Database of good practices on ageing

Persons with dementia and their caregivers and communities. 

As of 2022 over 300 persons with dementia are wearing such QR code stickers and several "wanderers" have been successfully reunited with their caregivers. It has provided persons with dementia and their caregivers with increased confidence to be able to safely "age in place".

The "NailQ" initiative was developed in consultation with hospitals, communities, caregivers and persons with dementia to ensure easy application and effectiveness. Since the QR code sticker is attached to the thumbnail, there is no worry of forgetting or losing it. Also, everyone with a smart phone can easily make use of QR code technology and the stickers are comparatively cheap. 

As of 2022 over 300 persons with dementia are wearing such QR code stickers and several wanderers have been successfully reunited with their caregivers.

The nail jell sticker is a simple low-cost solution. Unlike more expensive wearable GPS devices, it cannot be forgotten or break, and no batteries are needed. It is also more discrete and protects the safety of the wearer as no personal information is shared - just confirmation of identity and contacts of caregivers.

Japan tracks dementia patients with QR codes attached to fingernails - BBC News

https://share.google/bdWHGkO8ZKAFlgHuv

Where a Thousand Digital Eyes Keep Watch Over the Elderly - The New York Times

Older adults seeking active, interest-based leisure; families benefitting from intergenerational activities, and local artists and artisans gaining platforms for expression and audience engagement.

The practice nurtured meaningful intergenerational interaction through shared, accessible outdoor events. Up to 50 weekly events across multiple locations had more than 406000 visitors in one summer season. The practice strengthened project capacity among local creative groups, increased cultural participation, supported tourism, and enriched community life with accessible and diverse outdoor activities.

The practice was developed by creating the necessary infrastructure for outdoor events, mobilizing local artists, creative collectives, and masters, and curating a diverse program accessible to all generations. The design emphasized family traditions, cultural heritage, and intergenerational participation, ensuring events were inclusive for older adults, children, youth, and families. Coordination included logistics, safety measures, and weekly programming across city locations.

The practice is effective because it unites residents of all ages, strengthens intergenerational bonds, and promotes active ageing by involving older persons in culturally rich, community‑based leisure. Its scalable model—multiple outdoor venues, weekly programming, and diverse activity formats—ensures inclusivity and broad participation. Strong results, high attendance, cultural revitalization, and improved community cohesion make it a replicable and impactful model for other regions.

• 6b714944-66ef-4b63-b4ff-3c0b0443f57e0aa779f8-8579-481a-b03b-7de889efb67c.pdf

The primary beneficiaries are older citizens, particularly active pensioners who are willing to engage in volunteer activities and seek opportunities for self‑realization, social inclusion, and meaningful engagement after retirement. Secondary beneficiaries include social service institutions and vulnerable population groups who receive additional support through volunteer activities, as well as local communities that benefit from expanded social, cultural, and environmental initiatives implemented by silver volunteers.

The project helped reveal the social, professional, and life experience potential of older volunteers and supported their sustained engagement in volunteer activities. It also strengthened the role of social service institutions in organizing geronto-volunteering as a systematic and ongoing practice rather than a one‑off activity.

The project was developed in the context of growing national attention to volunteering following the Year of the Volunteer in Russia (2018). It builds on state support for volunteering and uses the existing infrastructure of social service institutions to organize, coordinate, and support older volunteers. The project is designed as an open‑ended initiative with continuous development rather than a fixed‑term intervention.

The project expanded volunteering beyond youth by systematically including older people and recognizing them as a valuable and qualified social resource. It used existing social service infrastructure for sustainability and offered diverse forms of engagement, allowing flexibility and long‑term participation. These features enabled the project to sustain volunteer motivation, support active ageing, and address social needs effectively.

older persons, persons with disabilities, care givers, volunteers

Thousands of older persons and persons with disabilities in the Voronezh region of the Russian Federation (especially in rural areas) have benefitted from one or more of the programs and projects or from individual support provided by the NGO and its volunteer network. 

"Young at Heart" started as an informal group of volunteers in 2017 and registered as an NGO in Voronezh region in 2020. It has been implementing a number of initiatives reaching thousands of older persons and persons with disabilities. These include the program "Comfort" (improving the physical living environments for older people in institutions and at home), and the projects "Gifts" (public collections of gifts for older persons living in institutions and at home for traditional celebrations such as New Year etc.), "Word of Mouth: Heroic History of the Region" (preserving and transmitting historical memory through cultural and educational events), and "Live, Create, Rejoice!" (organizing excursions, fairs, round tables, library lectures, "Clean-up Month", creative workshops and daily online exercise sessions).

The NGO supports a comprehensive approach to improving the life quality of older persons by improving the physical environment, addressing emotional issues such as loneliness and dignity, and providing important information and skills. 

Children, Adults and Elderly residing in Male' City

The initiative enhanced awareness on saving for retirement while promoting life-cycle linkages across generations, fostering stronger cohesion by bringing together older persons, youth, and children under a unified platform.

Developed in collaboration with Ministry of Social and Family Development. 

Bringing together the older persons, youth, and children on a shared platform fosters dialogue, strengthens bonds, and bridges generations. Open to all age groups, the event promotes inclusivity and helps build a more connected community.

For employment & social participation: the new senior generation (ages 60-75). For healthcare and home-based nursing: elderly aged 75 and up.

Over 1 million jobs were created through the Senior Jobs and Social Activities Support Program, The community care programs had a 92.8% user satisfaction, and there was a significant reduction in hospital stays for minor events. Elderly were less financially  dependent on their children (down from 28.8% to 12%).

As a response to failure of previous top down policies, this framework was developed through research and dialogue with youth, women and senior advocacy groups. By focusing on individual quality of life rather than state-centered demographic targets, the plan decentralizes responsibility. Municipalities are required to submit annual action plans for seniors tailored to their  regional needs.

This framework treats senior citizens as an asset rather than a burden, and aims to create a society where all generations can thrive.

Older persons in Georgia, particularly those suffering from loneliness

The 60+ Clubs in Georgia have demonstrated strong results in reducing social isolation, improving mental well‑being, and increasing the active participation of older people in community life. Participants report greater social connectedness, increased confidence, and improved emotional health as a result of regular interaction, peer support, and meaningful activities. The clubs have also strengthened older persons’ skills and independence through lifelong learning, digital literacy, and health‑promotion activities, enabling many members to better access services and remain engaged in society. At the community level, the clubs have helped foster intergenerational solidarity and volunteerism, enhance civic engagement, and raise awareness of ageing issues, while providing a low‑cost, scalable model that local authorities and partners can integrate into broader active ageing and social inclusion strategies.

It was developed in collaboration of UNFPA after a study highlighting that many older persons in Georgia suffered from loneliness. 

It reduces loneliness and promotes social participation of older persons. It provides a low-cost model and is funded by the Government. 

Promoting Active and Healthy Ageing at the local level in Georgia

Older Thai citizens with Gold Card entitlement of the Health Insurance Scheme

Launched in 2020 during the pandemic to manage home-isolation, the A-MED Care program has expanded to support the 30 bath policy in 2023. By 2024, it was scaled on a national level, focusing heavily on home based care for senior citizens. It has processed over 15 million service transactions for over 4 million citizens, and the platform is used by over 5000 nurse clinics nationwide.

This is a programme that allows older persons to access care wherever they are. It supports an already existing 30 baht healthcare policy, and allows for continuous monitoring of older persons. 

The beneficiaries were: (1) elderly persons aged 65 and above (and certain vulnerable younger persons), whose dignity and safety were protected through prevention of abuse; and (2) caregivers of the elderly, who received support, counseling, and training to reduce caregiving burdens.

The programme established nationwide consultation and reporting mechanisms at the municipal level, enabling early detection and intervention in elder abuse, while strengthening protection services and caregiver support.

The law was drafted and passed by the Japanese Diet in 2005. It clarified national and municipal responsibilities, created municipal consultation/reporting hotlines, mandated reporting duties for professionals, and granted municipalities authority for investigation and temporary protection, ensuring systematized development and enforcement.

It institutionalizes clear responsibilities and rapid response mechanisms, protecting older persons while also supporting caregivers—making it a comprehensive, prevention-oriented model.

• https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_48003.html

Older workers in South Korea, particularly those who might otherwise face age-based discrimination in employment.

South Korea has achieved record-high older worker employment, with 40.8% of those aged 65+ employed in Q2 2025, the highest on record, and leading the OECD with a 37.3% participation rate in 2023.

The 1991 enactment of the Elderly Employment Promotion Act laid the initial legal foundation for promoting employment among older persons in South Korea. In 2008, the law was comprehensively revised and renamed the Act on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in Employment and Elderly Employment Promotion, formally prohibiting age discrimination and institutionalizing age categories (e.g., “aged” as 55+ and “middle-aged” as 50–54). Subsequent amendments and enforcement decrees refined its scope, with the 2022 partial amendment further modernizing the law to address demographic shifts and evolving labor market conditions.

The Act provides a strong legal foundation by explicitly prohibiting age discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, and termination, with criminal penalties for employers who retaliate against complainants. It has proven adaptable through major reforms, such as the 2008 overhaul and 2022 updates, and continues to evolve through active societal debate. Aligned with demographic realities, it encourages older individuals to remain in the workforce and supports inclusion through re-employment programs, training subsidies, and flexible work arrangements. While execution challenges remain, its enforcement mechanisms, court rulings, and ongoing policy dialogue offer a solid basis for improving labour market equity for an ageing population.

• https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/08/south-korea-older-workers-low-paid-precarious-work?utm_source
• https://hr.asia/asia-pacific/more-seniors-than-youth-in-south-koreas-workforce-amid-pension-gaps/?utm_source