Database of good practices on ageing

Older persons in Armenia eligible to pensions, regardless of nationality

It provides non-discriminatory access to pensions. 

Older persons in Mongolia, especially those with care needs, disabilities, or limited family support.

As of early 2020, residential care covered only 1.6% of older persons in need, and long-term care in Mongolia remained mostly informal, relying on untrained family caregivers. Most existing services were medically driven, with limited access to social and psychosocial support, and a lack of coordinated, cross-sectoral systems.

The Law on the Elderly was developed through stakeholder consultations led by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, with support from international agencies like ADB. It was implemented via legal enactment, training programmes for caregivers, and the establishment of community-based service centres.

It adopts a holistic, rights-based approach to ageing, integrates health and social services, and promotes community involvement, aligning with international best practices in long-term care.

People aged 65 and older needing long‑term care, and those aged 40–64 with age‑related diseases, were eligible—regardless of income or family caregiving availability.

The programme supports over 5 million seniors aged 65+, about 17% of that age group, facilitating home‑ and facility‑based care while easing family burdens. Service use increased markedly, with formal services boosting support and reducing caregiver time (especially among higher‑income groups). Moreover, LTCI helped lower annual medical expenses for elderly people compared to pre‑implementation levels.

The law passed in 1997, followed by a three‑year pilot, culminating in a mandatory social insurance system launched April 2000. Funded equally by taxes (central, prefectural, municipal) and insurance premiums from citizens aged 40+, municipalities act as insurers; beneficiaries pay only 10% copayment (adjusted to 20–30% for higher‑income groups later).

It modernized elderly care by socializing caregiving, ensuring universal, equitable access, relieving family burden, and establishing evidence-based, sustainable financing structures.

• https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=50024

Older persons of Sri Lanka, especially those at risk of neglect

A board meets frequently, around 50 times a year, and successfully resolve a significant number of cases. They close around 50% of cases through mediation.

The programme follows a restorative justice model rather than waiting for a lawsuit. An elder can apply for a maintenance order against their children, a conciliation officer then meets with both parties to reach an agreement. If conciliation fails, the board holds a formal hearing. They then have the power to issue a legally binding Maintenance Order that requires children to pay a monthly allowance, which covers specific care such as food, shelter or clothing.

This programme ensures that ageing in place is financially possible for seniors without an independent income but who have children that can support them.

11. MIPAA Focal Point Presentation (Sri Lanka).pdf

Annual Report of the Council of Elders 2010

Policymakers and government officials involved in retirement and social protection, public 

The Forum aimed to raise awareness, foster multi-stakeholder dialogue, and promote collaboration to secure the financial well-being of the country’s aging population, while emphasizing the need for balanced intergenerational resource sharing to ensure a sustainable and resilient pension system.

Developed in collaboration with Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Finance, Maldives Bureau of Statistics, UNFPA

Developed in collaboration with Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Finance, Maldives Bureau of Statistics, UNFPA

Beneficiaries are retirees in Moscow—women aged 55+, men aged 60+—regardless of employment status, focusing on enhancing their social inclusion, health, and active lifestyle opportunities.

As of 2025, the programme engaged over 660,000 older Muscovites in more than 141 Moscow Longevity Centres and many more self-organized clubs. It offers free cultural, educational, physical and recreational activities through a network of institutional and NGO partners. Participants have reported improved well‑being, social ties, and purposeful engagement.

The Moscow Longevity programme was formally launched as a pilot on 1 March 2018 and scaled citywide in January 2019 through a mayoral decree. It involved city agencies, NGOs, and social service centers under an integrated governance framework.

The Moscow Longevity Project is conceptualized as a systemic social intervention that addresses multiple dimensions of ageing, such as health, education, social inclusion, self-organization, and intergenerational cohesions - allowing for cumulative, reinforcing positive impacts. It transforms urban ageing through community-based, inclusive programming that promotes physical, cognitive, and social engagement using free, accessible services—fostering dignity and active citizenship in older age. The project explicitly contributes to changing public attitudes toward older age by reinforcing the value of active, capable, and socially engaged older people, which strengthens social cohesion across the city. Research (e.g. VTSIOM, 2025) on the social impacts of the Moscow Longevity Project shows improved quality of life, contribution to healthy life expectancy, increased self-realization and social participation, higher levels of financial, legal, and digital literacy, and the formation of a supportive communication environment for older citizens. 

• ВЦИОМ. Новости: Социальные эффекты «Московского долголетия»

• The impact of the Moscow Longevity Project on the quality of life of elderly patients - Orlova - Medical and Social Expert Evaluation and Rehabilitation

   

Older people across New Zealand—especially in rural communities, Māori, Pacific, and culturally diverse populations—benefited from improved income security, health services, housing, transport, community safety, and opportunities for participation.

The Strategy fostered cross-sector integration, prompting agencies to embed positive ageing goals into policies and annual action plans, and enabled the abolition of compulsory retirement—resulting in 22% of those aged 65+ remaining in paid work in 2014, contributing economically and socially.

Developed through extensive public, sector, and community consultations led by the Advisory Council for Senior Citizens, it set out ten aspirational goals and annual action plans across government agencies to ensure monitoring, accountability, and implementation.

It integrates a comprehensive, consultative framework across multiple sectors, ensuring sustained, inclusive, and rights-based ageing policy implementation.

• https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/planning-strategy/positive-ageing/action-plan-and-annual-report/index.html

Those aged 50+ (pre-elderly)

Since opening in 2024, the building has now become a fully functioning service hub. Data collected from the hubs assessments is being used to shape the National Action Plan on Older Persons (Phase 3 2023-2037).

This project bridges the gap between medical research, elderly care and technology. It promotes active-ageing and independence in elderly citizens.

Citizens of Bhutan aged 65 years or over

Many banks, such as Bank of Bhutan, have dedicated Senior Citizen Priority Counters at all branches. There has been reported satisfaction of no longer having to wait in long queues. In healthcare facilities, there is Priority Signage for those with disabilities and elderly ages 65+. This fast track system reduced waiting room times, and as such encouraged seniors to seek medical help more frequently. 

The senior citizen cards were developed as a result of many years of evidence-based research conducted by the Royal Society for Senior Citizens and the Ministry of Health. They identified that wait time and physical access were barriers to the wellbeing of older citizens in Bhutan.

Views seniors as a priority rather than a burden on the healthcare system, and respects the challenges they may face in many situations. 

All elderly Sri Lankans, as the amendment strengthened protection for their rights, welfare, and dignity.

Post-amendment, the Act established the National Council for Elders, supported a dedicated Secretariat for implementation, and enabled local-level elders’ committees to execute welfare programs. This institutional framework has facilitated elders’ participation in decision-making and better access to services.

Developed through legislative amendment, the government revised sections of the original Act to strengthen oversight. The Council and Secretariat were empowered to roll out programs via local divisional and village elders’ committees, bringing services closer to communities.

It created a formal governance structure for elder welfare—integrating national oversight with local implementation—and fostered elders’ representation and improved access to tailored services.

• https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/documents/fourth/SriLanka.pdf