according to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department, on Wednesday, October 1 (Mehr 9), coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons, a ceremony was held at the State Welfare Organization of Iran attended by Seyed Javad Hosseini, Head of the organization, his deputies, Zia Hashemi, Deputy for Cultural and Social Affairs to the First Vice President, members of the National Council for the Elderly, ambassadors of China, South Korea, and Japan, and the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Iran.In their remarks, the ambassadors of China, South Korea, and Japan outlined their respective national policies on aging and expressed interest in further cooperation with Iran, emphasizing the exchange of successful experiences in elderly care and policy implementation.During the event, the poster for health assistance for persons with disabilities and older adults in Iran was also unveiled in the presence of the ambassadors, the UNFPA representative, and the Head of the Welfare Organization.In his speech, Seyed Javad Hosseini, Head of the State Welfare Organization, appreciated the ambassadors of China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the UNFPA and other international agencies that have maintained longstanding collaboration with Iran’s Welfare Organization and the National Council for the Elderly.He stated:“We began celebrating the Day of Older Persons yesterday with visits to senior gatherings in District 6 of Tehran Municipality, launching the ‘Rose of Kindness’ campaign, where younger generations presented roses to the elderly. Today’s ceremony marks our second event, and later this afternoon, I will travel to Hamedan to inaugurate a restaurant dedicated to older adults as a symbolic initiative. We will also launch the ‘Salam Plan’, turning schools into evening social hubs for the elderly.” Hosseini expressed his appreciation for over a decade of valuable partnership with UNFPA, noting that this continuous cooperation has led to the design and implementation of numerous policies, programs, and projects in the field of aging — including the National Document on Older Persons, the National Action Plan, the National Survey on Aging, the formal caregiver training system, and the Age-Friendly City initiative.“At present, 18 cities across Iran have been designated as age-friendly, and significant progress has been made in improving urban infrastructure and creating legal and supportive frameworks for vulnerable groups,” he said.
Hosseini added that these international collaborations have facilitated the exchange of global best practices, enhanced the scientific and operational capacities of Iranian experts, and built a solid foundation for the future of aging policies in the country.
Referring to the design of a formal elderly caregiver training system, Seyed Javad Hosseini, Head of the State Welfare Organization, stated that the system was developed in collaboration with partners and under the guidance of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).He added that, considering the growing phenomenon of loneliness among older adults—particularly women, the organization has launched a program for training, empowerment, and promoting well-being among elderly women living alone across 18 provinces, reaching more than 51,000 participants so far. Hosseini noted that the National Survey on Aging, along with cohort studies conducted in various provinces, has provided a comprehensive picture of the status of older adults in Iran, which will play a crucial role in future policy making. The Head of the Welfare Organization also announced the standardization of elderly care centers, explaining:“Currently, there are 675 elderly care centers operating across the country, offering a wide range of services, including 102 home-visit centers, 101 in-home care centers, 307 residential (24-hour) facilities, 157 day-care centers, and 46 supported living homes. Schools are also being incorporated into this network, with the potential to expand to 115,000 community-based service centers.”He further highlighted new initiatives such as the creation of elderly villages, the training of 3,000 aging consultants—launched during Government Week—and the introduction of disaster management education for older adults, describing these as key projects under way at the Welfare Organization.“With the cooperation of the United Nations and especially China, Japan, and South Korea, which have valuable experience in this field, we are striving to expand these initiatives,” Hosseini said.
“Our studies show that in Japan, schools also serve as community hubs providing accessible, neighborhood-based services for older adults.”In conclusion, Hosseini emphasized the organization’s commitment to the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Integrity, Competence, and Justice: “Integrity means ensuring that all those in need—including the elderly—are covered by our services, leaving no one behind. Competence means providing quality and standardized services, and Justice means ensuring equitable access, particularly through preferential justice in vulnerable regions and groups. We will continue working toward the vision of a human-friendly city, where the most important indicator is an age-friendly environment.”
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