registered members, responsible for management, activity planning and financial governance. The Centre operates every working day for at least six hours, offering programmes in religion, arts, ICT, health, social recreation and entrepreneurship. Annual allocations from the Community Development Department fund official activities, while other agencies may support programme delivery.

The corresponding guideline was developed by JAPEM under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to support the growing number of PKWE centres across districts. It establishes criteria for centre formation, membership rules, committee structures, financial protocols, programme categories, health and safety standards and reporting systems. PKWE committees implement the guidelines daily, while JAPEM oversees compliance through monitoring, inspections and advisory roles.

The activity centre provides a holistic, inclusive and community‑centred approach to ageing. PKWE empowers older people to remain active contributors, supports healthy ageing, fosters meaningful participation, encourages lifelong learning and helps reduce ageism.

The programme was formalized through Chief Executive Dispatch No. 45/2021, which established the eligibility criteria, application procedures and management

All Nepalese citizens over 60 years of age. There was a focus on incapable senior citizens, with mental or physical heath issues, and people without income or family.

The expansion of the non contributory Social Security Allowance provided the most change in Nepal, with around 2 million individuals aged 68 and up receiving 4000NPR (approx. 30$). The tiered discounts in healthcare allowed those aged 60-69 have 50% off healthcare, those 70-79 had a 75% discount, while those aged 85+ receive fully free healthcare. A Senior Citizen Card is held by over 75% of elderly individuals in Nepal, allowing them 50% off transport and aviation costs.

This act was developed as a response to the restoration of democracy in Nepal. The government set the standards and the local municipalities were responsible for identifying the vulnerable seniors and registering them for the respective allowances.

The act translates traditional values into law, as it makes children have a legal requirement to take care of their parents. Additionally, as a result of the act, Nepal has created a non-contributory universal pension.

Senior Citizens Rules

All citizens and residence in Samoa aged 65 years or over. 

Improved income security for older women and men in Samoa. 

The Senior Citizens Benefit Scheme (SCBS) in Samoa was developed as a government response to structural gaps in retirement income protection that emerged as the country’s economy and labour market changed in the late 20th century. In response, the Government of Samoa adopted a universal, non‑contributory approach to ensure basic income security in old age.

It provides income security for older persons and is especially beneficial for older women who often do not have access to contributory pension. 

Old-age pensions in the Pacific - P4SP

Filipino citizens aged 60 and above

The centers have led to increased early detection of hypertension and diabetes, and lessened the need for institutionalized care, something that is already culturally unpopular in the Philippines. Seniors are able to combat isolation and loneliness, leading to longer and healthier lifespans by taking part in intergenerational storytelling at the centers. The centers also act as information hubs, increasing knowledge about government privileges and how to apply for Digital National Senior IDs.

Developed as a modern evolution of traditional senior centers, making a shift from day centers to one stop service hubs implementing health, livelihood, and digital rights in alignment with the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens. It implemented through a multi-sectoral collaboration. The NCSC, Local Government Units, Department of Health, and private sector& NGOs all play a non-negotiable role.

The centers preserve dignity by allowing seniors to age in place, and by keeping seniors in a familiar environment, they combat depression many feel when being put into institutionalized care. Having one place where they can get everything done; health, finance and governance reduces travel burden that low-income or frail seniors face.

Senior Citizen Community Care Center (SC3C) - Assistance.PH

The beneficiaries are senior workers in Singapore—Singaporean employees aged 55 and above—and their employers, particularly those supporting an ageing workforce through higher retirement/re-employment ages.

Employers received wage and CPF contribution offsets, along with grants of up to S$250,000, to support senior employment and flexible re-employment practices. These incentives helped retain and redeploy older workers, easing transitions to higher statutory retirement and re-employment ages.

Developed by MOM following recommendations from the Tripartite Workgroup on Older Workers, the package was structured into four components—wage offsets, CPF offsets, and grants—to build organisational readiness. Implementation was phased through ministerial policy communications and integrated into annual Budget execution.

It is a targeted, multi-pronged policy instrument that incentivises employers to retain, retrain, and re-employ senior workers—ensuring inclusivity and productivity in an ageing workforce.

• https://www.uob.com.sg/business/sme-hub/insights/senior-staff.page

The programme targets Malaysian senior citizens and retirees, aged 60 and above, aiming to enable their re-entry into the workforce or facilitate income-generation.

Since its inception, SEBA has helped thousands of seniors re-enter the workforce: from January to August 2025, 2,317 job-seeking seniors participated, of whom 265 were successfully placed in various sectors.

Developed by HRD Corp under the government-led MADANI initiative, SEBA is realized through a call-for-proposals process, with training modules delivered by accredited providers via the Upskill Malaysia portal. Training spans 3 days to 3 months, and courses are both in-person and online.

SEBA exemplifies inclusive, demand-driven upskilling, empowering the elderly through tailored training and facilitating their economic participation—thus enabling a more active and dignified role for seniors in society.

• https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/seniors-back-in-action-as-thousands-re-enter-workforce-EE14677366

Beneficiaries span a wide demographic: seniors, youth, lower-income families, and persons with disabilities (PwDs)—in short, Singaporeans from all walks of life.

The programme has reached more than 270,000 beneficiaries through over 140 community-driven projects, enabled by over 130 public‑private‑people (3P) partners, as of November 2022.

DfL was developed by IMDA to galvanise the community through a movement and accompanying fund. It empowers ground‑up initiatives with grants (via the Digital for Life Fund), mobilises partners from the public, private, and people sectors, and supports projects that increase digital access, literacy, and wellness.

It embodies a whole‑of‑society approach, combining community‑driven action, targeted support for vulnerable groups, and government facilitation—resulting in scalable, inclusive digital empowerment for all.

• https://www.imda.gov.sg/resources/press-releases-factsheets-and-speeches/press-releases/2022/digital-for-life-movement-propels-digital-inclusivity-in-singapore-with-more-than-130-partners-and-10-25-million-raised-to-date

Older adults aged 50 and above are eligible to register.

With approximately 22 million seniors enrolled nationwide, SUC operates 55,000 grassroots learning centers and offers 436,000 online courses as of April 2024. 

It was implemented by a national framework coordinated through government policy, institutional guidance, digital infrastructure, and community-based learning networks. Established under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and operated by the Open University of China, SUC was embedded within China’s broader strategy to build a lifelong learning system and learning society. The blended approach ensured accessibility for seniors with different educational backgrounds and digital abilities. The courses are subsidized by the government and are either free or low-cost.

This learning programme encourages lifelong learning for older adults, empowering them to remain active learners and participants in their communities. 

China's lifelong education platform serves 6.8 mln users

Older persons, particularly those at risk of social isolation

Two sewing labs have been created in Nor Nork and Hrazdan as a social enterprise.

Implemented as a national policy through government decree and NGO partnership with training and workshops. Specifically involving the establishment of local sewing labs as well as the delivery of sewing training and workshops for older persons

Combines participation, skills and inclusion in a low‑cost, replicable model

https://ageing-policies.unece.org/browse-policy/47