Every year on 1 October, the world comes together for the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons (IDOP)—a day to celebrate the contributions of older adults and shine a light on the challenges they face.

This year’s theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights,” will be marked with an in-person commemoration at the UN Headquarters in New York City (ECOSOC Chamber, tbc) on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ET.

How Aged Care Providers Can Take Action

IDOP 2025 calls on aged care providers to champion older adults through programs, policies, and advocacy. Key areas include:

• Promoting Social Inclusion through intergenerational projects, volunteerism, and community engagement to combat isolation.
• Creating Age-Friendly Environments with accessible design, fall-prevention measures, and adaptive technologies.
• Fostering Health and Wellness by offering holistic programs in fitness, nutrition, mental health, and chronic disease management.
• Supporting Financial Security with resources on retirement planning, budgeting, and social benefits.
• Recognizing Contributions by celebrating the achievements of older volunteers, leaders, educators, and artists.

The Role of the NGO Committee on Ageing

The International Day of Older Persons is marked by a series of events, discussions, and initiatives organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, and advocacy organizations. The NGO Committee on Ageing, a key player in this initiative, leads several critical events aimed at raising awareness of ageing-related issues, such as health care access, housing, financial security, and social inclusion.

The 2025 International Day of Older Persons will be a call to action for all sectors—government, NGOs, community organizations, and health care providers—to work together toward creating a more inclusive society for older people. With global challenges such as health care access, social isolation, and elder abuse still prevalent, the collaboration of key players such as the Global Ageing Network and the NGO Committee on Ageing is more important than ever.

The NGO Committee on Ageing will host a series of prominent discussions and events, featuring a wide range of special guests, including international policymakers, aged care professionals, and community activists. These leaders will come together to discuss the most pressing issues facing older populations globally and explore innovative solutions to ensure they lead lives of dignity, security, and social inclusion.

William T. Smith, PhD, president of Aging in America, chairperson for the NGO Committee on Ageing, and Global Ageing Network UN representative, is a long-standing advocate for older people’s rights and an expert in ageing services.

Dr. Smith will emphasize ageing is not a crisis to be feared, but an opportunity to build stronger, more inclusive communities where older individuals are valued and cared for. By working together, the international community can ensure that older people not only live longer lives but live better lives, filled with dignity, respect, and the opportunity to thrive.

The NGO Committee on Ageing works closely with DESA and collaborates with other international alliances to provide human rights for older people, globally.

Aged care providers are the backbone of ensuring that older people live with dignity and receive the specialized care they need. In many parts of the world, older people are confronted with challenges such as ageism, health care disparities, and social isolation. Aged care providers, however, can significantly alleviate these burdens by offering services that address both physical and emotional well-being.

Dr. Smith emphasizes that all members of civil society and LeadingAge and Global Ageing Network members have a responsibility to “show up” and advocate on behalf of older persons globally.

That’s why the International Day of Older Persons is an important global celebration, with special programs at the United Nations in New York, in Geneva and in Vienna. Dr. Smith continued, “we all need to show up and be heard.”

A Call to Action

The 2025 International Day of Older Persons represents an important moment for the global community to reflect on how far we’ve come in supporting older people, and more importantly, how far we must go. The participation of organizations like the Global Ageing Network, represented by Dr. Smith, ensures that the voices of older individuals and those who care for them are heard loud and clear on the international stage. This day is both a celebration and a call to action—a reminder that honoring and investing in older people benefits everyone, both now and for generations to come.

###