Foreign Policy | AARP Healthy Aging

Distinct Mainstreaming Mechanisms: Plans, Policies, Laws, and Strategies

Countries approach the challenge of an aging population through policies and strategies, plans, and laws. While this report treats policies, strategies, plans, and laws on healthy aging as synonymous, these mechanisms for mainstreaming aging in policymaking differ in important ways. Policies and strategies, the most common mainstreaming mechanisms identified in this analysis, promote governance that generally addresses aging populations, without necessarily assigning immediate specific actions to Ministries or other government institutions. On the other hand, plans or programs tend to be more action-oriented and immediate, as they often contain monitoring and evaluation guidelines and a budget for implementation. Policies and plans are at times combined into a ‘Policy and Plan of Action’ document, such as those in Antigua and Barbuda and Romania. Finally, laws are often used by countries to uphold older persons’ rights, as well as define the responsibilities of state and local governments or families for their care. Of the 157 national and subnational mainstreaming mechanisms identified in this report, policies and strategies were the most popular. Although policies, plans, and laws can exist independent from one another, they often overlap or are layered to create a country-specific legal and policy framework around aging.

Figure 1

A Breakdown of Policies, Plan, and Laws on Older Persons Globally (2022)

While a growing number of countries have aging strategies, much more needs to be done to define specific plans or legally binding instruments that address population aging.

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Figure 2

128 Countries have National or Subnational Plans on Aging

While most countries have at least one plan or strategy, 65 countries have no plan or strategy that directly addresses aging.

Figure 3

Income Level Directly Correlates with Plan Development

Higher income countries are most likely to develop national plans, while low-income countries are least likely to develop a national plan.

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Figure 4

Policies, Plans, and Strategies on Population Aging Included in Analysis

13 national and 2 subnational plans were identified, with at least one plan from each global region, and each stage of economic development.

Region	Country	Plan Name
Africa	Malawi	National Policy on Older Persons (2016-2021)
Americas	Argentina	National Policy on Older Persons (2012-2015)
	California, United States	Master Plan for Aging (2021-2030)
	Chile	National Health Plan for Older People and Action Plan (2020-2030)
	Uruguay	Second National Plan on Aging and Old Age (2016-2019)
Eastern Mediterranean	Jordan	National Strategy for Senior Citizens (2018-2022)
	Lebanon	National Strategy for Older Persons (2020-2030)

Source: Xmxmxmxxmxm

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Figure 5

18 Key Themes in International Frameworks on Aging

Most plans cited MIPAA and the Decade of Healthy Ageing as inspiration for their targets.

Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing	Pillar 1: Older persons and development	Work & labor
		Rural development
		Education and training
		Scoial protection and financial security
		Intergenerational solidarity
		Emergency response & disaster
	Pillar 2: Advancing health and well-being into old age
		Training care providers and health professionals
		Mental health
		Disability
		Noncommunicable disease prevention
		HIV/AIDS
	Pillar 3: Ensuring enabling and supportive environments
		Housing
		Support for informal caregivers
		Transport & public spaces
		Neglect, abuse, and violence
The Decade of Healthy Ageing: Relevant Action Areas
		Combating Ageism
		Long-term Care
		Integrated care

Source: Xmxmxmxxmxm

Figure 6

Themes Mapped by Plan

Five country plans—many of them developing—cover the most themes

Figure 7

Alignment of National Plans with International Frameworks

The breadth of plans’ coverage

Appendix

Policy Mapping and Glossary of Key Themes

Work & Labor
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Rural Development, Migration, and Urbanization
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Education & Training
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Financial Security and Other Social Protections
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Emergency Response & Disaster
Continuing education and training can support older adults in finding and keeping productive, meaningful, and lucrative work. Additionally, older adults can find personal meaning in educational opportunities, which can promote well-being and wellness.
- Argentina National Plan for Older Persons
- Bulgaria National Comprehensive Strategy for Active Ageing
- California Master Plan for Ageing
- Cambodia National Ageing Policy
- Chile National Health Plan for Older People and Action Plan
- Ireland National Positive Ageing Strategy
- Jordan National Strategy for Senior Citizens
- Lebanon National Strategy for Older Persons
- Nepal Senior Citizens Act 2063
- New Zealand Better Later Life
- Malawi National Policy on Older Persons
- Malta National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing
- Singapore Action Plan for Successful Ageing
- Uruguay Second National Plan on Aging and Old Age
- Age Friendly Wales: Our Strategy for an Ageing Society