What is healthy ageing according to WHO?

WHO defines healthy ageing as "the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age." This focuses on what older people can do and want to do — their functional ability — rather than simply managing conditions. The 2021-2030 Decade of Healthy Ageing operationalises this across four areas: combating ageism; enabling environments; integrated care; and long-term care.

What is the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030)?

The Decade of Healthy Ageing is a global collaboration led by WHO targeting four areas: changing how we think, feel and act about age (combating ageism); ensuring communities foster older people's abilities; delivering person-centred integrated care; and ensuring access to long-term care. It aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is monitored through the Global report on ageism and the WHO ICOPE framework.

What is frailty and how is it managed?

Frailty is a clinical syndrome of increased vulnerability to stressors from reduced reserve across multiple organ systems. The Fried criteria (2001) identify frailty by unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, weakness, slow walking speed and low physical activity — 3+ criteria = frailty. Frailty can be prevented and even reversed with appropriate interventions: physical activity (resistance training), nutrition optimisation and social engagement.

What is multimorbidity and why does it challenge health systems?

Multimorbidity — two or more simultaneous chronic conditions — affects the majority of adults over 65 and is nearly universal above 80. It is the primary driver of health system utilisation, polypharmacy and disability in ageing populations. Traditional disease-by-disease management is ineffective and potentially harmful. WHO's ICOPE framework promotes integrated, person-centred primary care focused on functional goals rather than individual disease targets.

What is ageism and how does it affect health?

Ageism includes stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) based on age. WHO estimates ageism reduces healthy life expectancy by 7.5 years, affects half the world's population and leads to suboptimal clinical treatment, reduced willingness to seek care, psychological harm and underfunding of geriatric research and long-term care.

What are the main health conditions of older adults?

Older adults disproportionately experience cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancers, dementia and cognitive decline, musculoskeletal disorders (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, falls), depression and anxiety, hearing and vision impairment, and malnutrition. Many of these can be prevented or significantly delayed through physical activity, good nutrition, social engagement and management of cardiovascular risk factors.

How does physical activity benefit ageing?

Physical activity is among the most powerful evidence-based interventions for healthy ageing. It reduces cardiovascular disease, diabetes, several cancers, dementia and depression; prevents falls and fractures; maintains muscle mass (countering sarcopenia); and improves functional independence and quality of life. WHO guidelines recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week plus muscle-strengthening on 2 days/week for older adults.

What is the ICOPE care framework?

WHO's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework and guidelines (2017) provide an evidence-based approach to identifying and managing declines in intrinsic capacity across six areas: locomotion, vitality/nutrition, vision, hearing, cognition and psychological wellbeing. ICOPE emphasises primary care and community-based assessment, person-centred goal-setting and caregiver support.

What is the relationship between ageing and dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome characterised by decline in memory, language and problem-solving severe enough to impair daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-70% of cases. 50 million people live with dementia globally, with 10 million new cases each year — projected to triple by 2050. While age is the strongest risk factor, the Lancet Commission 2024 identified 14 modifiable risk factors that could prevent or delay 45% of cases.

What is social isolation and why is it dangerous for older adults?

Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of premature death by 26%, heart disease by 29% and stroke by 32% in older adults (WHO). Loneliness is also associated with higher rates of dementia, depression, anxiety and poor self-care. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically worsened isolation among older adults globally. Community programmes, social prescribing and intergenerational activities have evidence of effectiveness.

What is the long-term care challenge?

An estimated 250 million people globally need long-term care — help with daily activities due to functional decline — yet fewer than half receive adequate support. Most LMICs have no formal long-term care system; care falls disproportionately to female family members without remuneration or support. WHO estimates the demand for long-term care will triple by 2050, requiring major policy investment now to avoid a care crisis.

How does GMJ News cover ageing?

GMJ News covers WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing milestones, UN DESA demographic projections, Lancet Commission on Dementia updates and the intersection of ageing with cardiovascular disease, mental health, nutrition and long-term care. Georgia, like many post-Soviet countries, has a rapidly ageing population with an under-developed long-term care system — a direct relevance for the Georgian Medical Journal and PHIG's health system work.

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Ageing and Health

GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed September 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal

Summary Statistics Glossary GMJ news FAQ Documents Organizations Research

By 2030, one in six people will be aged 60 or over, rising to 1 in 5 by 2050 (WHO). Older age is associated with NCDs, sensory loss, frailty and cognitive decline — but most of this burden is preventable. The WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030 and ICOPE framework call for health systems to prioritise healthy ageing and person-centred long-term care.

Key messages

Fastest-growing demographic

1.4 billion people are aged 60 or older today — a figure that will reach 2.1 billion by 2050. 80% will live in low- and middle-income countries, where care systems are least prepared.

Decade of Healthy Ageing

WHO's Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) focuses on functional ability — not the absence of disease — as the goal of ageing policy. It targets ageism, environments, care and long-term care.

Multimorbidity

Most older adults live with two or more chronic conditions simultaneously. This multimorbidity drives the majority of health costs in ageing societies and requires integrated, person-centred care.

Ageism

Ageism — stereotyping and discrimination based on age — is the most widespread and socially condoned form of prejudice. WHO estimates it shortens healthy life expectancy by 7.5 years.

Social determinants

Healthy ageing is shaped by education, employment, income, housing, social connection and health care access across the full life course. Inequalities accumulate and amplify with age.

Long-term care gap

An estimated 250 million people globally need long-term care, but fewer than half receive adequate support. Most care falls to (usually female) family members, with no formal system or remuneration.

Key statistics

1.4B

people aged 60+ (2022)

UN DESA 2022

2.1B

projected by 2050

UN DESA 2022

80%

will be in LMICs by 2050

UN DESA 2022

50M

living with dementia

WHO

-7.5yr

life expectancy lost to ageism

WHO

2021-2030

WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing

WHO/UN

Global population aged 60 and over — current and projected (billions) — UN DESA

Source: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Population Prospects 2022. Medium variant projection.

Glossary of key terms

Healthy ageing
WHOThe process of developing and maintaining functional ability — having the capacity to be and do what one has reason to value — in older age. Not simply the absence of disease.

Functional ability
WHOThe combination of intrinsic capacity (physical and mental attributes) and the environment, and their interaction. Loss of functional ability drives care needs in older age.

Frailty
Fried et al./WHOA state of increased vulnerability to stressors resulting from decline in reserve across multiple physiological systems. Associated with higher risks of falls, disability, hospitalisation and death.

Multimorbidity
WHOThe simultaneous presence of two or more chronic health conditions — the norm rather than the exception in adults over 65. Requires care approaches focusing on the whole person.

Polypharmacy
WHOConcurrent use of multiple medications, typically defined as 5 or more. Common in older adults with multimorbidity and associated with adverse drug events, falls and non-adherence.

Ageism
WHOStereotypes, prejudice and discrimination based on age. The most widespread form of prejudice globally. Reduces healthy life expectancy by an estimated 7.5 years (WHO).