Strengthening Long-Term Care Systems: WHO's Strategic Approach and the Development of Global Standards

Population aging represents one of the most significant social transformations of our time, with profound implications for health systems, social protection, and intergenerational solidarity. By 2050, 1 in 6 people globally will be aged 60 years or older, with the fastest growth occurring in low- and middle-income countries least prepared to respond. Alongside demographic shifts, sociocultural transitions—urbanization, changing family structures, and increased women's labor participation—are fundamentally altering traditional caregiving arrangements.