Browse Ageing Policies

The "National Public Education Campaign on Dementia Stigma Reduction and Dementia Risk Reduction" was implemented in 2021 by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Dementia Policy Unit and Health Canada’s Communications and Public Affairs Branch. Implemented at the national level, this campaign targets older persons aged above 40, particularly women and those with chronic health conditions, as well as service providers aged above 18, at-risk adults aged above 25, individuals engaging in unhealthy behaviours, and adults aged above 35 with a focus on women and ethnic minority groups. It aims to reduce stigma related to dementia, raise awareness of dementia, increase knowledge of risk factors, and promote healthy lifestyle behaviours to lower dementia risk. Key measures included multi-media advertising and marketing, media tours with spokespeople, and a social media influencer campaign. Survey results demonstrated positive impacts: 76% of participants felt the ads reduced negative perceptions of those with dementia, 68% felt the ads effectively conveyed ways to support people with dementia, and 63% found new information in the campaign. For risk reduction messaging, 86% of participants recognized dementia risk as an important topic, 80% felt informed about risk reduction strategies, and 40% reported increased personal consideration of dementia risks.

The "Improving Affordable Access to Prescription Drugs (IAAPD) Initiative in Prince Edward Island (PEI)" was introduced by the Government of Canada in partnership with the Government of PEI on August 11, 2021. Implemented at the provincial level in PEI, this initiative targets Island residents who experience high prescription costs, particularly uninsured individuals, older persons, and families with significant drug expenses. It aims to enhance access to affordable prescription drugs and contribute to the groundwork for a national universal pharmacare program. Key measures include $35 million in federal funding from 2021-22 to 2025-26, which supports the addition of new drugs to PEI’s formulary and lowers out-of-pocket costs for medications covered under provincial plans. Effective June 1, 2023, PEI reduced copays to $5 for nearly 60% of regularly used medications and expanded access to its High-Cost Drug Program. Additionally, as of July 1, 2023, the Catastrophic Drug Program was adjusted to lower the annual out-of-pocket cap on eligible medication costs for households. This partnership between the Government of Canada and PEI continues to improve affordability and access to prescription drugs for those who experience the most vulnerability, including uninsured Island residents, older persons, and families with high drug costs.

The "Age Well at Home (AWAH)" initiative was introduced in2021 by the Government of Canada in 202 as a $90 million federal grants and contributions program aimed at helping older Canadians to age in place, scheduled to run until 2025-26. Implemented at the national level and led by Employment and Social Development Canada, this initiative targets low-income and vulnerable older persons. It aims to provide practical in-home supports and expand successful ageing-in-place programs to improve quality of life for those wishing to remain at home. Key measures include two streams of activity: the In-Home Practical Supports Pilot Projects stream and the Scaling Up for Seniors stream. Under the In-Home Practical Supports Pilot Projects stream, eligible organizations deliver volunteer-based support services such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, and assistance with navigating local services to vulnerable older persons. Meanwhile, the Scaling Up for Seniors stream allows organizations to expand regional and national projects that have shown success in helping older persons to age at home, fostering innovation and identifying effective new approaches.

The "Vocational Training and Additional Vocational Education for Certain Categories of Citizens" was introduced in 2021 in Russia as part of the national project "Demography". Implemented at the national level and led by relevant governmental bodies, this initiative targets vulnerable groups in the labour market, specifically including citizens aged 50 and over and those nearing retirement age. It aims to enhance labour resource qualifications to balance the labour market and create conditions that promote active societal participation, prevent discrimination, and protect citizens' rights. Key measures include vocational training and additional education programmes that equip participants with new skills, improve employability, and shorten job search times. The selection of programmes is tailored to regional labour market demands, increasing participants' chances of finding employment in high-demand fields. Between 2021 and 2023, approximately 587,000 citizens received training, with 184,500 aged 50 and above, fostering professional mobility and adaptation to workplace demands. From 2025, this initiative will continue under the national project "Personnel". Training programmes prioritize quality employment and adaptability for older persons, enhancing their role in the workforce.

The "Digital Pact for Older People" was introduced in 2021 in Germany and is managed by the German National Association of Senior Citizens' Organisations (BAGSO). Implemented at the national level, this project targets older people to promote digital participation and improve access to digital technologies in their daily lives. The project aims to highlight the opportunities created by digitalization and enable access to digital tools in the areas of social life, housing, health, and mobility, dedicating half a year to each dimension. It brings together federal and state governments with business, research and civil society partners in a network to promote and strengthen the digital participation of the target group. Key measures include establishing a network among federal and state governments, business, research, and civil society partners to foster collaboration. In addition, the project provides basic digital skills training to older persons through nearly 300 local learning places across Germany. So far around 36,000 people have been able to benefit from this project.

The “Workshop for the Future of Municipalities (WFM)” was introduced in 2021 in Germany by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). Implemented at the national level, this project targets all age groups within 40 municipalities, particularly in structurally weak regions. It aims to help municipalities adapt to demographic change and become more attractive for all generations in all phases of life while supporting business development. Key measures include providing external consulting to participating municipalities until the end of 2024 to help them find solutions and develop demographic strategies that also cover integration and take all age groups into account. The project emphasizes the development of concepts to shape the consequences of demographic change in municipalities (neighbourhoods in large cities, towns, communities, districts), to develop concrete factors for attraction and retention, strengthen municipal identity, and integrate people with a migration background into an intact social community. Additionally, concrete projects will be launched, and existing initiatives will be integrated and networked in a meaningful, effective and long-term way. By strengthening municipal identity and creating an inclusive social community, WFM fosters environments where older persons can stay actively engaged and feel valued.

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 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act aims to strengthen legal protections against age discrimination in the workplace. Its primary goals are to revise the evidentiary standard for age discrimination claims, to allow mixed-motive claims where age is a motivating factor, even if not the sole cause, and to align the legal standards with other anti-discrimination laws. The key institution involved is the U.S. Congress, with the bill being introduced in the House. Main stakeholders include older workers, employers, legal professionals, and advocacy groups for older persons. The Act has a national scope across the United States. It affects all sectors employing older workers, particularly those aged 40 and above, who are part of the workforce. Key features of the Act include allowing the use of any admissible evidence sufficient for a reasonable fact-finder to conclude that discrimination occurred, not requiring the complainant to prove that age was the sole cause of the employer's adverse decisions and applying the revised standard to various employment discrimination and retaliation claims.The law was enacted in 2021.

The Digital Spring Project, initiated in 2021 and ongoing, is led by the Ministry of Family and Social Services at the national level in Türkiye. It targets older persons in nursing homes across the country, aiming to increase the participation of older persons and their families in social life, enhance their independent living skills through digital technology, and encourage practices that improve quality of life. Key measures include free, voluntary digital literacy training. The training project was launched in 5 pilot nursing homes in Istanbul in 2021 and has expanded to 43 provinces by September 2023, helping 1,923 older persons receive digital and financial literacy training under the ministry. It also established 10 "Digital Spring Rooms" in 9 nursing homes. In these rooms, older persons can actively use technology tools and the Internet to meet, see, and hear the voices and images of their distant loved ones.

The Government Bill 2020/21:175, Enhanced skills in health and social care – regulation of the profession of assistant nurse has the purpose to ensure the competence of assistant nurses by introducing a protected professional title. The law thus aims to enhance the quality and safety of care and social services. The law is mainly implemented by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Key stakeholders include municipalities, regions, and private care providers. It applies nationally across Sweden. It affects assistant nurses working in both municipal and regional healthcare and social services, particularly in older care. Some of its main features are its protected title (only individuals with a certificate of competence can use the title “assistant nurse”), education requirements (the new educational content in the upper secondary school's health and social care program will be the basis for obtaining the protected title), transition measures (current assistant nurses can continue using their title for ten years without the new certification). The law emphasizes the importance of assistant nurses in care, ensuring they have the necessary skills and qualifications. The law was adopted on 8 April 2021.

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 Long-Term Care Act aims to regulate the system of long-term care (LTC) in Slovenia, to define the rights and obligations of providers and beneficiaries of LTC, to determine the tasks of the state and local communities, and to establish the sources and methods of financing LTC. The main institutions involved in the policy are Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, and the National Institute of Public Health. The policy applies to the entire population of Slovenia, regardless of their income, health or social status. The policy includes the following key features and strategies: A set of measures, services and activities aimed at strengthening and maintaining the independence of the beneficiaries, reducing the need for assistance or preventing the deterioration of their condition, and providing assistance with basic and supportive daily activities and health care related to them. A procedure and methods of exercising the rights to LTC, which involves applying for, assessing, deciding, appealing, and implementing the rights, as well as the duties of the beneficiary and the provider. The law entered into force on 1 July 2021.

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 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 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.

The initiative aims to establish a network of Active Longevity Centres across all regions of Kazakhstan to improve the quality of life for older citizens by promoting active ageing, fostering a culture of health, and encouraging community engagement. These centres focus on shifting perceptions of ageing from passive to active, healthy, and dignified longevity. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan, with contributions from the Ministries of Health, Culture and Sports, and local executive bodies. The project was discussed by the Interdepartmental Commission on Improving the Situation of Older Citizens, chaired by Vice Minister. The project targets the population aged 65 and older. Active Longevity Centres offer a variety of services, including yoga, Nordic walking, medical, psychological, and legal consultations, IT and language training, cultural outings, and community engagement activities. They are funded through local budgets, with a focus on providing health support and fostering a barrier-free environment for older citizens. As of January 1, 2023, there are a total of 63 centers operating throughout the country. The initiative was launched in February 2021, with centres planned to be operational in all regions by the end of 2021 and the project continuing through 2025.

The "Active Longevity" Action Plan aims to enhance the well-being and quality of life of older citizens. The primary objectives include improving the financial status of older adults, increasing their employment opportunities, providing family support, enhancing health-care services, and promoting social integration through leisure activities and modernizing public consciousness around ageing. The plan also focuses on strengthening the social services sector and providing emergency support for older individuals. The plan was initiated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kazakhstan, with technical assistance provided by UNFPA in Kazakhstan. The plan covers all regions of Kazakhstan, targeting older population, their families, and relevant support systems. The initiatives aim to affect multiple sectors including health care, social services, and employment. One of the central elements of the plan is the establishment of "Active Longevity Centres" across Kazakhstan's regions. The Department of Social Assistance Policy Development is required to submit a consolidated report on the progress of the Action Plan's implementation to the Minister annually, no later than February 15 of the year following the reporting year. The action plan was approved on February 22, 2021, and will be implemented until 2025.