Database of good practices on ageing

Older and younger persons in the respective communities benefit from stronger social ties. Older persons overall benefit from a changed image of ageing and older persons. 

In Japan, participation in the initiative led to a stronger sense of belonging in the community, according to a research study. In the Philippines and Nepal, quantitative research found that Ibasho significantly enhanced social ties among older persons. 

The project was developed through a community-driven approach. The Ibasho project engaged with local communities to understand their needs, cultural context, and aspiration and jointly define their goals. The Ibasho team provides capacity-building. 

The practice led to empowerment of older persons, changes the image of older persons and is an intergenerationanl project. 

Creating Community Resilience Through Elder-Led Physical and Social Infrastructure | Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness | Cambridge Core

Building social capital with elders’ leadership through a community hub “Ibasho” in the Philippines and Nepal

The primary beneficiaries were older adults in China, particularly those with limited digital skills or access. The policy aimed to help them navigate smart technologies and access essential services like healthcare, transportation, and government support more easily.

The initiative ensures older persons’ access to essential services by retaining manual systems, enhancing digital interfaces with age-friendly features, and expanding nationwide volunteer and training programs, thereby promoting digital inclusion, autonomy, and social participation.

The policy was issued by the State Council in 2020 and coordinated across key ministries. Local governments adapted it through specific work plans—adding manual service counters, redesigning apps, and offering training. Tech companies supported implementation by upgrading platforms. Regular follow-ups ensured progress and consistency nationwide.

The policy is a good practice because it combined top-level coordination with local innovation to quickly close the digital gap for older adults. It ensured equal access to essential services during emergencies like COVID-19, promoted inclusive technology design, and launched sustainable training and volunteer programs. Its success has been widely recognized as a model for balancing digital advancement with social equity.

• http://wza.isc.org.cn/gtxd/flxg/20250520/4018.html
• https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/fzggw/jgsj/shs/sjdt/202111/t20211103_1302853.html

People requiring care in Kazakhstan, including children with disabilities and home-bound older persons without family caregiver. 

People who previously had no access to care—especially home‑bound older adults and persons with disabilities—are now eligible for state‑provided in‑home support.

The development of home‑based services occurred alongside broader reforms aimed at improving social welfare, aligning with international standards, and addressing gaps in long‑term care.

The practice provides access to care, reaches vulnerable older persons and facilitates ageing in place. 

Individuals with a disability who seek employment

Inclusive Employment Australia, formerly Disability Employment Services (DES), replaced DES on 1 November 2025.The Disability Employment Services (DES) supported people with disability, injury and/or health condition to gain employment. People with disability may have been eligible for one of two different parts of the DES program: Disability Management Service was for job seekers with disability, injury or health condition who need assistance to find a job and occasional support in the workplace to keep a job. Employment Support Service was for job seekers with permanent disability who need help to find a job and who need regular, ongoing support in the workplace to keep a job.

Australian retirees reaching statutory pension age, who now receive pension support based on assessed income levels to ensure fair access.

This change streamlined eligibility, improving transparency and equity in pension access. Nearly 80% of age‑eligible Australians now receive some form of age pension, with 50% receiving the full rate—a high take-up compared to other countries.

The income test is managed by Services Australia to ensure fair pension access based on declared and verified income. It is implemented through automated assessments, online tools (like MyGov), and regular income reporting. Thresholds are periodically updated, and the system integrates with tax and employment data for accuracy and efficiency.

The reform provides a transparent, needs-based pension framework that ensures broad coverage while preserving sustainability—delivering fairness and social protection effectively.

• https://pensionresearchcouncil.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Chapter-14.pdf

Older men and women in Türkiye

This guide gathers all relevant services and rights into one document, making it easier for older persons to understand what is available and how to access it.

Older persons requiring long-termcare. 

Assessments and partner reporting show:

• Improved quality of life and functional ability
• Reduced caregiver burden on families
• Increased autonomy and dignity among older persons
• Strengthened community solidarity

These outcomes have been highlighted by both development partners and government stakeholders as a viable long‑term care model for Armenia

Developed by the Armenian Red Cross in collaboration with Swiss Red Cross society

Instead of institutionalisation, the programme provides integrated medico‑social home care, allowing older persons to remain in their homes as long as possible — a strong preference identified in Armenia through baseline studies. Beyond care provision, the programme actively promotes active and healthy ageing,

Supporting Armenia’s Growing Older Population: Swiss Delegation Visits Shirak Region

Older persons with reduced physical or cognitive functioning, including in rural and underserved communities as well as family caregivers. 

The integrated community-based long-term care pilot in Viet Nam improved the health, well-being, and independence of older persons by providing coordinated home- and community-based health and social care services. Through regular home visits, needs assessments, and individualized care plans, older people were better able to manage chronic conditions, maintain daily functioning, and remain in their communities. The programme also reduced the burden on family caregivers by offering training, guidance, and support. In addition, it strengthened collaboration among health providers, social services, community organizations, and volunteers, demonstrating a practical, scalable, and cost-effective model for supporting healthy ageing and ageing in place.

The groundwork was established through the ADB regional technical assistance project Strengthening Developing Member Countries' Capacity in Elderly Care, which included Viet Nam and supported the development of LTC policies, planning, and stakeholder capacity.

The Integrated Community-Based Long-Term Care (LTC) Model in Viet Nam is considered a good practice because it provides person-centred, community-based care that enables older persons to age in place, rather than relying on costly institutional care. By bringing health and social services together, the model addresses the multiple and interconnected needs of older people in a coordinated manner. 

The programme also strengthens and supports family caregiving, which remains the primary source of long-term care in Viet Nam. Through training, guidance, and community support, it reduces the physical, emotional, and financial burden on family caregivers while improving the quality of care provided to older persons. 

Another key strength is its use of local resources and community networks, including commune health stations, community caregivers, volunteers, and Older Persons' Associations. This makes the model relatively affordable, sustainable, and adaptable to both rural and urban settings.

Advancing the Scale-Up of Integrated Community-Based Long-Term Care for Older People – HelpAge International tại Việt Nam
Developing Innovative Community-Based Long-Term Care Systems and Services: Lessons from a Pilot Project in Viet Nam | Asian Development Bank

Older persons in rural areas/villages in Bhutan

Data collected from this model enabled the creation of a national Digital Health Database for seniors. Through the health checks, it was found that around 20% of seniors living rurally needed immediate interventions for cataracts or mobility issues. These interventions would have gone unnoticed without the ICBSP model.

his model was developed as a response to the country's demographic shift. The wellbeing of Bhutanese elderly was usually viewed through the Gross National Happiness philosophy. This is the first standardized medical model that brings geriatric care into the primary care system.

This model adopts the WHO model of Integrated Care for Older People, but adapts it for rural settings by making the screening mobile rather than hospital-based.

Older persons in Northern Mariana Islands

The programme has created accessible community hubs for older persons on all three inhabited islands

The programme originated when the Older Americans Act (OAA) was extended to the Northern Marianas in 1974, leading to the establishment of an ageing programme for older persons in the territory. The current Office on Aging emerged as the institutional mechanism responsible for implementing OAA-funded services for older persons

This practice adopts a holistic approach to ageing by integrating nutrition, mobility, social participation, lifelong learning, health promotion and community support within a single service system.

(427) CNMI OoA - YouTube