Total: 413 good practice(s). Download
Health Japan 21 (Third Term) is Japan's national health promotion strategy for 2024-2035. The policy aims to create a sustainable society in which all people can lead healthy and fulfilling lives. It promotes a life-course approach to health, emphasizing the extension of healthy life expectancy, reduction of health disparities and creation of supportive social environments. The strategy adopts a "leave no one behind" approach and addresses key determinants of health, including physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, sleep, preventive health services and healthy environments. Although not limited to older persons, it supports healthy and active ageing through prevention, health promotion and social participation throughout life.
Direct beneficiaries are all those implementing the strategy. End beneficiaries are all people in Japan who benefit from higher healthy life expectancy.
The third phase was launched in 2024 and outcome results are not yet available. However, the programme establishes a strengthened monitoring framework with 51 measurable targets, baseline indicators drawn from official statistics, a planned mid-term evaluation and a final evaluation. The strategy carries forward the longstanding national objective of extending healthy life expectancy and reducing health inequalities. The framework incorporates lessons from the second phase and strengthens implementation, monitoring and accountability mechanisms across sectors
Health Japan 21 (Third Term) was developed through a revision of Japan's national policy for the comprehensive promotion of health. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reviewed evidence from the previous phase, analysed national health data and established measurable national targets. The strategy is implemented through collaboration between national and local governments and integrates health promotion into multiple sectors. It uses official statistics and national surveys for monitoring and follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, including mid-term and final evaluations to guide policy adjustments.
The strategy demonstrates a comprehensive approach to healthy and active ageing by linking health promotion, disease prevention and supportive environments across the life course. Rather than focusing solely on older persons, it addresses the determinants of healthy ageing before old age occurs. The policy combines measurable targets, evidence-based planning and a robust monitoring framework. Its emphasis on extending healthy life expectancy, reducing health disparities and creating inclusive environments aligns closely with the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing and supports sustainable responses to population ageing.
Takimoto, H., Matsumoto, M., Morooka, A., and Yokoyama, T. (2024). Toward the Promotion of Health Japan 21 (the Third Term). Japanese Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Wada, Y. (2024). Start of the 12-year initiative for the third term of Health Japan 21. Journal of the National Institute of Public Health.
The Strategic Plan 2019–2023: Investing for Our Future was implemented by the Ministry of Health as a comprehensive national roadmap for strengthening Brunei Darussalam’s health system. It outlines five strategic goals, 39 integrated actions, and a wide range of policies and programmes that cover health services, disease prevention, public health protection, sustainability, governance, and system innovation.
The Strategic Plan explicitly includes “Promote Healthy Ageing” as a key initiative under its goals for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It seeks to align the broader health system with the needs of an ageing society.
The plan was developed through extensive discussions and collaboration across multiple levels of the Ministry of Health, culminating in clear strategic directions and detailed action plans. Each goal and initiative had designated leads responsible for operationalisation, supported by review mechanisms and cross‑sector partnerships. Its implementation relied on coordinated effort among government agencies, hospitals, technical departments, academic institutions, and international partners such as WHO.
The Plan provides a structured, forward‑looking, evidence‑based framework for improving health outcomes nationally. The plan strengthens governance, promotes resource optimisation, enhances public health protection, and prioritises people‑centred care. Its comprehensive, integrated approach aligns with global standards and national aspirations, contributing meaningfully to healthier ageing and improved wellbeing across all life stages.
The Healthy Ageing Strategy for Older Queenslanders, implemented by the national and local Australian Governments, aims to improve health services for older individuals. The strategy seeks to enable the alinment of policy, planning, administration and service delivery activities of the public health system to create an environment where health and health services for older persons are continually improving. The strategy additionally aims to identify priorities for service improvement and innovation in the delivery of health care for older people.
Older Queenslanders—especially diverse groups including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTI individuals, rural and remote residents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders—benefited from culturally competent, accessible, and age-friendly health services.
While the strategy itself didn’t report quantitative outcomes, it laid the foundation for integrated, person‑centred care models and age‑friendly system reforms across the state. As an illustrative comparable example elsewhere, the Ageing Well Noosa program (supported under ActiveKIT) saw 410+ seniors participate, with 19.5% increase in moderate-intensity activity, 12.9% strength improvement, 7.7% better balance/flexibility, and 65.3% more social engagement — showing how local healthy ageing efforts yield measurable well‑being gains.
The strategy was co‑designed through broad consultation with older people, carers, clinicians, and providers—ensuring it reflected real needs. It aligned with WHO’s Age‑Friendly Cities framework and was embedded across Queensland’s health system via strategic policy, planning, implementation by Department of Health and Hospital and Health Services, with ongoing evaluation mechanisms built in.
Because it’s co-designed with diverse stakeholders, aligned with international age-friendly principles, and embedded into system-level planning—ensuring holistic, culturally responsive, and integrated care that keeps older people well and connected.
The Silver Guardian Plan aligns with the Chinese government's 2021 strategy to bridge the digital divide. The plan aims to help older adults integrate more easily into digital society by promoting the use of smart technologies. Its core concept is "connection + computing power + capability," offering high-frequency services and age-friendly features. Services exclusively designed for elderly individuals experiencing difficulties include an Easy App interface, video customer service, and the Elders Priority Service Desk. Offline door-to-door services are also provided. For example, in urban areas, staff visited elderly users’ homes to assist with smartphone setup, app installation, service activation, and basic digital operations.
Older customers aged 60 and over, particularly those who have difficulty accessing or using digital services and technologies with confidence.
According to a recent company report, around 70 million elderly individuals were expected to have used the direct hotline for older adults by the end of 2023, accounting for a total of 320 million cases.
The digital divide has been identified as a challenge for older persons in China, where technology is rapidly advancing. The Silver Guardian Plan was developed as part of China Mobile’s commitment to closing the digital divide and providing supportive services to elderly customers. Initially launched under the "Four Ones" concept, the program offered service packages and support exclusively for the elderly, as well as online educational lectures on digital literacy and security, and on-site demonstrations and supports.
This plan demonstrates how the telecommunication sector can promote digital literacy among the elderly effectively. The services provided in this framework, such as an easier interface and door-to-door service, offer direct and measurable solutions to closing the digital divide.
How to build an elderly-friendly digital society - Chinadaily.com.cn
The Home Care Allowance programme, implemented by the national and local Türkiye Government, aims to help caregivers by paying a homecare allowance to those caring for family members. This allowance, administered by the Ministry of Family and Social Services of Turkiye, provides up to TL9, 077 monthly to families.
The programme supports families caring for fully dependent persons with disabilities, subject to income eligibility (income below two‑thirds of the net minimum wage).
By January–July 2024, 555,000 beneficiaries received support; the monthly allowance rose from 7,608 TL to 9,077 TL, and 4.9 billion TL was deposited in one month, totalling 30.2 billion TL over that period. As of May/June 2025, approximately 541,599 disabled individuals benefited from home care support, enhancing their ability to remain at home with their families.
Based on the 2005 Disability Act, the allowance was institutionalized via a 2006 regulation detailing eligibility, implementation, evaluation, and payment processes. Over time, payments have been streamlined to deposit directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, and periodically adjusted to reflect public salary coefficients.
It enables equal access to care by empowering families to care for fully dependent relatives at home, preserving family unity, enhancing dignity, and ensuring fiscal transparency through direct, indexed payments.
The Babushka Adoption Foundation sponsors home care and self-help groups, to support the most vulnerable older persons in Kyrgyzstan, especially those who receive low pensions and lacking close relatives to provide care. Home care consists of visits by social workers who help with errands like shopping for groceries and paying bills, and assist older persons with personal hygiene, cooking and cleaning. Self-help groups give older persons a chance to socialize and pursue hobbies, boosting their morale and supporting their psychological condition.
Older persons without family support in Kyrgyzstan, especially those with low income.
The programme has been able to reach older persons without families.
The origins are in the 1990s as result of the economic crisis after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which left many older people unable to survive on insufficient pensions. Many older persons were left alone as younger relatives migrated for work, leading to widespread poverty and social isolation among older adults. It was founded with external support from bilateral donors. It also collaborates with the Government of Kyrgyzstan.
Babushka Adoption is a good practice because it provides reliable financial, social, and emotional support to highly vulnerable older people who live alone and cannot meet basic needs. Its low‑cost sponsorship model effectively boosts inadequate pensions, while trained social workers offer essential home‑based care and reduce isolation. Operating in high‑poverty regions, the programme fills critical gaps in social protection and has delivered sustained impact since 1999, improving dignity, wellbeing, and daily living conditions for elderly people in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan: Adopt-a-Babushka Program Keeps Some Elderly Kyrgyz Citizens Going | Eurasianet
The Home Care Support Services for Senior Citizens (HCSSSC) in the Philippines is a community‑based programme that provides in‑home assistance to frail, sick, or bedridden older persons, enabling them to age safely and comfortably in their own homes. It strengthens local care systems by training community volunteers, engaging families in caregiving, and improving the capacity of local governments to deliver eldercare services. The programme also raises public awareness of senior citizens’ needs and forms part of a broader national strategy to enhance older persons’ wellbeing, dignity, and social participation.
Older persons requiring long-term care.
The programme has expanded caregiving support for frail, sick, and bedridden older persons by enabling them to receive essential daily‑living assistance within their own homes, improving comfort, safety, and continuity of care. It has mobilized and trained community volunteers, strengthening local caregiving capacity and fostering stronger family and community engagement in eldercare.
The Home Care Support Services for Senior Citizens (HCSSSC) in the Philippines was developed in response to the country’s rapidly growing older population and the rising need for long‑term care, leading the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to formalize the programme through Administrative Order Series of 2010, which provided the first official guidelines for its creation. Drawing on research showing that many frail and sick seniors were left without adequate daily support, the programme evolved from earlier community‑based initiatives—previously called Neighborhood Support Services for Older Persons—and was shaped to involve family caregivers, trained community volunteers, and local government units as core partners in service delivery.
It strengthens ageing in place, aligning with global recommendations for community‑based care. It uses a low‑cost, volunteer‑enhanced model suitable for both urban and rural communities. It integrates social protection, caregiving, and community engagement in a single framework.
Home Care | STB - Social Technology Bureau
The Home Equity Access Scheme lets eligible older Australians access the equity in their home or other Australian real estate through an Australian Government loan. It was previously known as the Pension Loans Scheme, and is designed to supplement pension payments. Participation is voluntary. Participants in the Scheme can choose to receive fortnightly payments to supplement their regular income or a lump sum advance.
Pensioners who wish to supplement the pension payment amount
Additional support for older persons to access the equity in their home to supplement a retirement income.
The Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS) was originally introduced in 1985 as the Pension Loan Scheme and rebranded as HEAS in January 2022.
Ageing in place and stable income are both supported through the programme
Japan Post is Japan's national postal service. The Elderly Watch Service allows elderly in throughout Japan to subscribe to receive one 60-minute home visit or have daily phone check ins (for a monthly fee of Y1000).
Senior citizens of Japan
By Feb 2019, there were 10,592 users of the service, and seniors often used the service for many months in a row. A study by Inagaki and Awata (2020) showed that the service had a positive impact on mental health of elderly who live alone in social isolation.
Japan Post is Japan's national postal service. The Minamori Watch over service allows older persons all over Japan to subscribe to receive one 60-minute home visit or have daily phone check ins (for a monthly fee of Y1000).
Addresses the large number of seniors living alone in Japan, and allows seniors to take charge of their lives by subscribing to have social interaction and health check ins.
Does the Home-Visit Communicating Service by Postal Workers Improve the Mental Health of Older Persons Living Alone? | Innovation in Aging | Oxford Academic
Established under the National Action Plan for the Promotion of Open Government (2020–2022), this hotline provides an accessible mechanism for individuals to report rights violations and seek assistance. It supports protection against abuse, neglect, and discrimination, including age-related issues. Implemented nationally, it strengthens access to justice and accountability.
Older persons and whole of society
The call center receives thousands of calls every year, showing that it is a well-accepted mechanism to raise complaints.
The Immediate Response Hotline was developed by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of reforms to improve access to the Ombudsman and increase the efficiency of citizen complaints and inquiries. It was established by creating a unified call center reachable via the number “916”, consolidating previous hotlines into one modern telephone and IT-supported service. This development was carried out under the National Action Plan on Promotion of Open Government (2020–2022) to expand citizens’ ability to lodge appeals and ensure rapid handling of complaints. The unified hotline operates 24/7 across the country, including weekends and holidays, enabling people to call for immediate assistance from the Ombudsman’s Office.
The hotline is considered a good practice because it provides continuous, low-threshold access to human-rights protection services through a 24/7 unified call centre, removing barriers such as written applications or physical travel. It is replicable, as it relies on standard call-centre infrastructure that can be integrated into national human-rights institutions, and sustainable, as it is embedded within the Ombudsman’s permanent institutional framework and referenced in national and international policy reporting.
Microsoft Word - Law Ombudsman.doc
Hotline for Immediate Response by the Office of the Ombudsman | Ageing Policies Database - UNECE
