Database of good practices on ageing

Vulnerable older persons, including in remote and indigenous communities, as well as youth training as caregivers.

Buddy HomeCare's mobile app-based system for healthcare monitoring is a key tool in a program that provides impoverished youth with training as caregivers, while also providing older people with cost-effective, high-quality homecare services.

Buddy HomeCare (BHC) is a social enterprise operated by FOPDEV, developed from earlier volunteer‑based homecare programmes and formally scaled from around 2015 onwards.

The dual approach of addressing ageing in place and youth unemployment benefits underprivileged communities. While there are other examples of healthcare monitoring systems, the Buddy HomeCare  has a unique social enterprise approach serving both paying customers and low-income older persons and families.

https://www.fopdev.or.th 

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https://www.facebook.com/BuddyHomeCare 

Older persons in Bueng Yitho Municipality

Evidence available from the municipal website indicates that the municipality has established dedicated infrastructure and services for older persons, including a Senior Recreation and Rehabilitation Centre and a Medical and Rehabilitation Centre offering physical therapy and chronic disease services. The municipality continues to organize activities promoting health, social participation and well-being among older persons, including cultural and religious events.

The initiative demonstrates the successful decentralization of public health responsibilities to the local government level, supported by technical cooperation with international partners such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Through the transfer of authority and the provision of technical expertise, the municipality was able to develop a range of services tailored to local needs. The arrangement also enhanced management flexibility, enabling the municipality to respond more quickly and effectively to the evolving needs and demands of the community.

The practice was developed by Bueng Yitho Municipality as part of a broader local development strategy emphasizing healthy ageing, community well-being and accessible health services. The municipality established integrated facilities that combine medical services, rehabilitation and social activities for older persons. Implementation is undertaken through municipal health, rehabilitation and social welfare structures, including the Bueng Yitho Medical and Rehabilitation Centre and the Senior Recreation and Rehabilitation Centre. Activities include health services, rehabilitation support, recreational programmes, religious and cultural activities, and community engagement opportunities for older residents.

 

The practice illustrates how local governments can integrate health care, rehabilitation and social participation within a community-based framework for older persons. By combining medical services, rehabilitation support and opportunities for recreation and social engagement, the initiative addresses multiple dimensions of healthy ageing. The model is embedded within municipal structures, helping to promote accessibility and continuity of services. The establishment of dedicated facilities for older persons demonstrates local commitment to age-responsive development and may offer lessons for other municipalities seeking to strengthen community-based support for ageing populations.

Direct beneficiaries of the report are policymakers, researchers, and service providers who benefit from improved access to reliable data, which support evidence-based planning, monitoring, and service delivery related to population ageing. The ultimate goal is that older persons benefit from more effective policies that affect older persons.

The data provided in the Statistical Bulletin served as a foundation for future aging-related research and international reporting commitments.

The bulletin was jointly developed and published by the National Health Commission, the National Working Commission on Aging, and the National Bureau of Statistics. Data was collected through national surveys and administrative records across sectors such as healthcare, civil affairs, and social security. The process involved coordination among ministries, data harmonization, and standardized reporting formats to ensure accuracy and comparability. The final report was released on the official government portal for public and institutional access.

This practice demonstrates inter-agency coordination, data transparency, and evidence-based policy support. By systematically publishing key statistics on older persons, it ensures informed decision-making and monitoring of aging-related programs. The consistent, public release of such bulletins also fosters accountability and enables researchers, policymakers, and the public to track progress in elderly care and social protection.

Senior citizens who are institutionalized in homes or who are isolated

Over 1000 senior citizens have graduated from the wellness sessions, and they showed high engagement rates. The program has also expanded across 11 different atolls.

Developed due to high levels of loneliness of older persons in the Maldives. Many older persons were in state care due to lack of social skills or lack of family support rather than an illness or disability. This program was developed to help them gain the necessary skills to re-enter society.

This programme addresses key issues that many older persons in Maldives face: isolation and institutional dependency. The programme focuses on social reintegration rather than solely medical needs. Additionally, it highlights the importance of intergenerational initiatives, to ensure precious knowledge is passed down to the younger populations.

Maldives govt initiates wellness project for senior citizens | Atoll Times

The Act benefits users of care centres across demographics—including children, persons with disabilities, juveniles, and senior citizens—by ensuring that care facilities (both residential and day care) operate under proper standards, control, and inspection.

The Act established mandatory registration, inspections, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure operational standards and protect vulnerable groups. As a result, registered care centres operate under clearer regulatory oversight, reducing the risk of unregulated or substandard facilities. For instance:

Drafted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Social Welfare, the Act was passed by Parliament in 1993 and published in the Gazette the same year. Implementation began via phased enforcement: registration requirements, issuance of certificates, inspections, and penalties for unregistered operations—empowered through authorized social welfare officers and the Director General.

It establishes a clear, enforceable regulatory framework mandating registration and oversight of care centres, thereby safeguarding vulnerable populations through structured enforcement and accountability.

• https://commonlii.org/my/legis/consol_act/cca1993121/

Older persons who require support accessing and understanding aged care services

The care finder programme offers tailored, intensive support and improves outcomes for people in the care finder target population, as well as strengthening integration between the health, aged care and other systems at the local level in the context of the care finder program.  

The Government is funding a workforce of care finders to provide face-to-face support to help people navigate and access aged care. The programme was developed in response to a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Added support for older persons navigating communication and language barriers, difficulty processing information due to cognitive decline, reluctance to engage with a need for support, and reluctance to engage with government services.

Care providers who provide necessary daily care for persons with disabilities and/or older persons

The allowance was incorporated through regulatory amendment and requires medical certification of disability based on guidelines issued by the Director-General of Medical Services. Care providers must sign a declaration acknowledging their caregiving duties, ensuring oversight and compliance.

This practice provides targeted financial support to caregivers while ensuring protection for vulnerable older persons and persons with disabilities. The combination of medical certification, official guidelines, and legal accountability ensures structured and responsible caregiving.

Businesses who seek to attract talent and reemploy women returning to work following a career break.

The development of a range of resources for businesses, including a self-assessment questionnaire to identify actions that could improve your workplace for women; an inclusive culture toolkit to create an inclusive workplace for women by identifying and addressing bias; an inclusive recruitment practices toolkit to improve job ads and practices, such as avoiding gendered language and using alternative application methods; a job crafting toolkit to allow your employees to personalise their role; a parental leave toolkit that discusses workplace policies that help parents balance their work and home lives; and a workplace flexibility toolkit to support diverse and innovative workforces.

The toolkit resources were extracted from the learning and experiences of the Career Revive programme. The original programme was designed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in collaboration with external management consulting firms (KPMG), and funded by the Australian Government.

Toolkit supporting inclusive employment practices aimed at enabling flexible transitions for women as they successfully reenter the workforce.

Businesses participating in Career Revive - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government

Jobseekers aged 45 and older.

Between 1 July 2019 and 31 March 2021, 11,085 people were referred to the programme, of whom 75% (8,407) commenced the course.  71% of participants reported completing the course, and the programme prepared testimonials from individuals who had successfully secured employment after completing the course. 

This programme was developed by the Government of Australia to address the specific challenges faced by older jobseekers and to improve tailored employment services for people aged 45+.  As part of Workforce Australia, the programme was delivered by local employment and skills organisations. The programme was rolled out nationally following a trial based in 5 regions: Adelaide South, South Australia; Ballarat, Victoria; Central West, New South Wales; Perth North, Western Australia; and Somerset, Queensland. 

The programme promotes employment for relatively older job-seekers and is free of charge for eligible individuals. It helps older workers transition into new occupations by identifying transferable skills and building competencies needed in modern workplaces.

Career Transition Assistance Program 2019–2021 Evaluation Report - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government

Beneficiaries include retired or near‑retirement professionals (senior specialists and veterans) aged typically 60+, who gain meaningful engagement and supplemental income, while younger generations benefit from mentorship and advisory support.

By 2021, the programme engaged 884 senior professionals in advisory roles and supported 442 with repayable financial assistance, leading to over 1,390 new job placements. It enhanced older persons’ income security, promoted self-employment, and strengthened institutional capacity through intergenerational knowledge transfer.

The program was structured under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, using national and local budgets. It integrates senior professionals into advisory and income-generating roles via structured grants and support mechanisms, including repayable funding and employment generation schemes.

It transforms ageing into an asset—leveraging accumulated expertise of seniors to foster advisory capacity, create jobs, and honor lifelong contributions, while aligning with both social protection and active ageing goals.

• https://www.population-trends-asiapacific.org/files/documents/MN_MIPAAsurvey_2021.pdf