It is a global collaboration aligned with the last 10 years of Sustainable Development Goals to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities. Led by WHO, the decade focuses on four key action areas, including age-friendly environments, combating ageism, integrated care and long-term care. The overall vision is to add life to years.

Further, it is anticipated that the decade will leverage four key enablers critical for healthy ageing and well-being in old age. These include ensuring meaningful engagement of older people, leadership and capacity building, connecting stakeholders and strengthening data, research and innovation.

The decade is almost halfway through and is approaching its mid-point towards the end of 2025. What has been done so far? To begin with, in 2021, an assessment of the existing scenario was completed, and the WHO published the Decade of Healthy Ageing Baseline Report.

In addition, a healthy ageing collaborative with a digital platform was established to convene stakeholders and serve as a knowledge repository. Furthermore, efforts have been made and are ongoing to educate various stakeholders about the decade, facilitate the development of meaningful partnerships and support country-level interventions.

Civil society undoubtedly is an important stakeholder in the decade and its interventions. Various civil society organizations across the world have the connectivity and credibility to support national policies and programmes through constructive feedback with local populations.

Networks such as Help Age International, Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People, International Federation on Ageing and the Alliance for Longevity in the Asia Pacific, with their members and partners, are potential contributors to collective action.

The role of local organizations working at the ground level in countries also becomes essential. GRAVIS, a non-governmental organization based in India, partners with Help Age International and others to take a holistic approach to promoting healthy ageing among rural and impoverished communities.

Its interventions aim to promote community mobilization for awareness generation and knowledge building, strengthen intergenerational linkages and provide medical and health services to older people in remote areas through a community-based long-term care programme.

Over 300,000 older people are covered by GRAVIS interventions. There are several other examples of local civil society organizations from around the world contributing to the decade’s goals.

As the decade progresses and approaches its milestones in 2030, several challenges and concerns arise. Firstly, awareness about the decade remains quite low in all parts of the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the need for action is the highest.

Secondly, the progress is limited in terms of partnership building, in terms of the diversity of partners and in ensuring equitable representation across multiple criteria.

Third, there is still significant disconnect between various programmes and interventions contributing to healthy ageing and well-being, implemented by the World Health Organization, governments and civil society.

Fourth and last, the life courrse approach towards healthy ageing and the relevance of intergenerational linkages are not fully recognized and not adequately considered in various interventions.

To be more effective within the limited time left in the decade, the attention may focus on a few key priorities. Greater communication with stakeholders and communities about the decade will be critical to raise awareness.