As the world’s population continues to age, the focus on fostering healthier, more active lives for older adults is increasingly vital (Beard et al., 2015; Crimmins, 2015). This track will explore forward-thinking strategies and institutional mechanisms that go beyond traditional healthcare. It emphasizes a health promotion and prevention-oriented approach to ageing, aimed at enhancing the well-being of older adults while reducing the societal and economic burdens associated with age-related decline (Fang et al., 2020; OECD, 2017).
This session will align with the themes of the multidisciplinary project “Age-It: Ageing Well in an Ageing Society”. This project aims to transform Italy into an international scientific hub for ageing research, serving as an “empirical laboratory” that sets the benchmark in socio-economic, biomedical, and technological fields to build an inclusive society for all ages (Age-It Consortium, 2022). Moreover, the project focuses on mainstreaming ageing by building institutional mechanisms for better, future-oriented health policymaking (Prince et al., 2015). In line with the project’s mission and scope, the track welcomes contributions on the development of integrated strategies that engage not just healthcare systems but also social and welfare structures to promote active ageing and prevent age-related health issues (Walker, 2006; Harper, 2019).

Key topics to be covered include:

• Policy Innovation. Identifying innovative policies that shift the focus from reactive healthcare to proactive health promotion and age prevention. The session will highlight the need for policies that address the social determinants of health and well-being in ageing populations, such as housing, community engagement, and socioeconomic factors (Lynch et al., 2000; European Commission, 2021).
• Cross-Sector Collaboration. Exploring ways in which institutions can collaborate across health, social and welfare sectors to create environments that support ageing well. This discussion will include best practices for inter-agency coordination and governance structures that foster a more holistic approach to ageing (Kendig et al., 2012; Kalache & Plouffe, 2019).
• Data-Driven Health Promotion. Examining how AI and new technologies can be used to predict, prevent, and manage age-related health risks. Participants will discuss the role of data-driven decision-making in creating personalized prevention plans that go beyond healthcare, incorporating lifestyle, social engagement, and other factors critical to healthy ageing (Oliver et al., 2014; Daskalopoulou et al., 2017).
• Prevention-Oriented Welfare Systems. Considering how welfare systems can be re-imagined to support preventive measures that keep older adults healthier for longer. This will include discussions on economic models that reward prevention, as well as innovative funding mechanisms for community-based health promotion programs (Khan, 2019; Rowe & Kahn, 1998).
• Future Health Policy Making. How policymakers can use the latest research on ageing, technology, and societal trends to create adaptive health policies that respond to the needs of a diverse and rapidly changing ageing population. This includes long-term planning for sustainable, inclusive systems that prioritize prevention and innovation (Clegg et al., 2013; World Health Organization, 2016).

This track aims to highlight best practices, policy innovations, and the role of intergenerational solidarity in reshaping the global response to an ageing society. Hence, it will provide insights and actionable recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and health leaders to integrate ageing into national health agendas, ensuring that prevention and well-being are central to future health systems.
Accepted contributions to this track session will have the opportunity to be considered for publication in the forthcoming book “Building Innovation: Management Mechanisms for Ageing and Health Policy” to be edited by Springer.

Alessandra Ricciardelli, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Lorenzo Mercurio, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Maddalena Illario, University of Naples Federico II, Italy