Enhancing the Lives of Older Adults in the WHO European Region: Assessing the Implementation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing

Abstract

Abstract The WHO European Region has one of the world's highest median age with many countries having the longest life expectancies. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges faced by older adults in Europe, leading to excess deaths and highlighting the need to improve their lives. The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) aims to enhance the lives of older people, their families, and communities. The Decade focuses on four action areas to improve older people's health and wellbeing, combat ageism, ensure age-friendly environments, provide integrated care, and ensure access to long-term care. There are four enablers for the Decade: connecting stakeholders, strengthening research and innovation, engagement, and leadership. A process evaluation survey to assess the implementation of the Decade has been conducted with 48 out of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region. The survey assessed countries’ policies, regulations, guidelines, strategies, and data on healthy ageing. Preliminary analysis shows that when compared to baseline data, there are more countries with national policy and strategy on ageing with more countries reporting national programme on age-friendly communities, policies to support comprehensive needs assessment of older people and national population-based survey on ageing. Analyses were also conducted based on indicators related to national focal points, multistakeholder forum and legislation on age-discrimination. The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing provides a framework to address the challenges faced by older adults. By focusing on the four action areas and enabling factors, we can enhance the health and wellbeing of older people, their families, and communities. This presentation highlights the importance of the Decade and provides evidence of its early impact, demonstrating the potential to create positive change for the ageing population in Europe.