Total: 413 good practice(s). Download
Singapores Active Ageing Programmes (AAPs), implemented by the Government and Ministry of Health, aims to holistically improve the physical, mental and social wellness of older persons aged 60 and above. These programmes have been rolled out nationwide at community nodes to enhance accessibility of the programme to seniors, with 600 community partners having hosted AAPs as of March 2020.
Older persons aged 60 and above across Singapore, benefiting from improved physical, mental, and social wellness through nationwide community-based programmes.
“The Care Centres Act 1993 sets the minimal standards and provides for the registration of care centres in the country.”
Implemented by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and People’s Association (PA) to drive regular participation across active-ageing domains (physical, social, mental), and rolled out nationwide at community nodes to maximize access. Part of a whole-of-government, whole-of-society strategy under the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, developed through extensive public consultations and inter-agency collaboration.
This programme holistically supports the physical, mental, and social wellness of seniors aged 60+, delivered through a nationwide, community-based network of around 600 partners to maximise accessibility. Implemented under a coordinated inter-agency framework by the Health Promotion Board and People’s Association within the national ageing blueprint, it tracks measurable outcomes—such as reach and partner engagement—and integrates with complementary initiatives like Project Silver Screen for functional screening.
Kazakhstan has launched a network of Active Longevity Centers nationwide to support the social integration of elderly adults and promote active lifestyle through a comprehensive approach for body and mind. The establishment of Active Longevity Centers is a central element of the 'Action Plan for improving the situation of senior citizens "Active Longevity" until 2025'. The centers offer free cultural, creative, physical, and educational activities for retirees to improve physical and mental well-being. People of retirement age can receive a physical and mental check-up, attend dance and vocal classes, chess, Kazakh and English lessons, creative arts, handicrafts, IT literacy, gardening therapy, memory-enhancement techniques etc. - free of charge. These centers are designed to encourage positive thinking and active engagement in life, which can ultimately extend longevity and prevent loneliness and stress.
Citizens of Kazakhstan that have reached pension age.
As of 2025, the network of Active Longevity Centers has increased to 127 across Kazakhstan.
In 2021, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved the 'Action Plan for Improving the Situation of Senior Citizens "Active Longevity" until 2025', kickstarting a comprehensive, integrated approach in line with international standards and recommendations such as the Madrid International Plan on Ageing (MIPAA). One core implementation approach of the Action Plan was the establishment of Active Longevity Centers across Kazakhstan. They have since been confirmed as a core implementation approach also in the next 'Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Senior Citizens until 2029'.
Active Longevity Centers are contributing to the formation of a "third-age community" as retirees form new social bonds, upgrade their financial, legal, and digital literacy skills, and partake in sports, cultural and tourism activities. It is a holistic approach to longevity addressing challenges from loneliness to health to learning important skills in fast transforming societies.
https://ageing-policies.unece.org/browse-policy/3009
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/documents/details/136353?lang=ru
Adult Day Care Centers, implemented by the National and Local Türkiye Governments, aims to improve living environments for older persons who have dementia or Alzheimers Disease. These centers offer leisure activities, provide assistance, guidance and professional counseling and supporst them through their daily activities, whilst enriching their social and psychological well-being.
Older persons in Türkiye (primarily 65+, some services 60+), including low-income seniors, those needing home or long-term care, and their families/caregivers.
The programme supports older persons nationwide—e.g., YADES operates in 13 metropolitan cities—expanding home/day care, simplifying access to health, social assistance and transport concessions, and improving rights awareness through a single, user-friendly guide and 24/7 hotlines.
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services compiled a national, rights-based guide that consolidates scattered rules and entitlements for seniors. Implementation is multi-sectoral: Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations assess eligibility and deliver cash/in-kind aid; the Ministry of Health and Home Health Units provide home health, palliative and vaccination services; Provincial Directorates and municipal partners deliver home care and day services; long-term care is provided via public/private nursing homes and “Elderly Living Homes.” Access pathways are standardized—e-government, PTT payments, foundation applications, and national call centers (Alo 183; 444 38 33). The YADES programme channels Ministry funds to municipalities to scale home/day care and ageing-in-place supports.
It turns a complex service ecosystem into one clear, accessible entry point, grounded in human-rights principles and inter-agency coordination, with practical access channels (hotlines, e-gov, local foundations) that reduce barriers for older persons.
Ministry of Family and Social Services, “Ministry has prepared ‘Services Application Guide’” (online article discussing the Information Guide for Older Persons, 2020), available on the official aile.tr website. *Active Living Center
China launched a national initiative in 2020 to improve the accessibility and usability of internet applications for older persons and persons with disabilities. The initiative promotes age-friendly and accessible transformation of websites and mobile applications (APPs), supported by dedicated technical design standards. In 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology further established an implementation mechanism covering technical standards, assessment and evaluation, accessibility certification, corporate credit incentives and dissemination of results. The initiative addresses barriers experienced by older internet users through measures such as adjustable font sizes, simplified interfaces, improved contrast, voice-reading functions, accessible verification methods and safeguards for personal information.
Older persons and persons with disabilities who use websites, mobile applications and other internet-based services.
Since the launch of the initiative in 2020 and its systematic implementation from 2021 onwards, age-friendly and accessible transformation has been progressively implemented across websites and mobile applications in multiple sectors. The initiative has produced concrete results in improving older persons’ access to digital services. In health care, the online appointment registration success rate among older patients at Peking Union Medical College Hospital increased to 75 per cent. In transportation, the senior-friendly version of Didi recorded more than 300,000 orders per day. In financial services, the age-friendly version of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s mobile banking application contributed to a 60 per cent reduction in relevant risks. These examples illustrate how the national framework has been translated into practical age-friendly digital services across health care, transportation and financial services.
The initiative was launched through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's 2020 Special Action Plan for Age-Friendly and Accessible Transformation of Internet Applications. In 2021, implementation was strengthened through detailed technical specifications for websites and mobile applications and a standardized assessment framework. The Internet Society of China provides technical guidance and assessment support for websites, while the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology performs corresponding functions for mobile applications.
The initiative goes beyond encouraging companies to make voluntary age-friendly modifications by establishing a comprehensive implementation and accountability mechanism. It combines technical design standards with user-centred assessment, independent technical evaluation, certification, continuing monitoring and corporate credit incentives. Older persons and persons with disabilities are directly incorporated into the assessment process through user satisfaction evaluations, ensuring that accessibility is evaluated not only through technical compliance but also through users’ actual experiences. The combination of national standards and implementation by public, technical and private-sector actors provides a scalable approach to reducing digital exclusion.
The Age-friendly enterprises programme, implemented by the Government of the Republic of Korean and Ministry of Health and Welfare, is a project focused on creating stable and sustainable jobs for the elderly. This programme recognises companies that hire older persons, by designating companies that employ a large number of elderly people as senior-friendly.
Older persons aged 60+ who gain access to paid jobs; and employers (companies, cooperatives, individual entrepreneurs) that hire many 60+ workers and receive grants/consulting after designation.
The Senior-Friendly Companies initiative continues to grow, reaching 338 designated firms by 2022 and adding 27 more in the first half of 2024, supported by KRW 1.75 billion in grants.
Led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and implemented by KORDI. Employers apply via open calls; MOHW screens and designates firms. Designated firms commit to hiring targets for workers 60+ and receive financial support (up to KRW 300 million), management consulting, preferential purchasing, and bid score benefits. The 2022 EIEC notice set a rolling call (Jan 10–Jun 30) inviting companies, cooperatives, and sole proprietors.
The Senior-Friendly Companies initiative represents a targeted approach to private-sector job creation for seniors, with clear eligibility criteria and measurable outputs such as the number of designated firms and grant volumes. Since its launch in 2011, it has maintained a sustained, scalable design, with hundreds of firms designated and continued expansion. The programme offers an integrated support package—including grants, consulting, and procurement or bid incentives—that enables firms to sustain senior employment beyond short-term subsidies.
Hawker Centers in Singapore have become intangible cultural heritage, creating diverse community spaces. Efforts have been made to make hawker centers accessible and age-friendly, including with places to place a stick or other assistive devices, make them accessible for people with visual impairments etc.
People of all ages in Singapore.
Hawker centers provide access to food at low-cost, demonstrate the diversity of Singapore and through regulation food safety is ensured. Hawker centers also provide a low-cost community space where people of all ages can gather and are often used as a community-space by older persons.
Singapore Easy: Gardens, Hawker Centers & Cool Escapes - SeniorCenters.com
The Social Welfare Bureau developed the Guidelines for Age-friendly Home Modifications in Macao to improve the safety and accessibility of home environments for older persons. The guidelines provide practical recommendations on barrier-free design, fall prevention, lighting, bathroom and kitchen modifications, assistive devices and smart home technologies. To facilitate public understanding and adoption, an Age-friendly Home Demonstration Centre was established to showcase practical home modification solutions and assistive technologies in a simulated residential setting.
Older persons, family caregivers, home designers, social service providers, healthcare professionals and organisations involved in age-friendly housing.
The initiative established the first comprehensive technical guidance on age-friendly home modifications in Macao, China, and introduced a public demonstration centre where visitors can experience assistive devices, smart home technologies and accessible home designs. The programme has strengthened public awareness of home safety and provided practical reference materials for professionals, service providers and households undertaking home modifications.
The Social Welfare Bureau developed the guidelines in response to the growing needs of an ageing population and the increasing importance of ageing in place. The guidelines were prepared by integrating international age-friendly design principles with local housing characteristics. A demonstration centre was established to translate the guidelines into practical examples, allowing older persons, caregivers and professionals to experience home modifications and assistive technologies in a realistic residential environment while supporting wider adoption of age-friendly housing practices.
The initiative combines technical guidance, public education and practical demonstration to promote safer and more accessible home environments for older persons. By integrating universal design principles with smart technologies and local implementation tools, it supports ageing in place and provides a replicable model for other ageing societies seeking to improve residential environments.
The National Housing Authority’s elderly housing initiative provides a set of free, ready-to-use house designs tailored to Thailand’s ageing population. It offers multiple small, affordable, single-storey housing models that incorporate universal design principles, ensuring safety, accessibility and ease of movement for older persons. Features include barrier-free layouts, good lighting, ventilation and user-friendly bathrooms. The designs are intended for ageing in place, enabling older people to live independently in familiar environments. Developed through a national design competition, the initiative promotes inclusive, modern housing that is suitable for all ages while remaining practical and cost-effective for widespread adoption.
The initiative benefits families with older persons in the household wishing to build a house; they can benefit from ready-made designs. Ultimate beneficiaries would be older persons who can benefit from age-friendly housing.
There has been large interest demonstrated by the number of downloads of the designs (around 50,000), but little concrete data on the use of the designs in construction.
NHA launched a national design competition inviting architecture students and professionals to submit ideas for elderly-friendly housing. A panel of experts evaluated the submissions and selected the most suitable designs based on affordability, accessibility, safety and universal design principles
The design competition through which the designs were generated raised awareness among young designers and architects on the requirements of age-friendly housing.
Türkiye Employment Agency (İŞKUR) operates mainstream active labour market programmes that are available to unemployed jobseekers of all ages. These programmes include vocational training courses, on-the-job training programmes, entrepreneurship training, career counselling and job placement services. While not specifically targeted at older persons, the programmes are accessible to and used by people aged 50 years and over. According to Türkiye's 2021 MIPAA Survey, older jobseekers have participated extensively in these measures, which support skills development, employability and labour market reintegration. The programmes promote lifelong learning and help older workers acquire new skills, gain work experience and access employment opportunities.
The programmes are open to all job seekers aged 15 years or over.
According to the 2021 MIPAA Survey, 412,169 persons aged 50 and over were placed in employment between 2011 and 2020, and 41,348 additional people aged 50+ were employed through İŞKUR services by August 2021. During 2012-2020, 50,333 older persons participated in vocational training courses, 20,305 participated in on-the-job training programmes, and 23,689 attended entrepreneurship training programmes. A further 4,332 people joined vocational training and 3,719 people participated in on-the-job training during January-August 2021.
İŞKUR's active labour market programmes were developed following the establishment of the Turkish Employment Agency in 2003 with a mandate to implement employment services and active labour market policies. Programmes are designed based on labour market needs analyses conducted by İŞKUR's provincial directorates and are delivered through annual workforce training plans. Implementation involves vocational training providers, employers, provincial employment and vocational training boards, and public institutions. Employers participate through on-the-job training and employment-guaranteed courses, while İŞKUR provides coordination, counselling, programme financing and job placement services.
Implementing partners:
The practice combines employment services, skills development and workplace experience within a national public employment framework. It addresses barriers faced by older jobseekers by offering training, career guidance, job matching and entrepreneurship opportunities tailored to labour market needs.
Homepage - Türkiye İş Kurumu (İŞKUR)
Türkiye, Voluntary National Survey on the Implementation of MIPAA in Asia and the Pacific (2021), Question 10.3.
The scheme involves volunteers visiting older people to provide friendship and companionship. Visits are available to anyone who receives government-subsidised residential aged care or "Support at Home" package, and anyone who is socially isolated.
Older persons at risk of social isolation
The ACVVS has been found to provide substantial benefits for older participants, volunteers, and service providers by reducing social isolation and loneliness and improving social connectedness and quality of life. Early findings from a national evaluation led by Monash University indicate that stakeholders regard the scheme as highly beneficial, particularly through the provision of companionship, meaningful relationships, and increased community engagement for socially isolated older people. The evaluation also found positive outcomes for volunteers, including stronger community integration and social connections.
The scheme has been running for over 30 years. It was previously known as the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS). The scheme works with around 120 community organisations to recruit and support volunteer visitors to visit socially isolated and vulnerable older Australians.
The scheme provides structured, community-based social support through trained volunteers who regularly visit older people receiving aged care ser
Evaluation of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS) Deliverable Two: Evaluation Framework - Monash University
Evaluation of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS) Deliverable 4A: Draft Stakeholder Consultation Report - Monash University
