International Day of Older Persons 2025

Every year on 1 October, the world observes the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP), first established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990. This Global Awareness Day highlights the vital contributions of older adults and draws attention to the challenges they face in achieving full rights, well-being, and inclusion.

The 2025 theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights”, reminds us that older adults are not passive recipients of care, but active agents of change. Their voices, experiences, and aspirations must be recognised not just at the family or community level, but in global policymaking and organisational governance.

For highly regulated sectors such as health and social care, education, and employment, this theme is especially relevant. Respecting older persons’ rights is more than a moral obligation; it is a compliance requirement. 

In this blog, Anna Nova Galeon will explore what the 2025 theme means in practice and how organisations can embed dignity, inclusion, and rights into their policies, training, and culture.

Defining “Older Persons”

The United Nations typically defines “older persons” as individuals aged 60 and above, though in the UK, 65+ is often used in statistics and policy planning. What matters most is recognising the diversity of this group: older persons are not a homogeneous population. They include workers extending their careers, carers supporting others, volunteers enriching communities, and individuals needing varying levels of support in later life.

By 2030, 1 in 6 people globally will be over 60. In the UK, individuals aged 65 and above are projected to comprise nearly 25% of the population. This demographic shift brings profound implications, social, economic, and regulatory, requiring organisations to plan proactively.

Why the International Day of Older Persons matters in 2025

The 2025 theme highlights three interrelated dimensions: aspirations, well-being, and rights.

1. Aspirations

Older adults have aspirations for purposeful living, whether through work, volunteering, lifelong learning, or cultural engagement. Recognising these aspirations requires organisations to create opportunities rather than impose limitations.

2. Well-being

Healthy ageing depends on equitable access to healthcare, safe housing, financial security, and social connection. Organisations have a duty to remove barriers that prevent older adults from achieving well-being.

3. Rights

Older persons have the same rights as all individuals - yet ageism, discrimination, and neglect continue to limit their full participation. Compliance with the Equality Act 2010, Care Act 2014, and safeguarding frameworks is central to protecting these rights.

Key regulatory frameworks in the UK

To translate the 2025 theme of the International Day of Older Persons into meaningful action, regulated organisations must align with the legal and governance structures that safeguard the rights of older adults. In the UK, several frameworks govern the protection of equality, dignity, and well-being in practice. These regulations provide the foundation for inspection readiness, organisational accountability, and the prevention of harm - making them central to both compliance and culture.

Equality Act 2010

Recognises age as a protected characteristic. Employers and service providers must ensure equal treatment in recruitment, training, promotions, and service delivery.

Care Act 2014

Places statutory duties on local authorities and care providers to safeguard adults at risk, many of whom are older persons. This includes preventing neglect, abuse, and exploitation.

Human Rights Act 1998

Protects fundamental rights such as dignity, autonomy, and privacy, which must be embedded into organisational policies and frontline practice.

Health and Safety Legislation

Employers must consider risks that disproportionately affect older workers, from musculoskeletal injuries to digital access needs.

CQC and Ofsted Inspection Frameworks

Emphasise person-centred care, dignity, and equity. Organisations must evidence compliance through policies, audits, and training records.

Practical implications for highly regulated organisations

Turning principles into practice requires more than awareness - it demands action across multiple sectors where compliance and governance intersect with older persons’ rights. For regulated organisations, this means embedding dignity, safeguarding, and inclusion into everyday operations, policies, and workforce training.

Since the needs of older persons cut across health, education, employment, and community life, the following four areas outline where organisations must take practical steps to demonstrate both compliance and commitment.

1. Health and social care

• Deliver person-centred care that supports independence and respects individual aspirations

• Train staff to recognise elder abuse, neglect, and self-neglect, embedding safeguarding principles into practice

• Adapt environments with accessible signage, hearing loops, fall-prevention measures, and dementia-friendly design

• Evidence compliance through CQC inspection readiness, governance audits, and staff training records.

2. Education and lifelong learning

• Promote intergenerational learning initiatives that challenge ageism and build respect

• Provide lifelong learning opportunities for older adults, ensuring accessibility in digital platforms and course delivery

• Safeguard older volunteers, mentors, or staff within educational institutions by applying clear policies and training.

3. Employers and workplaces

• Recognise that more employees are working beyond traditional retirement ages

• Conduct workplace risk assessments tailored to older workers’ needs

• Provide flexible working options for those balancing health needs or caring roles.

• Provide digital literacy training to ensure older workers can fully engage with evolving systems.

4. Community and voluntary sector

• Support older persons as leaders, volunteers, and advocates, not just service users

• Uphold GDPR and confidentiality standards in handling sensitive information

• Train staff and volunteers in safeguarding adults and culturally competent practice.

Barriers and solutions

While progress has been made in advancing the rights and well-being of older persons, many organisations still encounter obstacles that hinder effective practice. These challenges often stem from cultural attitudes, resource limitations, or gaps in governance. The table below highlights common barriers and practical solutions to help regulated organisations strengthen inclusion, safeguarding, and compliance:

Building a culture of respect and rights

The International Day of Older Persons is more than an annual observance - it is a reminder that ageing is everyone’s business. In 2025, the UN’s call to recognise older persons as drivers of local and global action challenges organisations to:

• Go beyond compliance and create cultures of respect and dignity

• Actively include older persons in decision-making, not just service delivery

• Align governance, training, and policy with both regulatory requirements and human rights principles.

By doing so, organisations not only meet compliance obligations but also gain the trust of regulators, communities, and their own workforce.

Empower compliance and inclusion with ComplyPlus™

At The Mandatory Training Group, we believe awareness days should inspire action. Supporting older persons requires not only compassion but also robust compliance systems that embed rights and well-being into everyday practice.

That’s why we developed ComplyPlus™, our all-in-one compliance ecosystem. ComplyPlus™ enables health, social care, education, and other regulated organisations to:

• Evidence compliance with safeguarding, equality, and human rights frameworks

• Track and manage workforce training in safeguarding adults, equality and diversity, and elder care awareness

• Centralise governance with secure document management, audits, and reporting tools

• Build a culture of inclusion where older persons are recognised as contributors, leaders, and rights-holders
  

This International Day of Older Persons, commit to more than awareness. Make compliance and dignity inseparable by embedding them into your organisational DNA.