Data and research
Focused research, new metrics and methods could give a far better understanding of Healthy Ageing and are essential for evidence-informed policy and evaluation. To achieve this appropriate measures of Healthy Ageing need to be agreed on and collected through vital statistics and population surveys across countries. Research in a range of fields contributing to ageing and health across the life course is also required, as are mechanisms to ensure its rapid translation into clinical practice, population-based health interventions, and health and broader socio-economic policies.
What WHO is doing
Making progress on Healthy Ageing will require a far better understanding of age-related issues and trends. Three approaches will be crucial for improving measurement, monitoring and research. These are:
- agreeing on metrics, measures and analytical approaches for Healthy Ageing;
- increasing research on the gaps between functional capacity and ability in specific contexts and evidence on what can be done to meet the distinct needs of older populations;
- increasing understanding of Healthy Ageing trajectories over the life course and what can be done to improve them, involving multiple sectors (health, social and others).
To support these approaches WHO works with a broad range of stakeholders to:
- develop normative tools, including standardized survey instruments and related manuals;
- support countries to improve their capacity to collect, analyse and use data on Healthy Ageing;
- support collaborative research addressing what contributes to Healthy Ageing: underlying conditions and circumstances; integration across health and social systems; and broader environmental contexts and mechanisms.