Total: 405 good practice(s). Download
Organized through a public Facebook group with over 1500 members as of early 2026, Nordic Walking in Tashkent has become quite the informal grassroots movement for older persons (and not only) to look after their health through age-appropriate physical activity. The Facebook group organizers run trainings for new participants to learn the right techniques. Aside from the health benefits, it is also an enjoyable social activity, as people come together in groups for organized walks and friendly competitions, such as the "Tashkent Friendship Marathon". Often the walking destinations are an exhibition or other social activity. In some cases, whole families take part, adding a distinctly intergenerational dimension.
The Nordic Walking group is focused mainly on older generations, but participation by all generations is welcome.
It all started with a solitary New Year's walk of one of the movement's pioneers, Ms. Tamara Sanaeva - who also created the Facebook group. At first, the sight of a woman striding briskly along the pavement with two walking poles drew curious glances. Just a few years later, groups of Nordic walkers have become a familiar feature of Tashkent’s urban landscape.
One of the advantages of Nordic Walking is that you can do it nearly anywhere and little equipment is needed. Not only does it improve older persons' health and wellbeing but also helps bridge social isolation and finding new friends.
Новости Узбекистана, России, Казахстана, Украины, Белоруссии — Вести.UZТашкент учится скандинавской ходьбе | Новости Узбекистана, России, Казахстана, Украины, Белоруссии - Вести.UZ
The Old Age Allowance (OAA) Programme was implemented in 1998 by the Bangladesh Government, Cabinet Division and General Economics Division of Bangladesh Planning Commission. This pogramme aimed to provide income scurity for older persons from poor, vulnerable and insecure families, whilst removing th perception of older persons being a burden. This programme is one of the schemes that the Bangladeshi Government has in place to ensure older persons that face poverty are recieving social safety, with plans to bring all older persons under the ’universal social pension scheme’.
The allowance targets vulnerable elderly citizens—men aged 65+ and women aged 62+—from low-income households, especially those who are physically or mentally frail, landless, or socially isolated.
The programme significantly expanded its coverage and benefit level over time, enhancing the income security of older persons in Bangladesh. It contributed to improved well-being and social dignity of beneficiaries, enabling better access to basic needs such as food, healthcare, and personal care.
Established under the Social Safety Net Program by the Department of Social Services, the allowance is distributed through local administrative units using a means-tested, multi-tiered selection process involving community and Upazila committees. Funding is allocated each fiscal year through the national budget with implementation overseen by government authorities.
It demonstrates scalable, inclusive social protection—targeting the most vulnerable seniors with financial support that restores their dignity, improves access to basic needs, and fosters social inclusion across decades.
Old People’s Home for 4-Year-Olds, a factual documentary television series on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), brings together older persons and 4-year-olds in a social experiment to explore whether intergenerational contact can improve older persons’ health and well-being. The series includes expert guidance and tests the impact of children’s interactions on the elderly, showing significant improvements in mood, movement and mobility.
older adults living in residential aged care and 4-year-old preschool children. Both generations benefited socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
By 2023, The programme supports over 40 new intergenerational centres nationwide, strengthening social inclusion, enhancing older persons’ well-being, and inspiring new jobs and funding models for community care.
Developed as a structured social experiment, the show brought together experts in child development, geriatrics, and physiotherapy. It introduced shared activities, clinically monitored impacts, and later inspired replication through local organisations and pilot programs.
It demonstrated strong, evidence-based intergenerational impact, drove policy change, and inspired replication—bridging entertainment, research, and public engagement.
A monthly non-contributory cash benefit provided by the Thai government to citizens aged 60 and over, aimed at easing living expenses and ensuring a basic social safety net. The scheme is near-universal. It is for citizens not receiving other significant state-supported pensions or benefits (e.g., military or civil service pensions, salary from government entities, or welfare targeted at specific groups). The allowance is tiered by age.
Older persons over 60 in Thailand
Now over 10 million older citizens are covered. It provides a basic income for older persons.
It was developed as part of the government’s social welfare policy to provide a basic income for older persons without pensions or formal retirement benefits. It was introduced in the early 1990s as a small-scale welfare initiative for vulnerable seniors only targeting low-income older persons. In 2009 it was scaled up to cover nearly all Thai citizens aged 60 years or over. It is funded entirely by the national government budget.
It provides basic universal income security for all older persons in Thailand
Expansion of Thailand’s social pension policy and its implications for family support for older persons - Teerawichitchainan - 2021 - International Journal of Social Welfare - Wiley Online LibraryOld-age income security in ASEAN Member States
Older People’s Associations (OPAs) are community-based organizations led by older persons that promote active ageing, social participation, mutual support, health, livelihood security and representation. OPAs provide meeting spaces, organize collective activities, support vulnerable older persons, facilitate access to health services and social assistance, and serve as a channel between older persons and local authorities. They participate in commune and district development planning and help address isolation, poverty and exclusion among older persons. The Government recognizes OPAs as a key mechanism for implementing the National Ageing Policy 2017–2030 and promoting active ageing. They play a role in implementing all MIPAA priority directions.
Older persons in Cambodia.
According to HelpAge Cambodia, as of 2025, there were over 2,000 OPAs in Cambodia.
OPAs increased opportunities for social participation, active ageing, health promotion and representation of older persons. They facilitated involvement of older persons in commune and district development planning and supported health screenings, referrals, home visits, social care and livelihood initiatives. During COVID-19 pandemic, OPAs helped disseminate information and improve vaccine access.
The OPA model emerged as a community-based approach to enable older persons to organize collectively and address their own needs. HelpAge International pioneered the model in Cambodia and produced practical guidance on OPA establishment and management. OPAs were designed as self-managed associations promoting social support, health education, livelihood activities, advocacy and community participation.
The Government subsequently institutionalized the model through the 2009 OPA Guidelines and incorporated OPAs into the National Ageing Policy 2017–2030. Local authorities were encouraged to establish OPAs in communes and sangkats nationwide. Older persons became directly involved in local development planning and policy implementation through OPA structures.
HelpAge Cambodia continued supporting OPA capacity development, fundraising, leadership training and programme implementation. Together with MoSVY and partners, it also developed intergenerational OPA approaches that engage younger community members alongside older people.
The OPA model is a good practice because it places older persons at the centre of planning, implementation and decision-making. It combines active ageing, peer support, community participation, health promotion and social inclusion through locally owned institutions. OPAs provide a sustainable mechanism for linking older persons with public services and local authorities while addressing isolation and vulnerability. The model has been scaled nationally, embedded in government policy, and strengthened through collaboration among government, civil society and development partners, demonstrating strong potential for replication
Cambodia Voluntary National Survey on the Implementation of MIPAA (2021)
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation. Guidelines for the Establishment and Management of Older People’s Associations (2009)
HelpAge International. Establishing and Working with Older People’s Associations in Cambodia: A Practical Guideline (2006)
Comprehensive national strategy, includes a toolkit for older workers and an extension of an already existing wage subsidy for those seeking jobs aged 65+. Additionally, there is return to work coaching available for those over 50.
Older workers aged 50+, with an emphasis on diversity across Māori, Pacific, disabled, and regional communities.
Over 1,000 businesses have used the toolkit to redesign their jobs to work for an ageing workforce. This strategy has contributed to New Zealand having very high labour force participation rates for those over 65 years.
Developed through collaboration between governments, community groups and different businesses. It is now a core aspect of employment strategies to tackle ageism as well as skill shortages, as it keeps experienced workers contributing to the economy.
This strategy treats older persons as economic agents, as they have much to contribute to the workforce. It addresses age discrimination while still applying wage subsidies for employers to hire seniors.
The Pension System Modernization Concept of the Republic of Kazakhstan to 2030 initiated a comprehensive reform of the national pension system with primary focus on ensuring adequate retirement income, strengthening financial sustainability, and expanding pension coverage. The reform further introduces Kazakhstan’s multi-level pension model by strengthening the state, mandatory, and voluntary pension components. Reform focuses on modernization of the basic pension system by tightening benefits to an individual’s participation in the pension system and length of service. The reform also strengthens mechanisms for pension payouts and state guarantees on pension savings. Additional measure included introduction of a conditional funded pension component financed by mandatory employer contributions of 5% of employees’ income.
Ultimate beneficiaries will be people in Kazakhstan of all ages who will benefit from a more sustainable pension system.
The reform was initated on the presidential decree in 2014. However, the active intergation and implementation of the reform outcomes are carried out by Presidential Administration and Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The reform was initiated by the President of Republic of Kazazakhstan and Presidential Administration.
This reform is a good practice because it strengthens income security in old age while creating incentives for older persons to remain active in the workforce and engaged in the formal economy. The approach is replicable and sustainable, as it is based on a multi-pillar pension system with diversified sources of retirement income and shared responsibility among the state, employers, and employees.
Longzhen Senior Care created the One‑Stop Community Elderly Service Program, where trained liaisons help older residents and people with disabilities find and access the goods and services they need, such as adult daycare, home-delivered meals or medical supplies, help with doctors' appointments or legal assistance etc. These liaisons include home‑care staff along with local residents and community leaders from the ‘Longzhen Sunflower Volunteer Team.’ Social workers first assess each person’s situation and then develop an individualized plan to support their health and wellbeing. Through ongoing contact with their liaison, older residents build trust and feel more connected to their community. The liaisons also act as a safety net for noticing changes in health or behaviour. Longzhen Senior Care negotiates discounted rates with service providers and monitors service delivery to ensure it remains high‑quality and compassionate. Local small businesses benefit by increasing sales and reducing marketing costs, and as the age‑friendly network grows, more providers and businesses are applying to join.
Older persons who need daily assistance with various goods and services but do not (yet) want to move into a long-term care facility.
The One‑Stop Community Elderly Service Program operates on a non‑profit basis. Clients pay only for the specific services they use, while more than half of the total service costs are subsidized by the government or covered through a person’s social insurance. Local small businesses providing the needed goods and services benefit by increasing sales and reducing marketing costs, and as the age‑friendly network grows, more providers and businesses are applying to join.
By 2024, the program had expanded to nine regions and enrolled more than 3,100 older adults, most of whom are over 80 years old.
Many of the older adults catered for by this program live in apartment complexes without elevators resulting in limited mobility. They often also are not comfortable with or have no access to digital technology to order goods and services online. Developing such a liaison program has ensured that "no one is left behind". While it enables older persons to stay in their own home longer, it also is a trust-building exercise if seniors later need to move to the Longzhen Senior Care institution.
https://ahwin.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Innovation-for-an-aging-Asia_web.pdf
The SWD Elderly Information Website is a centralized digital information platform established by Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Department (SWD) to help older persons, their families, and caregivers access information on elderly services. The website serves as a one-stop portal containing information on community care services, residential care services, service quality and licensing information, the Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly, the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly, and the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong. By consolidating service information in an accessible online format, the platform improves transparency, facilitates informed decision-making, and helps users navigate available long-term care options.
The main beneficiaries are:
The website was developed as part of efforts to strengthen access to information on ageing, long-term care and support services. It consolidates information that was previously dispersed across multiple programmes and service providers into a single digital platform.
The SWD Elderly Information Website is a good practice because it improves accessibility, transparency and informed choice in ageing and long-term care services. By bringing together information on multiple programmes, care options, service providers and quality assurance mechanisms in a single platform, it reduces information barriers for older persons and caregivers.
The 2021 policy outlines a comprehensive approach to population aging. It focuses on expanding home- and community-based elderly care, improving healthcare through integrated services and long-term care insurance pilots, and promoting active aging with programs like the national Senior University. The framework also strengthens digital inclusion and legal protections, ensuring offline service options and tackling elder fraud. Finally, it drives growth in the “silver economy” by supporting senior tourism, assistive technologies, and health-focused real estate.
The policy provides guidance to practitioners in relevant Ministries. The ultimate beneficiaries of this policy are older persons across China, particularly those with disabilities, low-income seniors, and childless elderly who require public care support. Rural seniors benefit from improved access to integrated medical and elderly care services at the county level.
The policy has led to significant improvements in China’s elderly care system, including expanded service coverage, better integration of medical and social support, enhanced digital and legal inclusion for older adults, and the emergence of the silver economy as a national development priority.
The policy was jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council in 2021 after nationwide consultations. It was implemented through a coordinated, multi-level approach involving central ministries and local governments. Key mechanisms included pilot programs (e.g., long-term care insurance), integrated planning (e.g., combining elderly care with health services), and clear timelines and targets for local authorities to follow.
This policy represents a good practice due to its comprehensive and forward-looking design. It adopts a whole-of-government approach, integrating elderly care, healthcare, digital inclusion, legal protection, and economic development. It promotes both top-down planning and local innovation, encourages public-private partnerships, and aligns with international best practices. Its adaptability and strong emphasis on inclusive, people-centered services make it a replicable model for aging societies.
