Total: 405 good practice(s). Download
The Seniors University of China (SUC) is a national educational initiative that offers structured learning opportunities for seniors. Officially established in March 2023 under the Open University of China, the SUC is the nation's first university exclusively for older learners. The SUC offers a diverse portfolio of educational programs, including skills training, cultural heritage courses, social services learning, opportunities to participate in scientific research, and international exchange programs. The university integrates online and offline courses to make lifelong learning accessible and flexible for seniors nationwide.
Older adults aged 50 and above are eligible to register.
With approximately 22 million seniors enrolled nationwide, SUC operates 55,000 grassroots learning centers and offers 436,000 online courses as of April 2024.
It was implemented by a national framework coordinated through government policy, institutional guidance, digital infrastructure, and community-based learning networks. Established under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and operated by the Open University of China, SUC was embedded within China’s broader strategy to build a lifelong learning system and learning society. The blended approach ensured accessibility for seniors with different educational backgrounds and digital abilities. The courses are subsidized by the government and are either free or low-cost.
This learning programme encourages lifelong learning for older adults, empowering them to remain active learners and participants in their communities.
China's lifelong education platform serves 6.8 mln users
The Sewing Lab for Older Persons established age-friendly sewing lab services for older persons. The iniative provides dedicated community spaces where older persons can access sewing facilities and participate in age-friendly activities aimed at promoting inclusion and engagement
Older persons, particularly those at risk of social isolation
Two sewing labs have been created in Nor Nork and Hrazdan as a social enterprise.
Implemented as a national policy through government decree and NGO partnership with training and workshops. Specifically involving the establishment of local sewing labs as well as the delivery of sewing training and workshops for older persons
Combines participation, skills and inclusion in a low‑cost, replicable model
https://ageing-policies.unece.org/browse-policy/47
The Sex Discrimination Act, implemented by the Australian Government, prohiits discrimination in work, education, acess to goods and services and other areas on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and so on.
Women and all groups facing discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, pregnancy, family responsibilities—and later, sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status.
The Act made sexual harassment unlawful, created the office of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, and improved women’s access to education and employment. The Act encouraged more women to seek education and employment, raised family incomes, and enabled women—including single mothers—to combine work and family life.
Introduced by Senator Susan Ryan, debated in the Senate, and passed in 1984 with transitional exemptions for institutions such as churches, the military, and insurance.
It pioneered comprehensive protection against sex and gender-based discrimination, established enforcement through a Commissioner, and laid an enduring institutional foundation for gender equality in Australia.
This smartphone application is part of a "Social Participation Initiative" that encourages elderly individuals to become more involved in community activities, such as joining local groups or volunteering. The app uses data on the number of steps taken, locations visited, and days spent outside to evaluate users' social participation. Companies and organizations also benefit from collaborating with the app because it provides access to valuable activity data on the elderly.
Older adults
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using the app on social participation among study participants aged over 60. The study found that app users demonstrated a significantly higher level of social engagement in hobbies and club activities compared to non-users.
The programme's foundation is rooted in the findings of the Japan Agency for Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), which indicates that a community health promotion strategy emphasizing social interaction among older individuals effectively mitigates the risk of disability. Hitachi is also seeking to collaborate with other companies to further develop the app, as well as to establish partnerships with businesses and local authorities.
The app has been shown to have a positive impact on the social participation of older adults. Additionally, the data collected by the app benefits various business sectors by offering insights into the elderly population.
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シニアの「社会参加」を促し、介護予防を支援する新事業を立ち上げ | 株式会社 日立製作所のプレスリリースEffects of a Mobile App to Promote Social Participation on Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial - PubMed
Shanghai established a city-wide medical escort service for older persons aged 60 years and above to improve access to healthcare and support older persons throughout the healthcare journey. The service provides assistance with travelling to healthcare facilities, registration, medical consultations, communication with healthcare professionals, medication reminders, and emotional support. The programme applies to all eligible older persons regardless of household registration status and includes subsidy arrangements for low-income older persons.
Older persons aged 60 years and above, particularly those who require assistance in accessing healthcare services, including low-income and vulnerable older persons.
The programme established a standardized city-wide framework for medical escort services, including service standards, staff qualification requirements, transparent pricing mechanisms, and financial support for eligible low-income older persons. Shanghai aims to establish medical escort service networks in all districts in 2026 and achieve comprehensive, standardized service provision across the municipality by 2030.
The programme was jointly developed by the Shanghai Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau and relevant government departments to address the growing healthcare support needs of an ageing population. It established standardized service requirements covering service scope, staff qualifications, pricing transparency and institutional registration. District governments are responsible for developing local service networks, supporting the establishment of qualified medical escort service providers, training professional medical escorts, and integrating financial assistance for eligible older persons through existing elderly care subsidy programmes. The programme will be progressively expanded across all districts between 2026 and 2030.
The initiative provides a standardized and accessible model for supporting older persons in navigating healthcare services. By integrating professional medical escort services with local elderly care systems, clear service standards, workforce development and targeted subsidies, the programme enhances equitable access to healthcare and offers a replicable approach for age-inclusive health systems.
Two different housing concepts have been implemented in Busanjin-gu, Busan: the Doran-doran House and the Ieum House. These projects were developed for individuals who are capable of independent living but still require care and partial welfare services. The Doran-doran House project is Korea’s first shared public rental housing complex designed exclusively for older adults. The latter is a remodelled housing project for the elderly. Residents of this house are connected with a local social worker who provides ongoing support through regular home visits. This is considered to be closer and more direct care than that provided by the first project.
Individuals over the age of 65 who need support but wish to remain in their place of residence.
Despite some issues arising from living closely together, the residents of the two houses reported an improvement in their living conditions compared to before, in terms of both facilities and feelings of loneliness.
Senior Shared Housing was promoted as part of the 2019 Community-Based Integrated Care Pilot Project run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Busanjin-gu launched an integrated elderly care project including this housing initiative, which is funded by national, city and district budgets.
The housing project showcases how different concepts of living together in old age could be realised to support and improve the lives of many older people.
65살부터 ‘보증금 200·월세 15’…친구랑 20년 살 수 있는 집
Silver Age Action in China, implemented by the Chinese Government and the National Working Committee on Ageing, is a nationwide volunteer programme for retired professionals and intellectuals to support underdeveloped areas. The programme, which had engaged 5 million older volunteers by 2013, had benefited 300 million people and contributed over US$ 1.2 billion. The National Health Comission has further launched multiple projects to encourage retired medical professionals to improve rural healthcare.
The primary beneficiaries were older adults and residents in underdeveloped areas of China. At the same time, retired professionals also benefited by gaining opportunities to stay active, contribute to society, and improve their well-being through meaningful engagement.
The programme mobilized over 7 million senior volunteers across China by 2024, delivering 4,000+ community projects and benefiting 400 million people, while enhancing participants’ well-being and generating ¥8 billion (US $1.2 billion) in social value.
The Silver Age Action Plan was launched by the Chinese government in 2003 and coordinated by the National Working Commission on Aging. It mobilized retired professionals through provincial and local programs, with funding from government budgets. Implementation involved partnerships with local governments, community organizations, and public institutions, allowing volunteers to serve in healthcare, education, agriculture, and public services across rural and urban areas.
The Silver Age Action Plan is considered a good practice because it combines active aging with community development, mobilizing millions of retirees to address social service gaps in underdeveloped areas. It demonstrates strong government coordination, broad societal participation, and measurable impact—benefiting both service recipients and older volunteers. The program’s adaptability and 2024 renewal further highlight its sustainability and relevance in addressing population aging.
The Silver DOST Project in Azerbaijan, implemented by the Agency for Sustainable and Operational Social Provision and Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, is a sub-programme of the DOST Volunteer Project. This project promotes an active lifestyle for older persons through volunteer activities, encouraging them to spend their leisure time productively. This project simultaneously promotes intergenerational relations by encouraging young community members to volunteer.
Retirees aged 50 and above who wished to remain active and contribute through volunteering at DOST centers.
Since its launch, the “Volunteer DOST” program—including Silver DOST—has involved over 5,200 volunteers (as of mid-2022), enabling retirees to engage in public service, gain new skills, and enrich their leisure time while supporting frontline social services.
Under the DOST Agency, established in 2019, the “Volunteer DOST” initiative introduced three subprograms in late 2019: “Young DOST,” “Silver DOST,” and “Distant DOST”. Volunteer performance is evaluated through observation, feedback, and appreciation letters.
It empowers active ageing by integrating retirees into voluntary public service roles, enhancing their social engagement and sense of purpose while strengthening intergenerational collaboration and public service delivery.
The Silver Generation Office serves as a senior outreach and volunteer engagement programme that connects older persons in Singapore with care services, resources, and social support through volunteer-led engagement.
Older persons in Singapore aged 60 years or over
The Silver Generation Office has established a nationwide volunteer-led outreach network that has carried out more than 2.7 million engagements with seniors, mobilized over 5,000 volunteers, recruited volunteers through partnerships with more than 90 organizations, and expanded support to all Singapore residents aged 60 and above by connecting seniors to health, care, and community resources.
The Silver Generation Office was introduced through the evolution of the Pioneer Generation Office, established in 2014 to reach out to beneficiaries of the Pioneer Generation Package. In 2018, it was renamed the Silver Generation Office, incorporated into the Agency for Integrated Care, and given a broader mission of supporting all seniors aged 60 and above. It achieves this through a large volunteer network that conducts community outreach, builds relationships with older persons, and connects them with relevant health, care, and social services.
The Institute of Continuing Education at Kozybayev University in Petropavl, Kazakhstan, hosts the "Silver University", designed for older adulta (aged 50 or over). The programme promotes active ageing, continuous education and digital participation. Participants can enroll in short, practical courses including digital literacy, foreign languages, health and wellbeing, legal and financial literacy, creative hobby-based courses and introductory AI and modern technology courses. Courses are designed to be accessible and beginner-friendly with flexible timing. Certificates are awarded upon completion. The courses are free of charge for retirees and paid for broader community participants but the fees are considered as accessible.
Women and men aged 50 years or over in Northern Kazakhstan
The project was developed through the "University of the Third Age" movement in Kazakhstan and in line with the Governments life-long learning strategy.
The Silver University is a good practice because it provides a cost-effective, scalable, and inclusive model of lifelong learning that directly improves digital literacy, social participation, and wellbeing among older persons, while leveraging existing university systems.
Philosophy of Well-being: Quality of Life and Inclusion of the Elderly Population of Kazakhstan in the Era of Digitalization | BULLETIN of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Historical sciences. Philosophy. Religion Series
