Browse Ageing Policies

The Maltese National Dementia Strategy 2024-2031, titled ‘Reaching New Heights’, aims to significantly improve the quality of services and the quality of life of persons living with dementia in the Maltese islands. The Strategy builds upon the progress made by the previous strategy and focuses on several key areas, including increasing awareness and understanding of dementia, reducing the risk of developing the condition, enabling early diagnosis, empowering individuals with dementia and their families, developing a dementia-capable workforce, strengthening integrated person-centered care, and advancing dementia research. Specific measures featured in the Strategy include, for example, campaigns to lessen stigma and discrimination associated with dementia, ensuring that day care services for persons with dementia are available and accessible, and increasing the number of beds for persons with dementia in long-term care services. An Inter-Ministerial Committee, led by the Ministry for Active Ageing, will oversee the implementation of the Strategy, involving people with dementia and their families.

The National Dementia Action Plan aims to make Denmark dementia-friendly, provide personalized care, and actively support relatives. The plan focuses on prevention, early intervention, and research to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their families. The plan was developed through a broad and inclusive process involving the Danish government, local municipalities, citizens with dementia, their relatives, and various experts and professionals. The plan targets people with dementia, their families, healthcare professionals, and local authorities across Denmark. It aims to create dementia-friendly municipalities and improve the quality and consistency of care nationwide. The plan includes three main objectives: 1. Making Denmark dementia-friendly with 98 dementia-friendly municipalities. 2. Ensuring more people with dementia are diagnosed and receive the care they need. 3. Reducing the use of antipsychotic medications by 50% by 2025. The action plan outlines five focus areas: 1. Early detection and better quality in investigation and treatment. 2. Improved quality in care, support, and rehabilitation. 3. Support and advice for relatives. 4. Creating a dementia-friendly society and housing. 5. Increasing knowledge and competence in dementia care. From 2016 to 2023, significant steps have been taken to promote health, prevent dementia, and improve care. The action plan has led to the establishment of dementia-friendly municipalities, improved diagnostic rates, and efforts to reduce antipsychotic medication use. The implementation of these measures aims to reduce geographical disparities and enhance the quality of life for people with dementia.

The Austrian Dementia Strategy aims to establish a system that promotes participation, autonomy, and high-quality care for individuals affected by dementia and their families. It seeks to provide timely information, ensure accessibility to support services, and involve individuals in care decisions. The strategy also focuses on enhancing the education and training of professionals in the field. The strategy was developed by the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH, GÖG), with input from various experts and stakeholders, including persons with dementia and political decision-makers. It is coordinated by GÖG on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. The strategy targets people with dementia, their families and friends, healthcare and social services personnel, researchers, educators, funding bodies, ethics commissions, government authorities, media, and the general public. It covers a wide range of stakeholders to ensure comprehensive support for individuals affected by dementia. The strategy outlines seven objectives and 21 recommendations, including promoting participation and self-determination, extending information provision, enhancing knowledge and competence, creating coordinated care frameworks, adapting care structures, expanding low-threshold contact points, and ensuring quality improvement through research. Key actions include developing information concepts, public relations campaigns, training for medical and non-medical staff, and establishing a Dementia Strategy Platform. From 2016 to 2023, around 130 actions were implemented, contributing to health promotion, dementia prevention, and care improvements. A federal working group of people with dementia was established to help design services and reduce stigmatization. Conferences and newsletters have engaged over 750 stakeholders and around 250 recipients, respectively, fostering ongoing collaboration and development of evidence-based measures.

The "National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence" was introduced in 2022 by Women and Gender Equality Canada in partnership with provincial and territorial governments to coordinate investments across Canada aimed at addressing gender-based violence. Implemented at the national level and guided by these coordinated efforts, this action plan targets victims, survivors, and their families across Canada, regardless of location. It aims to create a Canada free of gender-based violence. The action plan comprises five pillars and a foundational framework: support for survivors and their families; prevention; a responsive justice system; Indigenous-led approaches; social infrastructure and enabling environments; along with a foundation for cross-sector coordination, research, data collection, knowledge mobilization, reporting, and monitoring. Each province and territory has established bilateral agreements with Women and Gender Equality Canada, allowing flexibility to address local priorities and challenges. Recognizing that older women and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, the plan includes targeted investments in housing, shelters, and transitional homes to provide safe options. Notably, all three territories have increased funding for shelters and transitional homes through the National Action Plan, while several provinces have enhanced shelter capacity to support individuals seeking safe refuge.

"The ""National Strategy on Long Term Care and Active Ageing 2023-2030"" was introduced in 2023 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity in Romania. Implemented at the national level and led by the Ministry, this strategy targets older persons (65+) and the long-term care (LTC) workforce. It aims to promote independent living among older persons for as long as possible and enhance access to equitable and sustainable long-term care services. Key measures include strengthening the responsibility and management of LTC services, ensuring a continuum of care that respects fundamental rights, and establishing sustainable financing for the LTC system. The strategy addresses disparities in LTC service availability and affordability, particularly in regions where services depend on local authority resources. Outcomes also focus on enhancing LTC quality, supporting the formal and informal LTC workforce, and encouraging active social participation for older persons. This approach aims to reduce dependency on residential care by fostering community-based services that prevent institutionalization. Monitoring and evaluation are conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, ensuring continuous improvements in social assistance for Romania’s ageing population."

The "Involvement of Older People in Regional Programmes on Active Longevity and Healthy Life Expectancy to Maintain High Social Activity" was introduced in 2019 by the constituent entities of the Russian Federation under the federal project "Older Generation" of the national project "Demography". Implemented at the regional level and led by each region’s local authorities, this initiative targets senior citizens, focusing on promoting active longevity and healthy life expectancy. It aims to improve health, extend the period of active participation, and enhance social connectivity among older persons. Key measures include introducing new healthcare and social protection technologies, promoting healthy lifestyles, and organizing lifelong education in the "third age," including pre-retirement preparation. Each region customizes its programmes based on local needs and budget to ensure older citizens maintain high social activity levels. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation oversees these initiatives as part of the 2021–2025 Action Plan within the Strategy for Action in the Interests of Senior Citizens. As of 2023, these programmes have reached 12 million older persons, reinforcing their role in society and supporting active, healthy ageing.

The "Strategy for Active and Healthy Ageing in the Republic of Serbia for the Period 2024–2030" was introduced in 2024 by the Government of Serbia. Implemented at the national level, the strategy is led by various Serbian ministries, with participation from institutes and local authorities. While the strategy targets the entire population, it emphasizes the inclusion of persons over 65 in all social and other life spheres, addressing their specific needs. The primary goal is to promote active and healthy participation of older persons, fostering intergenerational and intra-generational solidarity and gender equality. Key measures include lifelong learning initiatives, enhancing digital competencies among older persons, and increasing their participation in public life. The strategy promotes support mechanisms, cross-sectoral cooperation, and strong anti-discrimination and anti-violence policies to protect older persons. Additionally, active ageing principles and supportive structures aim to encourage holistic social inclusion, ensuring that people over 65 are empowered to engage fully in society.

The “Federal Government's Strategy to Counter Loneliness” was introduced in 2022 in Germany by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). It was voted on by the federal ministries and resulted in a cabinet decision on December 13, 2023. Implemented at the national level, this strategy targets all age groups, with a particular focus on older persons to address loneliness and social isolation. The strategy’s five main goals are to raise public awareness to destigmatize loneliness, strengthen scientific knowledge, reinforce practical interventions, foster cross-sectoral actions to address the complexities of loneliness, and support affected individuals, with a focus on the needs of older persons. Key measures include 46 overarching and 65 individual measures for both the prevention and alleviation of loneliness, reflecting the urgency of the issue. The BMFSFJ is funding several projects specifically for older persons through the European Social Fund (ESF Plus) programme titled “Strengthening the Participation of Older People - Countering Loneliness and Social Isolation”, which launched in October 2022 and includes over 70 projects continuing until 2027. To bolster research, the first Loneliness Barometer was published in May 2024 as a monitoring tool to track loneliness trends.

The “National Strategy on Long-Term Care and Active Ageing for the Period 2023–2030” was introduced in 2023 in Romania by the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity (MMSS). Implemented at the national level and led by MMSS in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, local authorities, and non-governmental organizations, this strategy targets all older persons in Romania, particularly people over 65, especially those in rural areas or in economically and socially vulnerable conditions. It aims to address the challenges of an ageing population by establishing a comprehensive long-term care (LTC) system that ensures all dependent older persons have access to adequate support, care, and assistance by 2030. Key objectives include strengthening accountability and management of LTC services, ensuring a continuum of care that respects fundamental rights, and providing sustainable financing for the LTC system. Specific measures focus on improving infrastructure, expanding home care services and day care centres, and implementing programs to prevent social isolation and abuse of older persons. Additionally, the strategy emphasizes protecting and strengthening the formal and informal LTC workforce through training programs for caregivers. Expected results include increased access to integrated LTC services, a lower dependency ratio, and improved health and well-being for older persons.

The National Action Plan on the Rights of Older Persons (2023–2025) is a strategic initiative by the Government of Türkiye, led by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, in collaboration with various government agencies, local authorities, civil society organizations, and international bodies. It complements the broader Ageing Vision Document, targeting older individuals in Türkiye, particularly those facing challenges related to social services, healthcare, and participation in social and economic life. It aims to mainstream the concepts of ageing and the rights of older persons into the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes of policies, programmes, and services. Key measures include establishing specialized healthcare centres for older persons and providing mobile health services in remote areas. These healthcare centres will be equipped with medical facilities and staffed by professionals trained in geriatric care, providing services such as routine check-ups, chronic disease management, and rehabilitation. To ensure accessibility for those in rural or underserved areas, mobile health units will bring essential medical services directly to older persons who may otherwise lack access to care. Additionally, the policy mandates the implementation of age-friendly urban planning initiatives, including the installation of ramps, elevators, and other mobility aids in public spaces and buildings.

The Ageing Vision Document is a strategic framework introduced in 2023 by the Government of Türkiye, guided by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. It is implemented between 2023 and 2025 at the national level, alongside the National Action Plan on the Rights of Older Persons. It aims to ensure that older persons in Türkiye can live dignified, independent, and active lives. It targets older persons who face challenges in accessing social services, healthcare, and participating in social and economic life. Key measures include urban planning initiatives to make public spaces, transportation, and housing more accessible to older persons. This involves installing ramps, elevators, and age-friendly public facilities to help older persons live independently and fully engage in society. The policy also establishes specialized healthcare centres for older persons and provides mobile health services in remote areas to ensure comprehensive and accessible healthcare. Additionally, the policy mandates the creation of emergency response plans, including evacuation procedures that consider the mobility limitations of older persons and establishing specialized shelters to meet their needs during disasters.

The Long-Term Care and Active Ageing Strategy aims to ensure access to adequate support, care, and assistance for all older persons in Romania, regardless of location or income, by 2030. It focuses on the sustainability of financial and human resources for the ongoing development of the long-term care system. The strategy involves the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, local and central public administration authorities. The policy covers the entire nation of Romania, targeting the older population, especially those over 80 years old, who require long-term care services. The strategy aims to enhance the administrative capacity to manage long-term care services effectively, improving service performance, developing social services, ensuring sustainable financing, and implementing the principle of “funding following the beneficiary.” Additionally, priority support is given to home and community care, allowing older persons to live independently for as long as possible. The strategy is a continuation of the National Strategy for Active Ageing (2015–2020) and responds to demographic, epidemiological, and social trends in Romania. It also addresses issues highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy is set for the period 2023–2030.

The Programme on Active and Healthy Ageing for 2023–2027 was approved by the Government of the Republic of Moldova in 2023. It is led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, involves national and local stakeholders, including government authorities, civil society, and development partners like UNFPA and UNECE. It is implemented at the national level, targeting older persons across the Republic of Moldova. It aims to improve access to social services, integrate ageing into sectoral policies, and enhance community participation. Key features include expanding social services in 50 communities, such as creating new day centers and home care services, and improving access to essential services like sanitation, water, and waste collection in regions with significant older populations. The programme also focuses on fostering regional economic and social development to directly benefit older persons. Additionally, it integrates ageing into five key sectoral policies, enhances digital literacy among older persons through the creation of a national ICT platform, and supports lifelong learning opportunities aligned with the "2030 Education Development Strategy." The programme emphasizes the collection of systematic statistical data to monitor the integration of ageing across all sectors. It aims to raise the Active Ageing Index from 28.7 points in 2020 to 36.8 points by 2027.

The 2022 National Family Caregiving Strategy is a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of millions of Americans who provide unpaid care to their loved ones. The strategy was developed by two advisory councils created by Congress, with input from the public and various stakeholders. The objectives of the strategy are to increase awareness, advance partnerships, strengthen services, support financial security, and promote innovation for family caregivers. The institutions involved in the strategy include 15 federal agencies, state and local governments, public health departments, philanthropies, and community-based, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations. The scope of the strategy covers family caregivers of all ages. The key features and implementation of the strategy include more than 350 federal actions and 150 measures that others can take in the next three years to begin to implement the strategy. The outputs and results of the strategy are expected to improve the quality of life of family caregivers and their care recipients, promote social cohesion and solidarity, create employment and professional opportunities in the caregiving sector, and contribute to the sustainability of the public social protection system. The timeline of the strategy is from 2022 to 2025, and it will be updated as the caregiving landscape evolves.

The “Parliamentary Research Commission” was established in June 2022 in Türkiye to investigate the problems experienced by older persons in various areas of life and to determine the measures to be taken. During the working process of the Commission, a national-level comprehensive report containing the problems of older persons and solution suggestions for these problems was prepared. This report was presented by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) in 2023, compiled by a special parliamentary commission formed by members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, including various stakeholders from governmental bodies, academics, NGOs, and experts. It targets older persons in Türkiye, particularly those experiencing difficulties in accessing healthcare, social services, and facing discrimination in various spheres of life. It identifies challenges faced by older persons in Türkiye, including social exclusion, difficulties accessing healthcare and social services, digital illiteracy, and economic insecurity. It provided key recommendations which include promoting active ageing, creating age-friendly environments, strengthening legal protections, and encouraging policy coordination among government, NGOs, and the private sector. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure effective policy implementation and advocates for public education campaigns to raise awareness about older persons' rights.

The objective of the National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing 2023-2030 of Malta is to mainstream ageing and to protect the human rights of older people by mitigating against age discrimination, elder abuse, social exclusion, and solitude, whilst also acting as a catalyst for excellent levels of acute, community and long-term care. While the Ministry for Active Ageing is the institution responsible for leading the implementation of the recommendations of the policy, different Ministries are to ensure the necessary funding and human resources for initiatives that fall under their respective responsibility are available. Furthermore, the policy includes as one key objective the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Minister for Active Ageing, to coordinate the implementation of its recommendations. While some of the recommendations are aimed directly at older persons, in terms of scope, many call for action on the societal level. A key feature of the policy are its comprehensive list of planned measures and initiatives. In terms of timeline, the policy will be implemented in the years 2023-2030.

The National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023–2030 aims to enhance skills development, ensure decent employment for all, and align the labor market with sustainable development goals. Key institutions involved include the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES), Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), and Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE). Stakeholders include employers, educational institutions, and international organizations like the EU and World Bank. This strategy targets the entire Albanian population, with a focus on youth, older persons, women, and vulnerable groups. It covers national and sectoral levels, impacting sectors like tourism, IT, energy, and agriculture. The strategy is divided in three different policy goals: (1) Skills Development, which focused on reducing skills mismatch, upskilling both men and women, and improving the overall functioning of the labor market; (2) Inclusive Employment, which aims to implement programs and services that support employment for all, ensuring decent work conditions and competitive salaries, and (3) Lifelong Training, with the objective of promoting continuous education and training opportunities to enhance employability and adaptability in the workforce. It aims to improve work quality, reduce informality, and increase productivity. Implementation involves monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and financial resources allocation. The strategy is set for 2023-2030.

The Recovery and Resilience National Plan aims to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia, and to support the green and digital transition of the country. The policy also aims to contribute to the goals of the European plan REPowerEU, which seeks to reduce the dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition. The policy is implemented by the Government of Slovenia, through the Office for Recovery and Resilience, in coordination with other ministries and public institutions. The policy covers five areas and targets various sectors and groups of the Slovenian society and economy, such as industry, tourism, education, research, health, public administration, and civil protection. The policy has a national scope, but also considers regional and local specificities and needs. The policy consists of 34 reforms and 48 investments, which are grouped into 17 components. The policy includes measures such as renovating buildings, improving the environment and water management, enhancing digital skills and infrastructure, supporting innovation and competitiveness, strengthening the labour market and social inclusion, developing sustainable tourism and cultural heritage, improving health care and long-term care, and increasing housing affordability. The policy will be implemented between 2021 and 2026.

The Employment Strategy of the Republic of Serbia 2021–2026 has the primary goal to ensure continuity in employment policy, align with EU standards, and address national labour market needs. The strategy aims to improve employment rates, reduce unemployment, and enhance the employability of the workforce. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans, and Social Affairs leads the strategy, supported by the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit, NIRAS – IP Consult, the International Labour Organization, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The strategy targets the entire national labour market, focusing on various demographic groups, including youth, persons with disabilities, and older persons. It covers all regions of Serbia. Key interventions include active labour market measures, vocational training, career guidance, and incentives for hiring vulnerable groups. The strategy acknowledges the increasing number of older persons and their significant share in the total population, and consequently outlines specific measures for older persons. Emphasis is placed on the need for further education and training measures, especially targeting older persons to improve their employability. The strategy aims to improve the overall social and economic position of older persons through various support measures and policies. The strategy was adopted on January 28, 2021.

The Education Development Strategy for 2021–2027 aims to ensure quality education opportunities for all Latvian residents, fostering their potential development and lifelong learning capabilities. The Ministry of Education and Science is the main responsible institution, with support from various ministries including Defense, Economy, Finance, Culture, Interior, Welfare, Environment, Health, Agriculture, and the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Centre. This policy covers all levels and types of education in Latvia, targeting the entire population. It aims to address national educational needs and align with both Latvian and European Union development and policy planning documents. Key strategies include enhancing teacher and academic staff qualifications, modernizing educational offerings to meet labour market demands, providing support for individual growth, and ensuring sustainable and effective management of the education system. Implementation involves creating action plans for different periods and regular evaluations. The policy was adopted on June 22, 2021 and it will run until 2027.