Database of good practices on ageing

The service benefits approximately 450,000 seniors in 2020—up from 350,000 in 2019—targeting vulnerable individuals aged 65 or older.

The programme enables tailored combinations of safety checks, daily-living support, and social engagement, matching individual needs. Increased “self‑care awareness” among users correlates strongly with higher life satisfaction. Additionally, reduced depression and better subjective health further boost life satisfaction.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare consolidated six fragmented elderly-care services into a unified, needs-based model. Local agencies conduct needs assessments and jointly plan personalized services, delivered via home visits, phone, community programs, or ICT-enabled check-ins.

This model transitions from one-size-fits-all to person-centered care by integrating multiple services and addressing varied needs through tailored delivery, improving satisfaction, autonomy, and well-being.

• https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART003005056

Older Muslim men and women in Malaysia

The initiative has enabled many older persons to engage in lifelong learning, strengthen their religious understanding, and maintain an active and purposeful lifestyle. It has created a community of seniors who are knowledgeable in Islamic teachings and capable of sharing their knowledge with others, thereby fostering social and spiritual well-being.

The programme originated from religious donation (waqf) of a 1.7-acre property, including two bungalows and orchard land, by Tuan Haji Ir Mohd Mazlan bin Md Ismail in 2010. MAIWP developed the concept and officially launched the center in 2011, later renaming it Darul Ilmi. Recruitment is conducted annually through announcements on social media, mosques, and the MAIWP website. The center provides accommodation and modern facilities to support the Islamic pondok learning approach.

Darul Ilmi promotes lifelong learning and spiritual enrichment for older persons, addressing their intellectual and social needs. It combines traditional Islamic education with modern facilities, ensuring accessibility and comfort for seniors. The initiative reflects sustainability through waqf-based funding and serves as a model for integrating religious education into senior living.

The main beneficiaries are policymakers and other data users. 

The research highlights a gradual shift from extended, multigenerational households toward more nuclear and egalitarian family models. Marriage and parenthood are occurring later, fertility rates are declining, and tolerance toward divorce is increasing. At the same time, traditional norms remain influential, creating a blend of conservative and liberal attitudes within families.

The report also notes changing gender roles, including greater paternal involvement in childrearing, although women still bear most domestic responsibilities. Language use in families is evolving, with bilingualism (Kazakh and Russian) becoming more common, especially in urban areas.

The survey was implemented as a mixed-methods sociological study combining a nationwide public opinion survey with qualitative interviews. In practice, this involved administering a structured questionnaire to a sample of respondents across multiple regions of Kazakhstan to capture representative views on intergenerational relations, alongside in-depth interviews with individuals living in multi-generational households to explore attitudes and experiences in more detail.

This report could support future governmental and non-governmental activities on identifying better strategies of incorporating both younger and older generations, thus forming more coherent and unified social structure. 

People who are terminally ill

The Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan drafted and approved the standard via ministerial decree. It updated clinical guidelines and organisational rules in national healthcare institutions. Implementation occurs through cooperation with regional health departments and medical facilities. 

Decree of the Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Approval of the Standard for the Organization of Palliative Medical Care" | Ageing Policies Database - UNECE

Older persons and persons with disabilities who require third‑party or long‑term care.

Regional reports indicate expanded access to services: for instance, as of mid‑2025, approximately 21,892 recipients received social‑household services and 5,728 received socio‑medical services under long‑term care frameworks.

The decree approved a standardized (model) long‑term care system, providing a template for regions to adapt. It was rolled out in selected federal subjects in 2021, encouraging regional adoption of both social‑household and social‑medical services for targeted groups.

It offers a standardized, scalable model enabling regions to adapt long-term care systems effectively, ensuring consistent and inclusive support for vulnerable populations across diverse areas.

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all Lao citizens aged 60 and above, particularly emphasizing their right to care, well‑being, and participation, with a clear intent to include vulnerable seniors.

While the Decree itself is a legal framework (not an implemented programme), it establishes binding measures to safeguard older persons’ rights—such as guaranteed access to healthcare, priority in public services, social protection, inclusion in Older Persons’ Associations, as well as mandates for state, society, and family care responsibilities.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare led the development through legal revision efforts from 2019–2021, aligning with international aging frameworks like MIPAA and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration. The final Decree was institutionally embedded via formal issuance, with designated responsibilities across national, provincial, and local authorities for enforcement and oversight.

It is a rights-based, legally anchored approach that mainstreams elder care within governance structures. By clarifying responsibilities at all levels and affirming fundamental rights, it lays a robust foundation for systematic, inclusive support of ageing populations.

• https://data.opendevelopmentmekong.net/library_record/vbhgj

Mainly targeted for those who work in care sectors.

The care workers who tested this reported that experiencing challenges associated with dementia through AR increased their motivation and empathy for, and changed their attitudes toward, the elderly with dementia.

It was jointly developed by Keio University and the healthcare company MEDIVA. Different from VR technology, AR technology allows users to experience visual challenges in their own surroundings and daily life. During the technology's testing, participants are asked to perform a series of tasks, such as using the toilet, sitting down in a chair, reading letters, and identifying colors.

This innovative approach improves understanding of people with dementia, helps develop healthcare tailored to their needs, and creates an inclusive healthcare environment.

「認知症AR」がアジア健康長寿イノベーション賞 準グランプリ受賞｜医療コンサルティングのメディヴァ

Local authorities have a code to be able to enforce age-friendly housing standards. It also serves as a guide to architects to ensure universal design. Eventually older persons and persons with disabilities will benefit from accessible housing that facilitates ageing in place

The revised design code improved the quality of housing including better accessibility, ventilation and lightning.

Development of the code was led  by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) Standards and Norms Research Institute, with China Architecture Design and Research Group and various architectural and academic institutions drafting revisions. The revision process spanned internal research, field investigations, international benchmarking, and multiple rounds of public and expert consultation. 

Policymakers, academia, practitioners who conduct work related to older persons 

The study found that older persons in Kazakhstan have strong potential for active ageing. This is reflected in high levels of educational attainment, strong social and family networks, active involvement in caring for grandchildren and older relatives, high levels of physical activity, and good psychological well-being. The study further highlighted that older persons have relatively strong labour market participation and use of information and communication technologies. The findings show a need in improving living standards for older persons, reducing risks of poverty and material deprivation, lowering mortality rates, and increasing life expectancy. Furthermore the AAI could be further used as one of key monitoring and evaluation tools for better policy research and delivery under the condition of better intergation of national statistical data, expansion of more diverse and comprehensive data collection methods, and more systematic adaptation of the index to national priorities and socio-cultural contexts. 

The study was conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan, UNFPA, National Commission on Women's and Family-Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The index was calculated by utilizing the data from national surveys and statistical sources including but not limited to employment, quality of life, income, health, social participation, and others. The implementation process involved identifying nationally available data corresponding to the AAI indicators and four domains: employment, participation in society, independent and healthy living, and enabling environments for active ageing. The study calculated the first national AAI and performed international comparison. Recommendations were further developed to support future monitoring and  adaptation of the index into the national social policy. 

This is a good practice because it allows for  development and application of alternative methods of measuring age. Hence, it allows to further strengthen the foundation for more targeted, evidence-based policymaking. The methodology is highly replicable in other countries and can be regularly updated using national data sources, making it a sustainable tool for monitoring ageing trends. 

The beneficiaries are policymakers and other stakeholders in the policy process. It provides data for evidence-based policies on long-term care in Sri Lanka and is expected to inform funding decisions. 

The study highlights significant gaps in the long-term care system of Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka lacks a comprehensive LTC system, with fragmented services across health, social care, and community sectors; limited institutional and home‑based care coverage; weak regulatory frameworks; and inadequate financing. It underscores the need for integrated policy, workforce development, and financing strategies to ensure equitable LTC access.  It also formed a basis for discussions on a new policy on ageing in Sri Lanka, which was launched in October 2025. 

Developed under ADB technical assistance, the diagnostic was conducted by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) through literature review, stakeholder interviews, and analysis of regulatory and service systems. It serves as a foundational evidence base for future LTC policy planning in Sri Lanka.

It marks Sri Lanka’s first systematic, evidence-based diagnosis of its long-term care system—creating a credible foundation for future reforms, multisector coordination, and strategic planning.