Ageing Policies Database
84552K
Total population
45.29
Median age
23.2%
Population aged 65+
7.5%
Population aged 80+
78295K
Total population
47.90
Median age
30.3%
Population aged 65+
13.0%
Population aged 80+
Life expectancy at birth
79.21
Male
83.88
Female
Life expectancy at 65
18.37
Male
21.49
Female
Data source: UNDESA World Population Prospects
Display 1 - 14 from 14 policies
Germany
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.
Germany
The "Service Centre 'Education and Learning for Older Persons'" was introduced in 2017 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 provide them with access to educational opportunities and support multipliers in educational work through qualifications in educational gerontology. The project aims to empower older persons by enabling lifelong learning and promoting active participation in society as they age. Key measures include operating a service telephone and the internet portal Wissensdurstig.de, which provides a wealth of useful materials, good practice examples, and online workshops. The portal serves as a comprehensive resource for older persons seeking educational opportunities and for educators specializing in gerontology. Additionally, the service centre provides information on various educational topics, supports the development of local learning opportunities, and fosters networking among educational providers to enhance the quality and accessibility of education for older persons.
Germany
The "Ageing Well with AI" project was introduced in 2020 in Germany and is managed by the German National Association of Senior Citizens' Organisations (BAGSO). Funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) under its AI funding guidelines, this project is implemented at the national level and targets older people and older persons' organizations to increase their understanding and engagement with artificial intelligence (AI). The project aims to equip older persons with knowledge about AI, empowering them to actively participate in discussions on ChatGPT, pattern recognition, and self-learning algorithms. It also seeks to ensure that older persons are recognized and considered in AI research and development, supporting the inclusion of their perspectives in the creation of new technologies. Key measures include providing various event formats, such as idea workshops, qualification sessions, and online lectures, to make AI concepts accessible and relevant to older audiences.
Germany
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.
Germany
The "Digital Angel PLUS" project was introduced in 2022 in Germany, funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and managed by Deutschland sicher im Netz e.V. (DsiN). Implemented at the national level, this project targets older persons, particularly those in rural regions, to support their digital literacy and safe technology use. The project aims to enhance digital inclusion for older people by addressing both the benefits and risks of smartphones, tablets, and other digital tools in an increasingly digitalized world. Key measures include mobile advisory teams that travel across Germany in two buses, offering in-person guidance and support. The project extends its reach by integrating volunteers completing a voluntary social year (FSJ) with welfare organizations. Additionally, training courses for knowledge brokers are provided, which cover modules on various digital topics, such as education in old age, technology requirements, and funding opportunities. So far around 10,000 people have been able to benefit from this project.
Germany
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.
Germany
The "Law to Strengthen Nursing Education at Universities, to Facilitate the Recognition of Foreign Nursing Qualifications and to Amend Other Regulations (Nursing Studies Strengthening Act)" was introduced in 2024 in Germany to amend the Nursing Professions Act. Implemented at the national level and led by the German government, the law targets nursing students and foreign-trained nursing professionals to address growing demands in healthcare, especially concerning the care of older persons. The law aims to enhance nursing education and support the integration of foreign nursing professionals. Key measures include making nursing studies a dual course of study beginning in 2024, allowing students to gain both academic and practical experience while receiving training remuneration for the entire duration of their studies. From 2025, the curriculum will incorporate expanded medical skills, with a focus on diabetic metabolism, chronic wounds, and dementia—conditions commonly associated with older persons, thereby enhancing the quality of care for older persons. Additionally, the law seeks to standardize and simplify recognition procedures for foreign nursing qualifications, facilitating the entry of qualified professionals into the German healthcare system to support the needs of an ageing population.
Germany
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.
Germany
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.
Germany
The primary goal of § 16e SGB II is to integrate long-term unemployed individuals into the general labor market by enhancing their employability and facilitating their transition to unsubsidized employment. The policy is managed by the Federal Employment Agency and involves various job centers and employers. The policy targets long-term unemployed individuals who have been jobless for at least two years. It applies nationally across Germany and aims to support both men and women equally, with specific considerations for single parents and mothers in dual-income households. Key features include the introduction of wage subsidies which employers receive for hiring long-term unemployed individuals. Additionally, participants receive holistic support, including job coaching and training. The policy allows for part-time employment and gradual increase in working hours. Finally, in terms of monitoring and evaluation, the policy mentions regular assessments and adjustments ensure the effectiveness of the support provided. The policy has been in effect since October 14, 2020, with ongoing adjustments and updates.
Germany
The Second Strengthening-of-Care Act (PSG II) in Germany, initiated in 2016, aims to improve the care system for individuals requiring long-term care. This policy is spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health, implemented at the national level, and targets individuals with physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments. The primary objective is to provide equitable access to care services and enhance the quality of life for those needing care. Key features include the introduction of a new definition of care dependency and a new assessment tool, replacing the previous three care levels with five care grades, ensuring more precise and individualized care assessments. The act focuses on providing tailored support to maintain and improve the independence of care recipients. It includes financial adjustments, with the care insurance contribution rate increased by 0.2% to fund these improvements, amounting to an additional five billion euros annually for care services. The act also aims to reduce the burden on caregivers by offering better social security coverage and support mechanisms.
Germany
The "New Images of Ageing" programme, introduced in 2011 by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMFSFJ), and implemented at the national level. The initiative focuses on the Age Pictures programme and its website, intended to continue the broadest possible discussion on "Age pictures in all areas of life". This programme seeks to address the disconnect between prevailing age images and the diversity of older persons' lifestyles, as highlighted in the findings from the 2010 report “Images of Ageing in Our Society”. It challenges outdated stereotypes by promoting realistic and diverse portrayals of older persons while highlighting the impact of specific age images in various life areas, also encourages intergenerational learning and exchange. Key measures include using Facebook and Twitter accounts to share information and foster public discussion, as well as presenting the traveling exhibition "Was heißt schon alt?", which displays selected images from a 2015 photo and video competition. The programme also supports competition initiatives, such as the cartoon competition 'Digitalization (k)a problem?', which examines the impact of digital technologies on the lives of older persons, and the BAGSO photo competition 'VielfALT,' which showcases the diverse realities of ageing.
Germany
The "Bundesaltenplan" is a German federal policy framework initiated in 2009 by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth (BMFSFJ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, other relevant federal bodies, various civil society organizations, and international partners. The plan is implemented at the national level, aiming to ensure that older persons receive protection, support, and opportunities to actively participate in social life while fostering their autonomy, especially for those with disabilities. The BMFSFJ funds associations and organizations to fulfill key tasks, including implementing forward-looking social and political projects related to older persons, disseminating political views and legislative proposals, and representing the interests of these organizations in national, European, and international institutions. A key focus is its robust support for international measures within the framework of EU projects, specifically targeting primary, secondary, and volunteer personnel supporting older persons. The policy emphasizes fostering international collaboration through bilateral and multilateral events, training programs, and exchanges to enhance global cooperation in the field of support for older persons. Additionally, the plan funds model projects to explore innovative approaches to active ageing, promote independence for older persons, and support integrating digital tools to help older persons remain engaged in society.
Germany
BAGSO, the German National Association of Senior Citizens' Organisations, represents the interests of older generations in Germany. It stands up for active, self-determined and healthy ageing in social security. In a colourful and diverse society BAGSO promotes a differentiated image of old age. This includes both, the various opportunities arising of longer lives as well as times of vulnerability and the need for care. BAGSO is an umbrella organisation of about 120 civil society organisations that are run by or work for older people. In important policy areas, BAGSO puts themes on the political agenda that are relevant for healthy and active ageing. In statements and position papers, BAGSO identifies requirements for good quality of life in older age and provides recommendations for political action at federal, state and municipal level.