Long-term care (LTC) worldwide must evolve to meet the needs of a growing and diverse population of older persons – particularly those experiencing ongoing declines in capacity. Too often, care is narrowly conceived as institutional, custodial, and deficit based. But long-term care, in its fullest and most humane expression, is about enabling people to live well—wherever they are, and whatever their declines in capacity are.

This interactive workshop, convened by the Lancet Commission on Person-centred Long-Term Care for Older Persons, calls for a bold paradigm shift in how we understand and provide long-term care. Grounded in the two foundational pillars of the WHO Healthy Ageing framework and human rights, the Commission’s work centres on enabling older person’s functional ability so that they can exercise their agency and shape their own lives.

While the Commission’s findings are not yet published and its outputs remain limited at this stage, this session offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with its emerging themes and vision. Five Commissioners—Professor Anne Margriet Pot (Netherlands) and Professor Kiran Rabheru (Canada), co-chairs of the Commission, along with Professor Julie Byles (Australia), Professor Jaco Hoffman (South Africa/UK), and Professor Isabella Aboderin (UK/Kenya)—will lead an interactive dialogue that blends global perspectives, early insights, and lived experiences.

In this interactive session, we will explore together:

What barriers and enablers will influence the implementation of person-centred long-term care and support in our countries?

The 90-minute session will feature short presentations, moderated discussion, and facilitated group dialogue. Participants’ perspectives will help illuminate real-world challenges, highlight priorities for action, and contribute to expanding the scope and impact of the Commission’s future work.

In this UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, transforming long-term care is not only a policy imperative—it is a moral and human rights obligation.

Dr. Kiran Rabheru is a geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. He co-chairs the Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care and is a passionate advocate for older persons’ rights globally. He has served as Chair of the Board of the International Longevity Centre–Canada (ILC Canada) , is the Founding Chair of the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA) and on expert panels for the WHO, UN, and IFA.

 

Dr. Anne Margriet Pot is a clinical psychologist, current President of the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) and co-chairs the Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care for Older Persons. She is an internationally recognized expert in ageing, dementia, and long-term care. She is former Director of Ageing and Health at the World Health Organization and currently Professor of Geropsychology at the University of Amsterdam. She brings extensive global policy and practice experience to this session.

 

Professor Julie Byles is Director of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health and a leader in global ageing research. She serves on WHO expert panels and the Lancet Long-Term Care Commission

 

Professor Jaco Hoffman is Professor of Socio-Gerontology at North-West University (South Africa) and Oxford University (UK). His work focuses on ageing, intergenerational care, and social inclusion in the Global South.

 

Professor Isabella Aboderin is Professor of Gerontology at the University of Bristol and Director of the Perivoli Africa Research Centre. She is a global leader in ageing, equity, and social justice.