Fostering age-friendly environments through national leadership and multisectoral partnerships

As the Western Pacific Region faces rapid population ageing, the need for environments that support older adults is growing more urgent. More than 240 million people in the Region are aged 65 and above, and this number is projected to double by 2050. Despite increased life expectancy, many older adults experience years with health limitations due to a significant gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Their health and well-being depend not only on health-care services but also on supportive environments, including safe housing, accessible transportation, employment, financial stability and social connections.

In response to these challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific co-organized a Regional Meeting on Building Sustainable Age-friendly Environments with the Seoul Metropolitan Government from 23 to 24 September 2024 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Representatives from eight countries − Brunei Darussalam, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam − came together to exchange effective strategies for creating age-friendly environments. This meeting highlighted the essential role of national leadership and cross-sector collaboration in creating communities in which older adults can thrive.

Creating sustainable age-friendly environments: a collaborative path to healthy ageing

Healthy ageing encompasses more than just medical care; it requires supportive environments that enhance both independence and quality of life for older adults. Dr Mikiko Kanda, Technical Lead for Healthy Ageing at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, emphasized the broader perspective: “Healthy ageing is about creating environments that support ageing in place, benefiting both older adults and future generations. By improving physical, social and service infrastructure, we can foster healthier, more independent lives.”

Meeting participants visited a café operated by older adults in Marronnier Park, Jongno-gu, Republic of Korea. There, older adults can learn new skills, gain employment and foster intergenerational social connections. Credit: WHO/Hitomi Kimura

The role of national leadership in scaling up age-friendly environments

While many age-friendly initiatives have been pioneered at local levels in different countries, scaling up requires national support. National governments play a crucial enabling role by developing policies, promoting cross-sectoral partnerships including with non-health sectors, and providing necessary resources to ensure that local efforts are integrated with broader goals. By aligning local initiatives with national objectives, governments can create environments that address both general and community-specific needs.

Meeting participants engaged in group work, learning from the case of Obu City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, where 21.6% of the population is 65 and older. They explored how the city has identified and adopted a multisectoral approach to building age-friendly environments from the perspectives of various sectors.  Credit: WHO/April Siwon Lee

Collaborating across sectors: essential partnerships for age-friendly environments

Effective age-friendly environments depend on partnerships that go beyond health services to include sectors such as transportation, housing and urban planning. National governments are instrumental in fostering these multi-stakeholder efforts, which drive impactful and sustainable solutions. Ms Caitlin Tan, Deputy Director of Residential Care in the Ageing Planning Office at Singapore’s Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of cross-agency collaboration, community engagement, private sector involvement and empowering older adults as active contributors. She also highlighted that robust monitoring and evaluation are essential for successful scaling of programmes.

Towards healthy ageing for all

Achieving healthy ageing for all requires a comprehensive, collaborative approach. This meeting emphasized the need for partnerships among national authorities, local governments, civil society and the private sector. WHO remains committed to supporting Member States by providing resources, facilitating knowledge-sharing and advocating for multisectoral partnerships. Through continued collaboration and innovation, the Western Pacific is making strides towards building communities where ageing is healthy, dignified and empowering for all.