CONTENTSFOREWORD
I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 3
A.

Overview of Strategy Document .................................................................................................. 3

B.

Overarching Principles ................................................................................................................. 4

II. REVIEW OF ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF THE ELDERLY IN OIC ............................................................................ 6
A.

Social and Economic Issues and Challenges ................................................................................. 6

B.

Health and Well-Being ................................................................................................................. 7

C.

Culture ......................................................................................................................................... 7

III. AREAS OF COOPERATION............................................................................................................................ 8A.

Labour Market and Economic Integration ................................................................................... 8

B.

Health and Well-Being ............................................................................................................... 13

C.

Enabling a Supportive Environment........................................................................................... 17

D.

Culture ....................................................................................................................................... 20

IV. THE WAY FORWARD............................................................................................................................... 24

OIC Strategy on the Elderly

FOREWORD
Social welfare policies in most countries around the world, especially in high-income countries, have apositive impact on life expectancy, resulting in larger elderly populations and declined death rates.
However, living longer requires providing more human and material resources and developing tailoredpolicies and strategies for older populations.
Elderly persons in the majority of countries at the OIC have their worth recognized, and are provided
with proper shelter and living care and attention from their wider community, children andgrandchildren. This is all the more so, given the cultural and religious traditional pattern of the broader
Muslim community. On the one hand, this is a constituent element of any response to ageing issues,
but on the other hand, the demographic situation in most of the OIC countries is relatively different
from that in developed countries, due to high youth rates compared to a stable ageing trend.
Population studies, research and censuses indicate an accelerated increase in ageing rates, compared
to youth rates, in the OIC countries since 2010. This is due, in part, to growing health consciousness,
technological advances and developmental trends and, in part, to the acute-onset crises, such as wars,
armed conflicts, migration and natural disasters, with their attendant social, health and economic
impacts. To face these challenges and rapid changes unfolding on the international arena, the Councilof Foreign Ministers at its 42nd session (Kuwait, 2015) called on the General Secretariat, subsidiarybodies and relevant specialized institutions of the OIC to design special policies for the elderly to havea greater part in and to become better integrated into social and economic development. These willserve as a roadmap to improve the health and social services available for this social category, andprovide them with a decent living, as part of delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and in a spirit of joint Islamic action.
The Ministerial Conference on Social Development in the OIC Member States at its first session(Istanbul, 7-9 December 2019) approved the OIC Strategy on the Elderly, developed in close
cooperation between the General Secretariat, the open-ended intergovernmental group of experts,
along with OIC subsidiary organs and institutions concerned, particularly SESRIC. For its part, theCouncil of Foreign Ministers at its 46th session (Niamey, November 2020) welcomed the Strategy.
The strategy addresses issues vitally important to the advancement of the status of the elderly acrossthe Member States. The strategy’s focus is on improving old peoples’ living conditions and building a
supportive environment for them, while making continuous use of their wisdom and expertise,bringing them to engage actively in community development activities, and promoting best carepractices for them.
I do set great store by this strategy to help strengthen joint Islamic action and bring together the efforts
of all our Member States as well as the OIC subsidiary bodies and specialized institutions and partner
institutions to protect the rights to which elderly persons are entitled and maintain for them thehighest standards of welfare and social security.

Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen
Secretary General

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OIC Strategy on the ElderlyI.

INTRODUCTION

Over the recent years, ageing has resulted in the increase of the proportion of elderly and a decrease in
the youth. While, high rates of ageing have been a common trend in developed countries for the past
several decades, it has recently gained momentum in OIC countries; rapid ageing has significant social,economic and cultural impacts on countries that require immediate and well-formulated policy
responses. An important strategy for OIC countries is to ensure the social and economic well-being of
the elderly.
Across the OIC region, ageing was not considered a primary issue of concern due to the relatively young
population, stagnant ageing rate and traditional and religious values that have made co-residence thekey response to macro level ageing1 which enabled OIC societies to absorb ageing. However, since theearly 2000s, OIC Member States and their societies have been entering a new demographic and culturalphase. In the new phase, Member States should expect their population structure to become older andat a faster rate than before.
Since 2010, population ageing in OIC countries has accelerated, and by 2030, the share of the older
population is estimated to reach 9.6% of the total population. According to projections, by 2050 in asignificant number of OIC countries, the number of elderly people will supersede that of young people.
Combined with the declining fertility rates in the OIC and the increase in life expectancy, ageing will
significantly impact and be a basis of challenge for the economy, social relations, and cultural issues.
The increasing ageing trends in OIC will ultimately lead to an increased old age dependency ratio
meaning that more people will require support and care for a longer period. The demographic shift in
Member Countries will interact and intersect with equally significant and major cultural and economictransformations that will undermine filial care and families’ ability to absorb ageing. This will lead to anincrease in the role of Member States to provide support to the elderly in their societies, which
ultimately requires a coherent, efficient and well-founded policy action to plan accordingly for theupcoming ageing forecasts in large number of OIC countries.
The rapid ageing forecast and the changing cultural and economic shifts in OIC countries call for a mutual
strategy on ageing and a cooperative response to the newly moulding conditions, mandating them, inparticular to take greater responsibility. This strategic report aims to provide actionable strategic goals
that will reduce the initial shock of ageing on Member States and provide an outline that will serve as abasis of policy to absorb ageing. The next subsection provides general information of the strategy
document.

A. Overview of Strategy Document
Given the common challenges related to ageing that will be faced by Member States, and the need toenhance cooperation to address these challenges, this strategic report is a step forward in creating amuch needed conversation on ageing and the common future of OIC countries. The report aims to urge
policy-makers to measure the demographic transitions in the coming years to map out the transitionssocial, health and economic consequences. This will provide critical information to be able to start
1 Macro level ageing refers to ageing of populations in an aggregate sense whereby the age-sex structure of a population,

represented by an age pyramid, undergoes a change because of ageing. Population ageing is equally referred to as
demographic ageing and is affected by changes in mortality, fertility and migration flows.

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OIC Strategy on the Elderlyplanning and preparing for the future concerns today by slowly transforming health and social policies
accordingly to absorb ageing without experiencing the initial shock. Furthermore, the document aims
to provide a roadmap for policy-makers to share knowledge, information and experiences on how to
improve the state of the elderly through intra-OIC cooperation.
To enable the realization of the mentioned objectives, the strategic document identified four thematic
areas of cooperation through reviewing the immediate problems, existing policies and the possible
implementation actions to resolve them. The four thematic areas identified are: (i) labour market andeconomic integration, (ii) health and well-being, (iii) enabling a supportive environment, and (iv) culture.
An earlier version of this strategic document was discussed during the workshop on ‘‘Improving theState of Elderly in OIC Member States’’ (24-25 April 2018, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), which
aimed to bring all relevant OIC institutions and experts from Member States to develop an effective OICwide approach on elderly related issues. This draft version of the strategic document reflects comments
and suggestions provided during the workshop as much as possible. It is hoped that this draft version
would be considered and adopted at a relevant OIC fora to be implemented by Member States with aview to addressing the current and emerging challenges related to ageing.
Overall, this strategy aims to stimulate cooperation among member states in addressing the common
ageing issues and challenges that will become critical in the years to come. There is a need for a strategy
to address the multiple and complex challenges that ageing will cause in a significant number of OIC
countries. To mitigate and limit the problems of rapid ageing on OIC countries, this strategic document
will outline concrete actions and goals on how to incorporate the elderly in the labour market andgenerally on how to improve the situation of the elderly. This strategy ultimately aims to increaseawareness on the ageing issue to be faced by multiple OIC countries and calls for cooperation andcollaboration to limit its negative effects.

B.

Overarching Principles

Before proceeding to present the main thematic areas of cooperation, this strategic document assertsthat there are crosscutting issues and key aspects related to each thematic area that should beconsidered as the overarching principles to be followed for each strategic goal in its implementation. To
avoid repetition and to be able to present a methodological approach on the issue of ageing, thisstrategic document suggests the below all-embracing principles which apply to all the thematic areas insection III.
1. Keep diversity in mind: While the label elderly is commonly used for the population 65 years
and over, this group is quite heterogonous and the experience of aging varies among different
segments that constitute the elderly group. Gender, rural versus urban settings, income
settings, differing physical and mental abilities, ability and inability to work and volunteering,
residing with family or at institutions and many other factors determine the needs and problemsof the elderly. This diversity requires the member states to map out existing segments, inparticular collecting accurate information on the age distribution of elderly given the vastdifferences between the very old (80 years and above) and the old (65 to 80).
2. Adopt the socio-cultural model: Neither health nor ageing are merely medical concepts. On thecontrary, health and ageing are defined by the cultural and societal norms about body,personhood, and community. This requires the member states to adopt the ‘the socio-culturalmodel’ that places ageing in the dynamic interplay of social structures.

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

3. Engage all sectors of society: To address the problems posed by ageing population not only amulti-disciplinary but also a multi-sectoral approach is needed. Engaging private sector, civilsociety, faith-based associations, and elderly themselves will not only assist policy makers tobetter understanding the problems on the ground but also come up with innovative, fast-track,and cost efficient fast-track, and cost-efficient solutions. This requires Member states to develop
mechanisms and opportunities to collaborate policymakers with different sectors and to enable
these sectors to collaborate with one another.
4. Adopt a gender lens: The social and economic consequences of micro and macro ageing impact
women the most. As young female adults, women are the main segment of population thattakes care of the elderly and ageing parents. However, women are also the main caregivers forchildren. Working women are being increasingly burdened by this double demand. On the other
hand, elderly women are at a higher risk to be exposed to poverty, violence, and abuse. Thisrequires member states to adopt a gender-lens in developing health and social services forageing.
5. Pay specific attention to displacement and migration: Many OIC member states are struck byimmigration, either through their population exiting or through entrance of new populations.
Migration patterns are typically age-selective and both in the context of the hosting county andcountry of origin, results in additional burden on the State in the areas of health, housing andsocial security. This requires member states to take displacement and immigration into accountin developing health and ageing policies and services.
6. Understand the broader demographic and economic context: Finally, the growth of the elderly
in OIC member states takes place in a context that is when compared to other country groups
has the highest growth of the young population and of those of working age, whose needs stilllargely remain to be unmet. This requires member states to develop smart-policies that canrecognize the interplay between both trends and address issues of both segments in a way thatcan benefit both.

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

II. REVIEW OF ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF THE ELDERLY IN OIC
OIC countries have already and will in the near future strongly feel the impacts of ageing on their socioeconomic systems, social relations and cultural elements. An increase in the number of elderly people,
relative to other age groups, poses a number of challenges on family relationships, health services, andeconomic and social security systems. Older persons in OIC countries face a number of issues andchallenges ranging from increased old-age dependency to exclusion from the labour market or lack ofliteracy and skills to pursue other options. This section provides a brief account of the issues andchallenges faced by the elderly in OIC countries to facilitate the design of the strategic goals and actionsin the next section.

A. Social and Economic Issues and Challenges
In many developing countries including OIC, a large number of elderly people are excluded from accessto well-paid jobs. In addition to exclusion from decent paying job opportunities, the elderly people faceageist stereotypes and high levels of unemployment continue to characterize the situation of theelderly. In OIC member countries, the statutory retirement age is most commonly 60 years-old;however, only less than half of retired individuals receive an adequate old age pension. For thesepeople, private savings and intra-family support are not sufficient to guarantee income security until
the end of their lives. Therefore, public social security pensions remain as a key element of support for
the ageing population, which could result in heavier burdens on government spending. However, it iscritical to recognise that the pension and retirement programs in OIC countries are neither adequate
nor comprehensive enough to meet the growing necessities of elderly people.
The low level of literacy and education attainment of elderly people in OIC countries significantly hinder
their ability to participate in the workforce; their ability to contribute to the development efforts of theirsocieties in terms of economic development, experience or social/communal participation. Many of the
OIC countries consider the growing size of the older persons as a minor problem. This causes a lack ofattention paid to the social issues faced by the elderly that ultimately leads to a limited number of social
institutions aimed for the betterment of the conditions of the elderly. Educational opportunities or othersocial spaces for the elderly to acquire skills is minimal in OIC countries.
Creating inclusive, cohesive societies for all, especially for those who remain to be more vulnerable—
namely, women, children, elderly, and youth— is a necessary condition for social and economic
sustainable development. To create a society where the elderly is integrated and included, one of themost fundamental steps is to promote an ‘enabling environment’. An environment is enabling whencircumstances do not prevent but improve the capabilities and well-being of the elderly. Environmental
circumstances include both physical circumstances, such as the built environment, and social
circumstances, such as integration and solidarity, and these different components mutually reinforce
one another. In regards to physical circumstances, housing and the surrounding built environment—
including transportation and design of public spaces and buildings— are particularly important for theelderly for these circumstances determine whether one has access to such basic requirements of wellbeing as security, access to water, shelter and mobility. The social context and environmental
circumstances also play an equally fundamental role in determining whether one is able to remain active
and connected to society as well as maintain his/her emotional well-being.

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

Overall, the elderly people face several issues and challenges in the area of socio-economics. Elderly
persons are excluded from employment opportunities and face ageist stereotypes, old age pensions are
not adequate and there is limited social spaces for the elderly to develop old/new skills.

B. Health and Well-Being
Elderly people in good health can enjoy a greater sense of well-being and participate more actively inthe economic, social, cultural and political life of a society. Increasing life expectancy in OIC countries
and growing size of elderly population bring new challenges for individuals, families and society largely.
Given the rapid change in traditional roles of family members (e.g. parental care and childcare), an
increasing number of elderly people need to solely rely on social protection programmes and available
public health services to continue the remainder of their life. In some OIC countries, health systems andsocial security programs have already started to be challenged while trying to meet the growing demandfor quality and comprehensive health care services for elderly people.
An immediate concern for the health and well-being of the elderly is the lack of an integrated healthcare system. There is the challenge of establishing mechanisms for long-term care that requires private
and primary care and specialized and palliative care in hospitals and nursing homes. Other forms of inhouse care are also a vital part of the needs of the elderly because as the population ages other form ofcare will acquire even greater importance. The home-care system and the integrated private-primarycare should not be viewed as mutually exclusive. Instead, it should be organized in a way to complement
each other. Other challenges include dealing with depression, loneliness and anxiety of the elderly.
There needs to be institutional and support networks that assist the elderly who are dealing with such
issues. Overall, there needs to be affordable, quality and integrated approaches to the health and wellbeing of the elderly in OIC countries. As ageing in OIC member states increases, the health and wellbeing of the elderly will become even more important for a healthy and well-functioning society.

C. Culture
The issue of ageing and elderly cannot be thoroughly comprehended within the limits of medical or
health factors; culture also plays a role in who is considered old, how people make sense of and responds
to ageing and old-age, and how societies, from families to policy makers, view and treat their elderly.
Through the development of cultural and religious policy responses, eliminating negative stereotypes
against the elderly and the ageing can be achieved. Moreover, replacing such negative stereotypes witha more positive and realistic perception of ageing and old age is necessary. Promoting positive attitudes
can also be considered as a part of the efforts to fight against and eliminate violence, neglect, and abuseof elderly and to complement necessary legal instruments and frameworks. Moreover, cultural attitudes
towards ageing determine to a large extent the nature of caregiving.
Across OIC countries, the key response to elderly care has been informal care provided by family
members. However, upcoming and intensifying demographic and economic challenges as well aschanging family values threaten the community orientation of families. Cultural attitudes also influenceintergenerational relations; modern society tends to create generational segregation in public spaces
and activities. However, intergenerational support and solidarity can benefit both the elderly and the
young at both the broader level of society and at the level of co-residing families. Within this context,
OIC countries need to deal with the cultural norms of excluding and prejudging the elderly to create anenvironment where they can be accommodated and welcomed.

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

III. AREAS OF COOPERATION
Based on the major issues and challenges discussed above, this section groups the key challenges facedby elderly people living in OIC countries under four cooperation areas for strategic action: (i) labour
market and economic integration, (ii) health and well-being, (iii) enabling a supportive environment, and(iv) culture. These areas have been identified through analysing relevant qualitative and quantitative
indicators on elderly in OIC countries, assessing international datasets, and reviewing national, regional
as well as international plans on elderly. Following the discussion on the key challenges under each areaof cooperation, a set of strategic goals are listed for the consideration of policy-makers. Specific strategic
goals have been proposed in order to provide a concrete roadmap for the successful implementationof each recommendation.

Labour Market and Economic IntegrationA.

As the share of elderly people in OIC countries tends go up in the light of demographic projections, theincrease seen in the old-age dependency ratio of several OIC countries have already started to put apressure on their social security systems. Therefore, the active participation of elderly people into
labour market and their integration into economic life have become more important than ever. In thatregard, OIC countries need to make some reforms and take policy-actions from labour market
regulations to social security contributions to address challenges faced by elderly people in the work life
with a view to enabling them to reach better standards of living as well as maximizing their contribution
to the development of their societies.
OIC countries are specifically advised to consider the following six strategic goals (SGs):







SG 1.1: Develop and adopt alternative working systems
SG 1.2: Encourage economic integration of elderly people
SG 1.3: Enhance skills development of elderly people according to labour market needs
SG 1.4: Promote effective coordination among key stakeholders and enhance intra-OIC
cooperation
SG 1.5: Improve the scope and delivery of social security services
SG 1.6: Cope with discrimination at work

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.1: Develop and adopt alternative working systems
Labour market prospects and opportunities are important factors for elderly people to be incorporated
into the labour force. This will not only provide a productive element into the lives of the elderly but
also ease the burden on the state to provide to the elderly, as they would be able to provide forthemselves. However, alternative working arrangements are needed to accommodate for the special
conditions of the elderly. Alternative arrangements need to be regulated and promoted in society toensure that it is implemented and enforced. Therefore, it is critical that arrangements for alternative
working systems for the elderly are developed and implemented.
Actions
1.1.1 Consider devising alternative working systems including teleworking and flexible working systems
in labour market with a view to easing transition from home to work

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

1.1.2 Make required legislative changes to encourage elderly and/or retired people to remain active inthe labour market such as through flexible work arrangements including consultative, temporary or
part-time positions
1.1.3 Make necessary reforms to eliminate unnecessary steps and high-level of bureaucracy in hiring
retired elderly people
1.1.4 Develop new frameworks and regulations to benefit from the experience of elderly people asconsultants and advisors in both the public and private sector
1.1.5 Consider developing alternative working systems with a view to optimizing work-life balance thatwould allow elderly workers to fulfil their family responsibilities as well as meet their healthcare needs

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.2: Encourage economic integration of elderly people
OIC countries need to encourage elderly people to partake in the economic productivity. Various forms
of incentives and awareness campaigns aimed at attracting the elderly population into the labour force
would create a positive and smooth ageing strategy. Encouraging the elderly population to integrate
into the economic system will provide a socially healthier and economically less dependent elderly
population. With the growing ageing in OIC countries and the decreasing trend of kin-support systems,
encouraging the elderly to participate in the labour force will provide a foundation of self-sufficiency forthe elderly population.
Actions
1.2.1 Develop financial and non-financial incentive mechanisms and tax schemes to motivate elderly
people to stay active in the labour market
1.2.2 Identify major challenges faced by elderly people that motivate them to be inactive in the labour
market and prepare a roadmap to address such challenges faced by them
1.2.3 Identify among existing statistical indicators and develop new ones in order to measure and review
the progress in dealing with factors that discourage elderly people to be active in labour market
1.2.4 Organise awareness-raising and promotion programmes for elderly to equip them about theimportance of labour force participation and encourage them to stay economically active in older ages
1.2.5 Develop modalities for recognising and validating skills and competences acquired outside formal
education
1.2.6 Consider introducing special employment quotas for elderly job seekers

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.3: Enhance skills development of elderly people according to labour market needs
Generally, many OIC countries suffer from skill mismatch, which translates into structural
unemployment and lower economic growth and productivity. In order to contribute to the eliminationof market inefficiencies and employ the elderly population in a productive manner, the skills of theelderly population can be developed to meet the needs of certain sectors of the economy. Different
strategic actions as outlined below can serve to create an elderly population with enhanced skill-sets
that could positively contribute to the public and private sectors.

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

Actions
1.3.1 Empower elderly people into economic activities through promoting life-long education andvocational training with a view to equipping them with necessary skills
1.3.2 Improve the employability of elderly people by adjusting workplace environments to the physicaland mental capacities of these people, providing targeted training and education
1.3.3 Conduct diagnostic studies to assess the profile of the inactive elderly labour force and understandthe needs for skills development according to labour market needs
1.3.4 Strengthen the capacity of the social partners to contribute to dynamic life-long learning
programmes
1.3.5 Upscale investments into the technical and vocational education and training system (TVET) for
inactive elderly people that are motivated for work
1.3.6 Improve the technical and vocational education and training system (TVET) and ensure that it
caters to the needs of elderly people as well as employers
1.3.7 Ensure good quality data on the respective employment possibilities and related gains associatedwith different qualification levels for elderly people
1.3.8 Develop a Skill Recognition System (SRS) to identify and verify prior skills and experiences gained
at work over years, which could facilitate the shift to new jobs easy and comfortable as well as enable
the move from informal to formal economy
1.3.9 Improve dialogue with representatives of the private sector to provide elderly people on-the job
training with a view to facilitating transfer of knowledge
1.3.10 Develop inclusive policies and mechanisms to ensure all interested elderly people can reachlabour market services provided by relevant public institutions both in rural and urban areas such as
through easing their accessibility to employment agencies
1.3.11 Design and implement targeted education programmes to improve skills of elderly people living
especially in rural areas
1.3.12 Develop key performance indicators to better monitor inactivity rates among elderly population
living in rural areas by taking local factors such as high unofficial employment rate in the agriculture
sector into consideration
1.3.13 Develop mechanisms to monitor and assess the challenges faced by elderly people in obtaining
necessary skills and qualifications needed for their employment
1.3.14 Improve data and monitoring capacities to regularly monitor the education and employment
status of elderly people

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.4: Promote effective coordination among key stakeholders and enhance intra-OIC
cooperation
To improve the labour market and economic integration of the elderly in OIC countries various actors
in the private and public sector need to coordinate in an effective manner. Health care institutions,various ministries and the private sector stakeholders should work to create effective mechanisms thatwould contribute to the elderly integration into the economy. The different experiences, good practices
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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

and knowledge of OIC countries can then be shared amongst each other to improve the policies, skills
and institutional arrangements for the elderly across member states.
Actions
1.4.1 Enhance coordination among key stakeholders (e.g. Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Labour,and Ministry of Health) to improve labour market prospects for elderly people
1.4.2 Promote and ensure a successful cooperation between national employment centres and healthinstitutions to improve employability of elderly people by taking their healthcare needs into
consideration
1.4.3 Raise awareness among employers about the potentials of elderly people at work incoordination with representatives of public and private sector
1.4.4 Review best-practices and policies implemented in OIC Member States in encouraging elderly
people to be active in the labour market
1.4.5 Promote sharing and transferring country experiences regarding improving skills base of theelderly people among OIC Member States
1.4.6 Encourage the coordination mechanisms among key stakeholders in enhancing local skill
solutions and customized employment services for elderly people
1.4.7 Ensure that labour market institutions develop and maintain a database and disseminate timely
information on jobs, skills, learning and training opportunities for all age groups including elderly
people1.4.8 Monitor trends in indicators on elderly workforce to prepare better policy-responses in a timely
mannerSTRATEGIC GOAL 1.5: Improve the scope and delivery of social security services
Social security services need to go beyond providing for the elderly to a place where the elderly can be
encouraged and supported in finding work opportunities. New regulations in social security services
that privileges and awards elderly persons working could create new incentives for the elderly to enter
the work force; consequently, decreasing the burden on the social security system while giving
opportunities for the elderly to provide to themselves.
Actions
1.5.1 Develop or enhance comprehensive social security schemes and other social protection
mechanisms for elderly people
1.5.2 Consider providing incentives in social security services to promote working at senior ages
1.5.3 Devise and implement both online and offline job search assistance programmes with a view toimproving match between employer and employee, and reducing time and cost for job search andproviding training for elderly people on these programmes
1.5.4 Promote community-based rehabilitation programmes to assist them in their inclusion andintegration into work life

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

1.5.5 Take measures to address tax evasion and avoidance of social contributions, labour laws andregulations that lead to higher informality among elderly work force
1.5.6 Benefit from the potentials of unique instruments available in OIC countries such as Zakat,
Sadaqah, Waqf and volunteerism to scale up scope and delivery of social security services

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.6: Cope with discrimination at work
Many elderly people fear going into the labour force due to ageist discrimination and unfair treatment.
Ageist biases in the work atmosphere needed to be addressed to provide a safe and discrimination-freeenvironment for the elderly to comfortably participate in. Private and public sector employers will needtraining to overcome the preordained prejudices and biases against the elderly. Rules and regulationsof the labour market in OIC countries need to be organized in a manner that addresses age-based
discrimination. Cultural and social awareness that promotes social norms that are free of ageist biases
towards the elderly working will help decrease such issues.
Actions
1.6.1 Respect, promote and realize equality of work opportunity and treatment for elderly men andwomen without any discrimination
1.6.2 Combat discrimination, prejudice and hatred on the basis, age or any other grounds in labour
market1.6.3 Encourage employers to be more inclusive by hiring people with diverse backgrounds as long as
they have basic skills to carry out their duties and develop mechanisms to discourage them on agebased discrimination in hiring processes
1.6.4 Strengthen the national capacity of labour inspection systems and dispute resolution
mechanisms to monitor and implement the legislations related to non-discrimination at work basedon age1.6.5 Take all practicable measures to foster public understanding and acceptance of the principles
of non-discrimination at work based on age
1.6.6 Cooperate with civil society organisations that are specialized on skills development of elderly
people and employment issues
1.6.7 Review social security measures with a view to providing rights of elderly people in labour
markets at international standards
1.6.8 Review existing rules and regulations in labour markets from a age-based discrimination
perspective and devise effective policies to fight with age-based based discrimination at work
1.6.9 Provide training to employers to reduce age-based discrimination at work
1.6.10 Raise awareness in the society and among employers to overcome some challenges such associal norms, misbeliefs etc. that hinders employment of elderly people

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

B. Health and Well-Being
OIC countries need to scale up their health care and well-being services for elderly people in terms ofboth human capital as well as financial sources. As a relatively higher share of rural population
characterizes several of the OIC countries, making health and well-being services more accessible for allelderly people, including the ones residing in rural areas is an important step to becoming more
inclusive. Nevertheless, prevention of diseases and disabilities during old ages is the least costlyintervention that can be taken. Therefore, a specific attention also needs to be paid to the prevention
and early detection policies.
The following specific strategic goals (SGs) are identified for the improvement of health and well-beingof elderly people in OIC countries:






SG 2.1: Improve disease prevention
SG 2.2: Invest into rehabilitation and long-term care services
SG 2.3: Improve public mechanisms including social security systems
SG 2.4: Ensure access to health services
SG 2.5: Promote inter-sectoral and intra-OIC cooperation

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.1: Improve disease prevention
OIC countries need to take strategic actions to prevent or limit the exposure of the elderly people tovarious diseases that is hazardous to people in old age. On a large scale, elderly people that are exposedto the use of tobacco, alcohol and follow unhealthy diets the impacts are much greater and riskier. The
elderly need to be educated on the impacts of their unhealthy decisions and awareness campaigns andincentives need to be provided to make healthier choices more convenient and affordable. Such
strategic actions will decrease the burden on the healthcare systems and create a more vibrant, active
and healthier elderly population.
Actions
2.1.1 Reduce the level of exposure of individuals and populations including elderly people to thecommon risk factors for non-communicable diseases - namely, use of tobacco and alcohol, unhealthy
diet and physical inactivity
2.1.2 Strengthen the capacity of individuals and populations to make healthier choices and follow
lifestyle patterns that foster health preservation and lead them to have a healthier ageing process
and provide education and training programmes to adults on healthy ageing
2.1.3 Design and implement policies with a view to reducing risk factors contributing to disabilities
during old ages
2.1.4 Collaborate with stakeholders and families with a view to preventing dementia and other mental
diseases as well as identifying them at their early stages
2.1.5 Invest in early detection systems for chronic diseases that has the potential of reducing longterm well-being of elderly people and improve the network of screening, diagnostic and treatment
facilities for the most prevalent communicable and non-communicable diseases in terms ofaccessibility, affordability and quality

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OIC Strategy on the Elderly

2.1.6 Consider developing mechanisms to move elderly people out of the crisis region or provide
protected shelters during the outbreak of communicable diseases
2.1.7 Increase access to quality health care services of elderly people especially for early detection
through organizing public awareness raising campaigns

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.2: Invest into rehabilitation and long-term care services
The elderly population in OIC countries are forecasted to rapidly increase in the coming years. Policies
and strategic decisions need to reflect this changing demographic and take systematic approaches tothe possible problems that will follow an ageing society. Institutional services for the care andrehabilitation of the elderly will need to be developed to absorb the issues that are inherent in an ageing
society. Along with the institutional arrangement, religious and community-based care andrehabilitation will also promoting to provide alternative but complimentary support systems for theelderly.
Actions
2.2.1 Invest in elderly care houses to provide rehabilitation and long-term care services by healthprofessionals for elderly people in a healthy environment
2.2.2 Review best-practices across the globe and OIC on elderly care houses to improve theireffectiveness and strengthen capacities at the national level2.2.3 Make rehabilitation and long-term care services affordable and inclusive in the social security
systems with a view to minimizing out-of-pocket expenditures on such services and improving theiraccessibility and coverage
2.2.4 Consider implementing community-based rehabilitation programmes to better understandelderly people given their special needs and provide them necessary care services in this way
2.2.5 Improve delivery of quality health care and long-term care services for elderly people throughan integrated network comprising of health care facilities, community health workers, NGOs andvolunteers
2.2.6 Cooperate with community and religious leaders to train and equip generations on theimportance of elderly care in Islam and organize public campaigns to raise awareness in the society
in this respect
2.2.7 Promote community-based initiatives to deliver more assistive devices for elderly people thosein need of such devices

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.3: Improve public mechanisms including social security systems
Along with investing into the rehabilitation and care services for the elderly, there is a requirement tofurther develop and incorporate the elderly in the social security mechanisms. Budgetary allocations forthe health sector will need to be increased to provide quality yet up-to-date technological services tothe elderly. Health workers will require training and increased working capacity to bare the ageing
population in OIC countries. Other communal and Islamic values and instruments should be used as well

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to provide a sense of security for the elderly. OIC countries should cooperate to share knowledge andexperiences, and the instruments that have proved useful.

Actions
2.3.1 Strengthen national regulatory authority with adequate resources and staff to ensure quality,
safety and efficacy, and widen its scope to cover all technologies for elderly health care and wellbeing including medicines, vaccines, medical devices and diagnostics
2.3.2 Establish and strengthen national bodies to facilitate training, recruitment and management ofhealth workforce across the country in providing health, rehabilitation and long-term care services
for elderly people
2.3.3 Develop mechanisms on the family practice approach for delivery of health care and long–termcare services for elderly people
2.3.4 Set up a mechanism for social protection of poor elderly people by benefiting experiences ofvarious OIC Member States and other countries in the world, and consider benefiting from Islamic
instruments such as Zakat, Sadaqah and Waqf as sources of funds to support social protection ofthese people
2.3.5 Increase the budgetary allocations for health sector and ensure that certain portion of theallocations are being dedicated to be used for elderly care mechanisms

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.4: Ensure access to health services
Access to health care services, in terms of physical mobility and in term of monetary factors, is an areaof cooperation for the OIC countries. The evolving needs of the elderly will need to be reformulated toattain health care access to all elderly who require it. Regulations guiding the physical environments ofwork places, hospitals and public buildings will have to consider the elderly in their planning andexecution of plans. Elderly people who are not registered within a social security system will needmechanisms that still provide them with services. Elderly people in rural areas who are not aware or
have not had the chance to register will also need to benefit from health care services.
Actions
2.4.1 Ensure physical accessibility to a range of services based on needs of elderly people, ensuringcontinuity of elderly care, delivered with an integrated approach and delivery by a well-trained
multidisciplinary team
2.4.2 Involve elderly people in needs assessment, priority setting, implementation, monitoring andevaluation of the public health care services to make health related interventions sustainable andimpactful
2.4.3 Invest more on self- care capacity building through training with a view to reducing dependencyof elderly people to others
2.4.4 Develop mechanisms for sustainable health financing for elderly people with a view to mitigating
inequities in accessing health care during old ages

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2.4.5 Develop national mechanisms and action plans for elderly people without any social security
registration and income with a view to providing them public health care services and including theminto such systems
2.4.6 Enhance inter-sectoral cooperation among stakeholders in order to make health care and longterm care services more affordable and accessible for elderly people
2.4.7 Support businesses to provide a comfortable working environment that is conducive to physicaland mental health of elderly people at work
2.4.8 Improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of health care services for elderly people
2.4.9 Review and upgrade the current status of the national health information systems and its key
elements by taking the evolving needs of elderly people into consideration
2.4.10 Support local manufacturers of essential medical products as well as assistive devices for
elderly people to make them more accessible

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.5: Promote inter-sectoral and intra-OIC cooperation
OIC countries will need to work collaboratively to facilitate policies and mechanisms that are the bestpractice by learning and sharing from individual countries experiences. Capacity building trainings fromstrong countries in specific areas will further ease the process and the implementation in othercountries. Credentials across the OIC with mutual recognition will simplify cross-country specialized
mobility of experts. Collaborations with international agencies that specialize in ageing will also benefit
in the attainment of expertise, knowledge and financial contributions.
Actions
2.5.1 Encourage inter-sectoral cooperation at the national level for sustainable health development
for elderly people through strengthening cooperation between health, education, labour, and social
services
2.5.2 Promote intra-OIC cooperation on experience sharing and transfer of knowledge andtechnology in the domain of health care and well-being of elderly people, and develop a knowledge
sharing platform to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise in this context
2.5.3 Facilitate establishment of a network among training institutions, health services andprofessional associations for joint planning to address the needs and profiles of health professionals
working in institutions providing elderly care
2.5.4 Organize capacity building, experience sharing and sensitizing activities to enhance intra-OIC
cooperation in the domain of health care and well-being of elderly people
2.5.5 Follow up and actively participate into implementation of the OIC Strategic Health Programmeof Action 2014-2023 (OIC-SHPA) with a view to improving health systems
2.5.6 Facilitate intra-OIC cooperation on knowledge exchange and coproduction of new technologies
with a view to improving health and well-being of elderly people such as through developing joint
capacity building programmes

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2.5.7 Ensure mutual recognition of medical diplomas, healthcare providers’ certificates and degrees
across the member states especially specialized on elderly care
2.5.8 Collaborate with international agencies active on ageing and elderly people like WHO, UNICEF,
UNFPA and World Bank to benefit from their expertise and financial contribution to build healthinfrastructure in member states for elderly people
2.5.9 Consider supporting public-private partnerships to improve the availability of elderly care,rehabilitation and health service providers

C. Enabling a Supportive Environment
A set of key actionable insights is identified that would enhance both physical and social environmental
conditions that surround the elderly. They emphasize in particular reformulating environmental
conditions to enable ‘ageing in place’ and facilitating elderly volunteerism as major factors that cancreate a positive environment for elderly people. Moreover, they highlight the need for a more thoroughand scientifically based approach to ageing and the needs of elderly in order to better formulate policesthat can ensure an enabling social and physical environment.
In summary, the following specific strategic goals (SGs) can serve to create a supportive environment
for elderly people in OIC countries:

SG 3.1: Develop policies to ensure an enabling environment for the elderly people
SG 3.2: Improve mobility of elderly people across all spheres of life
SG 3.3: Promote elderly volunteerism to improve elderly well-being and to facilitate theircontribution to society
SG 3.4: Improve scientifically based approaches to ageing to better address the needs of theelderly and prepare OIC Member States to future demographic changes

STRATEGIC GOAL 3.1: Develop policies to ensure an enabling environment for the elderly people
As the elderly population gradually rises in OIC countries, the surrounding environment becomes evermore important for the accommodation of the elderly. These include the physical and the social
environment. With the cultural transformations and the growing number of people living with their
atomic families, the elderly will need shelters to accommodate to this new trend. Increased care homes
and alternative housing options suitable for the cultural context will need to be developed. At the sametime, the social surrounding will also need to be accommodative to the growing number of elderly andtheir presence.
Actions
3.1.1 Review and update housing policies to ensure that they reflect and match the diverse needs ofelderly people across different segments (such as, rural and urban, oldest old and young old, differing
income level, gender) and based on preferences (such as, preference for independent living, assisted
living or care homes)
3.1.2 Consider developing policies and mechanisms that can make “ageing in place’’ a prior responseto address elderly needs

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3.1.3 Ensure that families caring for older relatives are given priority in public housing schemes andthat they are eligible for meaningful benefits such as subsidized housing or low cost interest
3.1.4 Provide older persons, their families and caregivers with timely and effective information andadvice on the housing options available to them
3.1.5 Meet the need for shared and multigenerational co-residence through the design of housing
and public space
3.1.6 Ensure there is equitable distribution of services for older people between urban and rural areas
3.1.7 Improve and spread elderly care homes
3.1.8 Establish flexible care options provided by elderly care homes such as part time care
3.1.9 Enact and implement legislation to protect the rights of older people living in elderly care homes(both public and private) regarding security and privacy.
3.1.10 Assist elderly care homes to improve daily activities they provide to residents to stimulate
learning, joy, mental alertness and physical well-being
3.1.11 Assist elderly care homes to provide religious services, such as religious training or reading the
Quran in Arabic, to the residents to meet religious needs, ensure spiritual comfort, and enable a senseof proper preparation for the after-life
3.1.12 Engage private sector, civil society and universities to develop new and innovative approaches
to restructure elderly care homes for greater and more effective care
STRATEGIC GOAL 3.2: Improve mobility of elderly people across all spheres of life
Elderly people commonly tend to avoid mobility due to the hardships of sidewalks, public
transportations and lack of structural adjustments that allow them to be mobile. The special needs ofthe elderly will need to be incorporated into city planning and transportation services. Buildings withspecial accessibility for the elderly will positively influence the health of the elderly population byenabling them to be more active and independent. This in the end will decrease health care costs andincrease elderly well-being.
Actions
3.2.1 Develop regulations to make public buildings more accessible for elderly people
3.2.2 Invest in transport systems with a view to increase mobility of elderly people in their daily life
3.2.3 Increase awareness on mobility needs of elderly people and train society to show respect totheir special needs on accessibility and mobility
3.2.4 Make services provided for mobility of elderly people affordable and provide compensation
through social security services with a view to increasing access of elderly people to transportationand mobility services
3.2.5 Provide sustainable mobility and transport services for elderly people to encourage them to be
active in life and improve their well-being

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3.2.6 Provide training programmes for service providers in transportation and mobility services about
special needs of elderly people
STRATEGIC GOAL 3.3: Promote elderly volunteerism to improve elderly well-being and to facilitate theircontribution to society
As people grow older and become less active in society they feel less valued and usually started to
become immobile and frustrated. OIC countries through volunteerism can integrate the elderly people
into a productive force and positively influence their self-esteem along with societies. Elderly people
have many different ways in which they can contribute to society through volunteerism.
Actions
3.3.1 Start a national movement to promote elderly volunteerism to enable elders who are willingand capable of continuing to be active and productive members of society and their communities
3.3.2 Promote a wider understanding of elderly volunteerism through public recognition of the social,
cultural, economic and political contribution elders make to families, community, and society
3.3.3 Facilitate the participation of older persons in volunteerism that may have little or no access tothe benefits of engaging in volunteering
3.3.4 Identify tools and methods to encourage elderly peer-to-peer support to enable moreexperienced senior volunteers to guide new elderly volunteer recruits
STRATEGIC GOAL 3.4: Improve scientifically based approaches to ageing to better address the needs ofthe elderly and prepare OIC Member States to future demographic changes
Ageing is a natural phenomenon that every person will experience, however, with mechanisms for early
detection of illnesses and the promotion of a healthy society, the negative impact of ageing can be
reduced. This requires initiatives to establish networks of professionals and the use of latest technology
to detect, treat and diagnose illnesses with the aim of prevention. The academic and scientificcommunity across the OIC need to be utilized in cooperative manner to come up with recommendations
on prevention, early detection and treatment.
Actions
3.4.1 Mainstream a geriatric and gerontological approach to health development policies in order tomeet the future demand for quality long-term care services
3.4.2 Provide facilities including medical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services for early diagnosis andtreatment of illness to eliminate problems that could lead to long-term debilitating conditions in oldage
3.4.3 Encourage and facilitate academic institutions and health professionals to prepare policy
makers to be responsive to the future demographic changes and problems associated with an aging
population.
3.4.4 Raise awareness among health professionals on the distinction between geriatrics andgerontology to ensure that health professionals know about both the diseases and conditions and19

OIC Strategy on the Elderly

how to effectively communicate with older persons, how to be supportive, and respond to theircomplex array of concerns and problems.
3.4.5 Establish a network of geriatric and gerontology experts and professionals across OIC Member
StatesD. Culture
The strategic goals in the area of elderly focus on how to increase the capacity of both caregiving families
and elderly care institutions, both public and private. In particular, special support mechanisms need tobe considered for female caregivers (both the sandwich generation2 and elderly women) given their
exposure to greater risk and pressure. In this context, strategic goals on how to combat negative
stereotypes and violence directed at elderly, strengthen and promote caregivers of all kind, andpromote and facilitate intergenerational support and mutually beneficial relations would help toimprove the state of elderly in OIC countries.
Against this background, the following specific strategic goals (SGs) can be used to address thechallenges faced at the cultural front for elderly people in OIC countries:

SG 4.1: Fight against ageism in society at large and promoting positive images of ageing and theelderly3
SG 4.2: Strengthen solidarity through equity and reciprocity between generations
SG 4.3: Eliminate Violence against and Abuse and neglect of elderly
SG 4.4: Support and Strengthen caregiving families and institutions

STRATEGIC GOAL 4.1: Fight against ageism in society at large and promoting positive images of ageing
and the elderly
Ageing can sometimes and is often seen in society in negative light. Research in OIC countries can pin
point perceptions of society through researches to identify the areas that need greater awarenessraising and promotion to decrease the negativity towards the elderly. Wide societal campaigns about
ageism will be useful in not only decreasing biases towards the elderly but also promoting and raisingawareness about other ageing to other generations as well.
Actions
4.1.1 Raise awareness about ageism, what it means, and its negative consequences on society
through mobilizing media, public opinion makers, and universities
4.1.2 Promote and inform the society at large about Islam’s positive attitudes towards elderly andspecific injunctions regarding how elderly should be treated through mobilizing religious leaders,mosques, and faith-based organizations

2 The sandwich generation is a generation of people who care for and support their aging parents while at the same time

supporting and caring for their own children.
3 Ageism is the stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. Ageism can take many

forms, including prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices, or institutional policies and practices that perpetuatestereotypical beliefs.

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4.1.3 Conduct research on how ageing is perceived in OIC societies

STRATEGIC GOAL 4.2: Strengthen solidarity through equity and reciprocity between generations
To strengthen solidarity and cohesiveness amongst society, different generations and varying age
groups can work in a reciprocal manner to contribute to the positive norm building in society. Local andnational government capacities can be improved, and different platforms for multi-generational
interaction may be employed to increase solidarity. Greater solidarity and mutual respect andcommunication will function to decrease the negative impact and biases aimed at the elderly whileallowing different generations of individuals to learn and communicate with each other.
Actions
4.2.1 Raise through public education an awareness on elderly contribution to family and communities
and promote examples of elderly men and women who have significantly contributed to society,development, or community from different sectors (private sector, civil activism, politics, religion,etc.) to fight against negative stereotypes that view elderly to be fragile, incompetent, inactive, frail,out of touch, burdensome or dependent
4.2.2 Train and sensitize policy-makers on ageism and stereotyping to enable them to recognize ageist
and prejudicial attitudes in existing elderly related policies and institutional practices and to develop
new policies and practices that do not perpetuate ageist belief and measures
4.2.3 Develop public platforms and spaces to facilitate intergenerational communication, connection,
activities, and mutual support and fight against generational segregation or exclusion
4.2.4 Improve the capacity of local governments, such as municipalities, in developing and monitoring
public spaces and platforms for multi-general interaction
4.2.5 Promote and strengthen solidarity among generations and mutual support as a key element forsocial development
4.2.6 Develop creative opportunities for inter-generational interaction, for instance by co-locatingeldercare and childcare facilities, or arranging elderly visits to day cares, orphanages, and schools
4.2.7 Consider the need to address the specific situation of the elderly who co-reside with theirextended family and hence interact with multiple-generations (children and grant-children) on a daily
basis either caring for them or being cared by them

STRATEGIC GOAL 4.3: Eliminate Violence against and Abuse and neglect of elderly
Violence and neglect against the elderly, whether it be at the home, work or in a public area, is acommon occurrence. To eradicate and reduce violence and neglect against the elderly different
measures must be adopted by OIC countries. Role models in society along with community and religious
leaders must advocate for eradication of violence against the elderly. Islamic values and teaching on therespect and care for the elderly must be disseminated amongst the public. Professionals and others
working with the elderly should have proper training and awareness of the special attention that the21

OIC Strategy on the Elderly

elderly might require. Policies and regulations should aim to eliminate all forms of neglect and abuse of
the elderly.

Actions
4.3.1 Eliminate all forms of neglect, abuse and violence of older persons. Neglect, abuse and violenceagainst older person’s take many forms — physical, psychological, emotional, financial — and occurs
in every social, economic, ethnic and geographic sphere4.3.2 Improve studies on the frequency of elder abuse particularly in elderly-care, for which as of now
there is only little data
4.3.3 Mobilize communities to work together to prevent abuse, consumer fraud and crimes against
older persons
4.3.4 Carry out nation-wide campaigns in collaboration with religious leaders against elderly abuse
and neglect and raise awareness
4.3.5 Train professionals to be able to recognize the risk of potential neglect, abuse or violence byformal and informal caregivers both in the home and in community and institutional settings.
4.3.6 Sensitize professionals and educate the general public, using media and other public awarenessraising tools, on the subject of elder abuse and its various characteristics and causes
4.3.7 Develop policies specific to elderly women and those who are care dependent given these twogroups of elderly face greater risk of physical and psychological abuse
4.3.8 End abuse and neglect in senior-car homes, both public and private

STRATEGIC GOAL 4.4: Support and Strengthen caregiving families and institutions
Aside from the state-led initiatives, caregiving families and institutions also need to be strengthened.
Families need to be educated about family-oriented values and the need to benefit from Islamic values
and teaching with a view to promote caregiving for the elderly. The importance of caregiving to theelderly needs to be widely recognized amongst society and opportunities for volunteer caregiving
should be implemented.
Actions
4.4.1 In the face of rapid changes in family structures, demography, and cultural values, support theinstitution family and its core values and capacity regarding elderly care by mobilizing financial,legislative, and cultural means
4.4.2 Support families and young couples in their adherence to family-oriented values and theinstitutions of marriage
4.4.3 Implement policies and programs that strengthen families that are inclusive of older people.

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4.4.4 Support caregivers through training, information, psychological, economic, social and legislative
mechanisms;
4.4.5 Enhance the caregiving abilities of families through the provision of long-term support andservices
4.4.6 Address the increasing burden adult women shoulder in the elderly care. The situation isespecially dire for the ‘sandwich generation’ that this generation requires policy prioritization
4.4.7 Involve older people in all stages of the design, development, implementation, monitoring andevaluation of programs
4.4.8 Learn from traditional values and norms to inform legislation about family values and the careof older persons. Identify, support and strengthen traditional support systems to enhance the abilityof families and communities to care for older family members
4.4.9 Design and implement services to meet the specific needs of urban older people, recognizingthat family networks tend to be weaker in urban centres
4.4.10 Tailor caregiving support systems to the unique needs of the elderly who shoulder care givingof other elderly such as spouses or family members
4.4.11 Identify how to assist older women in caregiving and address their specific social, economic
and psychological needs
4.4.12 Take steps to ensure the provision of assistance to older persons in cases where informal
support is unavailable, has been lost, or is not desired
4.4.13 Create programs in cooperation with gerontologists and geriatrics to train home health careproviders, particularly focusing on meeting the special needs of those who care for elderly withcognitive disabilities, and acute diseases
4.4.14 Benefit from Islamic values and teachings with a view to promoting and encouraging people
and families on the importance of caregiving for elderly

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IV. THE WAY FORWARD
As the senior citizens of societies, elderly people have made great contributions to the development of
their countries throughout their life span. As the official statistics reveal, the number of senior citizens
or elderly people living in OIC Member States has been on the rise over the last decades. The growing
number of elderly people and increased life expectancy in OIC Member States, however, put a pressure
on policy-makers on how to best address these emerging trends and continue to provide good quality
services for the growing number of elderly people that they can sustain their life in comfort. In order toensure best living standards and improve their well-being, OIC Member States need to take actions andimplement a set of policies both at the national and intra-OIC cooperation levels.
This requires OIC Member States to make a commitment and take significant steps in elderly policymaking and implementation. Such commitment should involve utilization of concerted action
frameworks including experience sharing and transfer of knowledge that would lead to development ofconstructive cooperation among the relevant fields of capacity building, education, rehabilitation andelderly care services. Moreover, national elderly strategies need to be aligned to contemporary needs
and developments to enhance their strategic capabilities and capacities both for the short- and longterms.
Elderly people have great potential to help achieve sustainable development in OIC Member States
given their stock of knowledge, experience and skillset. By neglecting such a significant segment of asociety and without addressing challenges faced by them, it is not likely that OIC Member States willachieve sustainable development. It is therefore essential to design strategies and take policy actions toimprove the state of elderly people.
On the other hand, improving the state of elderly in OIC Member States require establishment ofeffective coordination mechanisms among stakeholders at the national level. It is also imperative todevelop such coordination mechanisms at the intra-OIC level with the participation of relevant OIC
institutions as well as OIC Member States under the coordination of the OIC General Secretariat for the
betterment of elderly people. The concerted efforts need to be formulated in a way to implement
policy-actions on elderly in a timely and coordinated manner. The coordination mechanism should becoupled with a reporting system in order to collect up-to-date information about planned andcompleted activities/policies undertaken by OIC Member States as well as relevant OIC institutions.

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