The 53 Member States of the WHO European Region have unanimously adopted a new strategy to help people live longer, healthier lives and to prepare health and care systems and societies for the historic demographic shifts we are currently witnessing.
“Ageing is living: a strategy for promoting a lifetime of health and well-being in the WHO European Region 2026–2030” was adopted on 29 October at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Copenhagen, highlighting the urgent need for joint actions at the regional level to respond to one of the defining trends of the 21st century.
Longer lives are one of the great achievements of public health and social development. But added years are not always healthy years, and health and care systems must adapt to respond to evolving needs and a changing population structure.
The new strategy, which also reflects 1 of the 5 key priorities of the second European Programme of Work 2026–2030, responds by acting on 2 fronts: improving health, functional ability and quality of life for older people today, and investing across the life-course so that future generations reach older age in better health.
“Living longer is something to celebrate, but what matters is not simply adding years to life. It is whether people can live those years in good health, remain connected to the people and communities that matter to them, and receive good care and support when they need it. That is what ‘Ageing is living’ is about,” said Dr Corinne Capuano, Officer-in-Charge for WHO/Europe.
The strategy is the result of almost 2 years of consultation and engagement involving more than 3000 people, including representatives of Member States, civil society, cities and communities, older persons and partner organizations, and other experts.
“More than 3000 people helped us shape this strategy. I want to thank every older person, government representative, practitioner, researcher and community member who challenged us, shared their experience and told us what needs to change,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, WHO/Europe Director of Health Systems. “Their voices are reflected in what countries have adopted today.”
What does this mean for older people, communities and countries?
The strategy focuses on 4 areas: preventing ill health and maintaining capacity throughout life; transforming health and long-term care; creating age-friendly environments; and challenging ageism.
In practice, this means helping people remain healthier for longer; detecting and responding to changing health needs earlier; connecting primary care with rehabilitation, long-term care and social support; supporting caregivers; designing communities where people can move, connect and participate; and ensuring that age alone does not determine whether someone receives the care they need.
Healthy ageing starts long before older age, and is shaped throughout life not only by health services, but also by other factors such as the social, cultural and economic environments in which we live – to name but a few. The strategy therefore calls for strong health-sector stewardship, bringing sectors together around a shared responsibility for healthier ageing.
From strategy to action
WHO/Europe is already working with countries and partners to put the strategy into implementation. This work spans 4 areas: developing leaders, notably through its flagship “Ageing is living” leadership course; strengthening data and intelligence; supporting innovation and investment; and launching a new WHO European Network of Collaborating Centres for Healthy Ageing and Care, which will pool technical expertise to support implementation on the ground.
On data, WHO/Europe is developing Healthy Ageing Intelligence Profiles for all 53 Member States, along with a regional dashboard that looks beyond disease and mortality to functional ability, intrinsic capacity and inequalities.
Background
“Ageing is living: a strategy for promoting a lifetime of health and well-being in the WHO European Region 2026–2030” (EUR/RC76/7) was adopted at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, held in Copenhagen on 27–29 October 2026. It builds on the WHO Public Health Framework for Healthy Ageing and aligns with the second European Programme of Work 2026–2030.
A companion publication, “Ageing is living: implementation approaches for healthy ageing and care in the WHO European Region”, sets out how WHO/Europe will support countries in implementing the strategy.