Browse Ageing Policies

The "Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)" was introduced by the Government of Canada in 2023 as a national initiative to improve access to dental and oral health care for uninsured Canadians with annual family incomes under $90,000, with no required co-pay for families earning below $70,000. Implemented at the national level and led by the federal government, this plan targets vulnerable populations, including older persons, especially those in remote communities or requiring specialized care. Key measures include the Oral Health Access Fund, which provides targeted investments to address oral health gaps among underserved populations and reduce barriers to care in rural and remote areas. For older persons, the plan covers essential services such as preventive (cleaning), diagnostic (exams, x-rays), restorative (fillings), endodontic (root canals), periodontal care, and dentures, including repairs. Many older individuals are now receiving dentures for the first time. As of August 2024, over 2,228,000 older persons have enrolled, representing over 60% of Canada’s eligible older population. It is anticipated that the CDCP will lead to better health outcomes for all beneficiaries, including older persons, with fewer visits to the emergency room and reduced pressure on the health care system.

The "Long-Term and Continuing Care Framework" was initiated in 2023 by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), following a commitment in the 2021 mandate letter of the Minister of Indigenous Services. Implemented at the national level and led by ISC, this framework targets Indigenous populations, particularly those in need of long-term care, aiming to ensure Indigenous people have equitable access to high-quality, culturally safe long-term care services in or near their communities and to strengthen First Nations and Inuit control and autonomy over these services. Key measures include ISC’s funding of two existing LTCC-like programs: the Assisted Living (AL) program, which provides non-medical and social support services for older persons, adults with chronic illness, and those with disabilities on reserves or in Yukon, and the First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care (FNIHCC) program, which funds medical in-home and community care for First Nations people on reserves and Inuit people north of the 60th parallel. ISC also initiated community engagements across First Nations and Inuit communities, collecting insights from stakeholders of the AL and FNIHCC programs. In May 2023, the Ontario Native Welfare Administrators’ Association (ONWAA) released the final First Nation’s engagement report, “National Community Engagement in First Nation Long-Term and Continuing Care (LTCC)”.

The "Promoting Wellness and Independence Older Persons in Custody - A Policy Framework" was introduced in 2018 by Correctional Service Canada (CSC) to address the unique needs of older persons in federal custody. Implemented at the national level and guided by CSC, this policy framework targets the ageing prison population, which is growing due to population ageing, late-life sentencing, and longer sentences. It aims to promote wellness and independence for older persons in custody by building on existing programs and services. Key measures include a holistic, person-centred approach that is age, gender, and culturally appropriate. This framework emphasizes health and well-being, tailored programming, suitable living accommodations, and community engagement. Developed in consultation with experts in geriatrics, gerontology, law, Indigenous health, and correctional health, the framework is informed by both domestic and international research. Ongoing discussions with stakeholders in gerontology, correctional health, ethics, and community contribute to this framework, which is intended as a living document that evolves with emerging data and needs.

The "Programme on Active and Healthy Ageing for the Years 2023–2027" was introduced in 2023 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in Moldova. Implemented at the national level and led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the programme targets individuals aged 60 and above. It aims to mainstream the principle of active ageing across all sectoral policies, reduce discrimination and stereotypes toward older people, and consolidate the efforts of all stakeholders to promote policies that address the needs of the ageing population. Key measures include integrating ageing considerations into regional and local development projects, implementing workplace mentoring involving older persons, and expanding the national statistical framework on ageing indicators, such as healthy life expectancy and access to cultural services. Additionally, the programme promotes lifelong learning through the "University for the 3rd Age" initiative, pilots sports and cultural services adapted for older people, and enhances community mobilization services for older persons. The programme also includes an Active Ageing Small Grants Programme and the development of a National Platform of ICT Equipment for Older People, ensuring accessible digital resources. Partnering entities include the Ministries of Education, Infrastructure, Culture, Health, and Internal Affairs, alongside local authorities and research institutions.

The "AGIL – Age-Appropriate, Communal and Inclusive Living" pilot programme was introduced in 2024 in Germany by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). Implemented at the national level and accompanied by the FORUM Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen e.V. (Federal Association for Communal Living), this programme targets older persons and aims to develop and promote living environments that support self-determined ageing in familiar surroundings. The programme’s primary goal is to support generation-appropriate housing that allows individuals to remain at home and live independently even when long-term care or support becomes necessary. Key measures include funding building and investment projects in both rural and urban areas that integrate technology-assisted housing and accessible infrastructure to accommodate the needs of older persons. AGIL emphasizes strengthening communal living by enhancing participation, counselling, and assistance services and promoting community spirit through meeting places and neighbourhood initiatives. It also highlights best-practice examples that showcase how self-determined living in old age can be achieved, with a focus on accessible, supportive, and inclusive environments. The programme is geared towards private initiatives and organizations as well as municipalities or stakeholders from the housing and social sectors.

The primary goal of the subsidized employment programme is to employ individuals sent by the Employment Service or to retain the jobs of individuals specified in Article 25, points 11, 12, and 13 of the law. This is achieved by reimbursing employers for part of the wage costs of these individuals, as well as retaining the jobs of employed individuals who were placed on downtime or had it terminated under specific conditions. The main institution involved is the Employment Service of Lithuania, with employers as key stakeholders. The programme targets unemployed individuals specified in Article 25, points 2-9, and aims to help them integrate into the labor market. It also creates special conditions for the unemployed specified in Article 25, points 1, 10, 11, 12, and 13 to remain in the labor market. The programme is national in scope. The programme includes wage subsidies for employers hiring the specified individuals. The subsidy amount is calculated based on the provisions of Article 41, parts 2, 3, and 4 of the law. The subsidy is paid for up to 6 months within an 18-month period, up to 36 months within a 48-month period, or indefinitely, depending on the category of the employed individuals. The article's revision takes effect from July 1, 2024.

The National Center to Reframe Aging, led by The Gerontological Society of America and supported by Leaders of Aging Organizations, aims to eliminate ageism and promote a balanced narrative of aging across the U.S. It serves as a key resource for communication strategies and tools to positively frame aging issues, fostering a nationwide community to advocate for age-friendly policies. The center's initiatives, which have national scope and target older Americans, include developing resources to counteract age bias and collaborating with organizations to influence supportive policies. Some of these resources include a Learning Center and the guide “Reframing Aging Initiative: A Guide to Telling a More Complete Story of Aging” which includes presentations, press releases, academic work, and more. The guide is designed to be accessible and beneficial even for those without expertise in communication or gerontology, ensuring that anyone can contribute to a more nuanced understanding of aging. Since its inception in 2012 and subsequent growth into a central hub for the movement to reframe aging in 2022, the center has made significant strides in raising awareness and shaping policies, with ongoing efforts to ensure an age-friendly society for all as we age.

The policy "Basic Digital Skills Training for Older Women” under the NAPGE 2021–2025 in Greece was introduced in 2021 by the Ministry of Digital Governance as part of a national initiative. The programme helps older women to access digital health services, employment services, e-commerce, banking services, etc. and familiarize them with the use of devices and applications on a daily basis. It uses material of the Digital Academy of Citizens for the creation of educational programs adapted to the needs of older women.

The “Prospects for Returning to Work Programme” (GAPS) was launched in 2022 in Germany by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMFSFJ), and implemented at the national level. It aims to increase equal opportunities and promote equal participation of women and men in the labor market and a partnership-based division of work and family care work. It also aims to support interested parties in the complex challenge of a professional re-entry or a professional reorientation and thus create the conditions for independent livelihood and old-age security. This programme targets people who want to reorient themselves professionally, who want to find out about the compatibility and division of gainful and care work or who want to return to work after a professional break. Companies, associations, counselling centres, trade unions and many more can also benefit from the programme. Key measures include setting standards for equality between men and women in the digital world of life and work and the equal distribution of gainful employment and unpaid private care work. Another component of the GAPS action programme is currently the re-entry calculator.

The RETAIN (Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network) demonstration, a joint initiative by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Labor (DOL), aims to test early intervention strategies to enhance labor force participation and retention among individuals with new injuries or disabilities, thereby reducing their reliance on Social Security disability benefits. The SSA and DOL are the primary institutions, with Mathematica Policy Research contracted for evaluation. Stakeholders include injured/disabled workers, employers, healthcare providers, and state agencies. RETAIN is a national initiative with Phase 1 involving eight States and Phase 2 focusing on Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Vermont. It targets workers soon after the onset of work-impacting conditions and involves partnerships with at least one health-care system in each State. Main Features and Strategies include the early identification of affected workers, the return-to-work coordinators to manage health and employment services. Furthermore, the training for health-care providers in occupational health and several measures encouraging early communication between workers, employers, and health-care providers. Phase 1 involved planning and pilot programs, while Phase 2 started in October 2021. The final process analysis report is anticipated in September 2025, marking a significant evaluation milestone.

The Programme Qualifica aims to enhance adult education and training levels, thereby improving employability and fostering educational advancement among the population. The programme is implemented through a network of Centros Qualifica, which are supported by various entities including educational institutions, training centres, municipal councils, businesses, and local development associations. It specifically targets adults who have not completed their education and training. The programme has a broad national reach, with Centros Qualifica facilitating access across the country. Main Features & Strategies: - Lifelong Learning Promotion: Encourages adults to engage in ongoing education. - Guidance Services: Provides personalized guidance to adults based on their individual needs and backgrounds. - Competency Recognition: Recognizes competencies acquired through formal and informal experiences. - Passaporte Qualifica: Issues a document that records the competencies recognized and the qualifications obtained. - Flexible Qualification Responses: Offers tailored qualification options to meet the diverse needs of adults. The programme is executed via Centros Qualifica, which offer individualized services. These centres assess each person's history and goals to determine the most appropriate qualification pathway. The programme was established in 2021.

The "Senior+" Day Care Centres are an integral part of the Polish Government's multi-year program, introduced in 2021, and will end in 2025. It aims at enhancing the social participation and quality of life for older persons. These centers are developed and managed by local government units, with financial support provided through two primary modules. Module 1 offers one-time financial aid for the creation and equipping of new centers, while Module 2 provides ongoing funding for the operation of existing centres. The centres provide services such as social services (meals and social support), educational programmes (workshops and lectures), cultural activities (trips and theater visits), physical activities (exercise classes and rehabilitation), and recreational services (sports and games). In 2022, the programme facilitated the creation of 111 new support centres, including 21 Day Care Centres and 90 Clubs, adding 2,425 new places for seniors with a total investment of 60 million PLN. The initiative also included financial provisions for infrastructure and operational costs, ensuring that the centers can sustainably provide essential services and foster active ageing among older persons.

The primary goal of the Open Hiring programme is to create an inclusive labour market without discrimination. It aims to systemically change hiring practices to allow for more equitable job opportunities. The main stakeholders involved are Start Foundation, employers participating in the Open Hiring programme, and job seekers. The programme also involves collaboration with partners like UWV and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. The policy targets the national labour market in the Netherlands, focusing on employers and job seekers who are part of the Open Hiring programme. It covers various sectors affected by labour market shortages and aims to engage employers nationwide. Strategies include the Open Hiring model, where job seekers are hired without traditional interviews, and the use of life coaches. The policy promotes organic growth and adherence to Open Hiring principles among employers. Employers officially joining the programme as partners agree to follow the set rules. In 2021, 61 employers started Open Hiring, and about 180 job seekers were employed through the programme. The programme started in 2021.

The Tel mee met Taal programme is a comprehensive national action plan initiated by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its primary objectives are: - To prevent and reduce low literacy among adults. - To ensure that children do not fall behind in their educational journey. - To improve basic skills in language, numeracy, and digital literacy, supplementing regular education Programme. The programme is supported by various Dutch ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW). Key stakeholders include schools, employers, libraries, and organizations in both the European and Caribbean Netherlands. DUS-i (Dutch subsidy implementation agency) is responsible for the implementation of the scheme. The programme covers the entire Netherlands. It targets adults with low literacy or digital literacy skills and parents who can influence the educational environment at home. The scope includes language, calculus, and digital skills improvement. Two main subsidy categories are available: one for employers to train low-literate employees and another for projects supporting low-literate parents. Organizations must apply together with at least two other parties, such as local libraries, youth healthcare institutions, educational institutions, or pre-school facilities. The maximum subsidy amount per application is €125,000. The programme is currently in its third iteration, running from 2021 to 2024.

The main objective of the zaposli.me programme is to promote the employment of unemployed persons who are older than 50 years or are long-term unemployed or have low education levels. The policy aims to reduce their social exclusion and poverty and improve their employment opportunities. The policy is implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia. The policy covers both cohesion regions of Slovenia: Eastern Slovenia and Western Slovenia. The policy targets unemployed persons who are older than 50 years or are 30 or more years old and are long-term unemployed or have education below ISCED 3. The policy is expected to benefit around 4,800 persons. The policy provides subsidies to employers who hire eligible unemployed persons for full-time work for 12 months. The subsidies vary depending on the characteristics of the unemployed persons: 5,000, 6,000, or 7,000 euros. The policy also provides counselling and guidance to the unemployed persons and the employers to support their integration into the labour market. The policy started in January 2020 and ended in December 2022.

The Extraordinary extension of unemployment benefit and social benefit was a policy introduced in order to provide financial support to those affected by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to extend unemployment benefits and social security benefits to ensure subsistence minima for individuals who have lost their income due to the crisis. The policy was implemented by the Government of Portugal, with the legislative framework provided by Decree Law No. 10-F/2020. The main stakeholders were the unemployed individuals, social benefit recipients, and the social security system of Portugal. This policy was national in scope, applying across Portugal. It targeted unemployed individuals and recipients of social benefits, ensuring they continued to receive financial support during the pandemic period. The policy included the extraordinary extension of unemployment benefits and all benefits of the social security system that guarantee minimum subsistence levels. It also suspended the evaluation of conditions (means test) for maintaining these benefits. The observed impact included providing a safety net for those whose income was disrupted due to the pandemic. It helped in preventing social hardship during a time of crisis. The policy was temporary, with the timeframe set from 12 March 2020 to 31 December 2020.

The programme aims to enhance lifelong learning opportunities and improve digital education access for all citizens. It seeks to foster Kazakhstan's scientific contributions to socio-economic development while equipping individuals with skills necessary for modern life, including digital literacy and entrepreneurship. The Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan oversees the programme, with input from various government sectors and universities across the country. The programme is national in scope, targeting individuals of all ages across Kazakhstan. A particular emphasis is placed on older adults through the "Silver University" initiative, which serves citizens aged 50 and older. "Silver Universities" have been established in 35 institutions, offering diverse programmes in digital skills, foreign languages, entrepreneurship, law, culture, religion, and physical activity. Popular courses include English language learning, e-government services, digital literacy, and promoting healthy lifestyles. The initiative aims to empower older adults with knowledge and skills that can improve their quality of life and social participation. Most universities have developed their own courses and prepared teaching aids. The total number of students is about 2,000. The programme was approved in December 2019 and will run until 2025.

The Work Ability Programme aimed to eliminate obstacles to the employment of people with partial work ability and develop services to support their work ability and employability. The programme was implemented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The programme covered the unemployed with partial work ability and the long-term unemployed in Finland. The programme sought to prevent prolonged unemployment and incapacity for work and increase labour market involvement of those with a weak labour market position. The programme had seven aims, such as identifying the need for work ability support, providing individual and timely services, strengthening the expertise of professionals, promoting the creation of jobs, developing services for employers, reforming the rehabilitation paths and services, and seeking solutions to lower the recruitment threshold. The programme developed work ability support services in the well-being services counties' health and social services centres, which are new regional entities that provide social and health services in Finland. The programme ran from 2019 to 2023.

The Resilience Training project, organized by the Senior Action Quebec Association (SAQ). The project offers a series of train-the-trainer modules accessible online to SAQ's members, focusing on various aspects of teaching resilience skills Modules include resilience and self-awareness, recognizing the strength of character, coping and control mechanisms, resilience and social connections, key sills to build resilience in seniors. The project targets English-speaking seniors in Quebec who wish to enhance their resilience skills. The training was held between 2019 and 2020. Partners of the initiatives are: Community Health and Social Service Network, Quebec Community Groups Network, Canadian Heritage, Secretariat aux relations avec les Quebecois d'expression anglaise. The trainings are adapted to the region reality. SAQ's members have access to the online train-the-trainer modules. Additionally, when possible, in-person training sessions are offered. The goal is to support an already strong network of community organization and create a stronger and more vibrant English-speaking senior community who will be better equipped to engage with the wider community, both English and French speaking.

The "Silver DOST Volunteers" sub-program, jointly organized by the DOST Volunteer Program and the “Third Spring” project, aims to promote an active lifestyle for retirees and support effective organization of their leisure activities. The program engages older citizens in volunteer work at DOST centers, helping them stay active and involved in their communities. The program operates nationally, targeting retirees who are willing to contribute to society through volunteer work at DOST centers. Key features include involving retirees in activities such as welcoming citizens, providing information, directing individuals to relevant specialists, and conducting satisfaction surveys regarding services received at the centers. The program facilitates intergenerational cooperation by allowing retirees to work alongside younger volunteers, promoting knowledge exchange and mutual support. The sub-program has been in operation since 2019 and continues to offer meaningful opportunities for retirees to stay active, contribute to community life, and enhance their social engagement.