Browse Ageing Policies

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 "Home Accessibility Tax Credit" was introduced in 2015 by the Department of Finance Canada. Implemented at the national level by the Canada Revenue Agency, this policy targets persons with disabilities who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit and adults aged 65 and older, aiming to support home modifications that improve accessibility and safety. The tax credit provides a non-refundable 15% credit on up to $20,000 of eligible renovation or alteration expenses per calendar year, allowing qualifying individuals and their eligible family members to claim these expenses on their tax return. Eligible expenses include home renovations or alterations that help qualifying individuals access their home, increase mobility and functionality within it, or reduce the risk of harm within or around the dwelling. The eligible dwelling must be the principal residence of the qualifying individual and can be owned by the individual, their spouse or common-law partner, or an eligible family member. In 2020, approximately 32,000 individuals claimed this credit, with a total program cost of roughly $15 million CAD, helping to enable ageing in place and enhance the quality of life for qualifying Canadians.

The "We Want to Be Active in the Labour Market (50+)" national project was implemented from December 2015 to December 2020 at the national level. It aims to improve employment prospects for disadvantaged job seekers aged 50 and above in Slovakia. The project was managed by the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family, along with 43 regional offices across Western, Central, and Eastern Slovakia. It specifically targeted older persons facing significant barriers to employment, including long-term unemployment, by offering financial incentives to employers to create and sustain job positions for this group. Under the Employment Services Act, employers received subsidies to hire individuals aged 50 and above for positions requiring at least half of the standard weekly working hours, with contracts lasting a minimum of 12 months. The subsidy covered a maximum period of 12 months, during which the employer was obligated to retain the subsidized job position. The project expected to create approximately 5,500 jobs for older persons, contributing to the reduction of regional labour market disparities and enhancing the employment and employability of this vulnerable demographic.

The National Strategy for the Promotion of Active Ageing and the Protection of Older Persons aims to ensure that by 2030, all older persons in Romania, regardless of income or location, have access to appropriate long-term care and assistance. The strategy aims to sustain financial and human resources for the ongoing development of the long-term care system. The strategy is approved by the Government of Romania and involves the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, local administrative units, and community medical assistants. The policy targets older persons, especially those over 80 years old who require long-term care services. Key features include increasing administrative capacity, improving public social assistance services, developing community-based care services, and ensuring sustainable social services through equitable financial resource distribution. It emphasizes person-centred care, prevention of functional decline, and support for informal caregivers. The policy will be implemented through reforms in social assistance, healthcare, and long-term care systems, with a focus on home and community care services. Financial flows will follow the principle of “funding follows the beneficiary,” ensuring access to services provided by private social service providers. The strategy is implemented from 2015 to 2030.

The Act of 11 September 2015 on older persons is a law that mandates a systematic approach to monitoring the status and needs of older adults, with the aim of informing and shaping public policy for their well-being. The Council of Ministers is tasked with compiling an extensive annual report, due by October 31st, which is then presented to the Sejm and Senate. This report, made available to the public, encompasses a broad spectrum of considerations, including demographic shifts, income levels, living conditions, professional engagement, family dynamics, health care quality and accessibility, social service provision, and initiatives to combat age-related discrimination. The Prime Minister oversees the coordination of this effort, while the minister for social security is responsible for the report's preparation. The policy underscores the necessity of collaborative efforts among various governmental and non-governmental entities, which are required to contribute information and resources without charge. With its implementation beginning on January 1, 2016, the law seeks to evaluate and enhance the senior policy through its findings, ensuring that the older population can age with dignity and in good health, supported by targeted and effective initiatives as recommended in the report.

The National Minimum Standards for Care Homes outline regulatory frameworks and specific criteria applicable to care homes catering to older individuals with varying dependency levels, including specialized units for dementia care. Recognizing the unique needs of each resident, the Standards establish minimum requirements for operational and managerial competencies to ensure the delivery of individually tailored, comprehensive, and high-quality services. Applicable to all care homes requiring registration and annual licensing, the leading principles encompass person-centered care, dignity, privacy, physical and mental well-being, self-fulfillment, autonomy/empowerment, equality, the right to complain, and the right to legal recourse, fostering active ageing in home cares. They are developed by Parliamentary secretariat for rights of persons with disability and active ageing. These Standards serve as a tool for independent regulators through regular communication with residents, families, staff, and managers. Assessment methods include observation of daily life and home management, audits of written policies and procedures, and scheduled/ad hoc inspections. By emphasizing these principles and assessment approaches, the Standards aim to uphold the quality and individualized nature of care provided in care homes for older individuals.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015–2024 sets out a ten‐year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able and willing to work are supported and enabled to do so. It is supported by the National Disability Authority and a full rage of Government Departments. The Strategy's six strategic priorities are:- Build skills, capacity and independence; - Provide bridges and supports into work; - Make work pay; - Promote job retention and re-entry to work; - Provide co-ordinated and seamless support; - Engage employers. The aim of this strategy is to increase the numbers of people at work, and the proportion of people with disabilities in a job. The measures set out in the strategy aim to address the barriers to employment and improve pathways to work, with the impact on employment building up over time. An Implementation Group will also be established to monitor the progress of the six strategic priorities of the Strategy and present periodic reports to the relevant Minister on the same. The implementation of the strategy will be subject to regular monitoring, and there will be a review and renewal every three years.

Law 4093/2012 aimed to introduce significant amendments to the pension system, particularly focusing on the reduction of pension benefits and the conditions for pension eligibility, while law 4336/2015 aimed to implement comprehensive pension reforms as part of Greece's financial assistance programme, focusing on ensuring the sustainability of the pension system. The main institution involved is the Greek Government, with key stakeholders including pensioners, the Ministry of Labor, the European Stability Mechanism, and social security funds. Both laws are national in scope, affecting all pensioners and future retirees within Greece. It targets the public and private sectors, impacting the financial stability of pensioners. Law 4093/2012 mandated reductions in pension benefits, particularly for higher-income pensioners and introduced stricter conditions for pension eligibility, including changes to the retirement age and contribution periods. On the other hand, law 4336/2015 introduced new measures to reduce pension expenditure, including changes to pension calculation formulas and benefit reductions and increases in pension contributions for both employees and employers. The laws were enacted in November 2012 and in August 2015, respectively.

The "The Citizenship of Older Adults" (La Citoyenneté des Personnes âgées) brochure, published in 2015, is a comprehensive document that addresses the importance of recognizing and maintaining the political citizenship of older individuals, especially those in dependent situations. It challenges the prevailing notion that old age is a period of decline and emphasizes the need for continued electoral participation to affirm the social identity of seniors. The brochure likely involves stakeholders such as gerontology researchers and policymakers and covers the French-speaking older population in institutional settings. It advocates for strategies that support the dignity and autonomy of older persons, ensuring their political rights are respected and suggesting institutional reforms for enhanced participation. The brochure underscores the integrative role of political engagement in preventing the social and political exclusion of older persons. The document reflects ongoing discussions in gerontology, aiming to keep older individuals actively involved in democratic processes.