UN Report Tracks Progress on Healthy Ageing
Countries have improved laws and care policies, but major gaps remain.
A midpoint report on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing says more countries are acting to improve the lives of older people. The share with laws against age discrimination rose from 44.5 percent in 2018 to 57.7 percent, while 56.7 percent now report national long-term care policies.
Progress remains uneven. More than a third of reporting countries have very little or no dedicated funding for long-term care, and only 22.7 percent can track older people's health over time. WHO and its partners are asking governments to strengthen investment, data systems and services before 2030.
Source: World Health Organization, 2026-10-01.
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Vocabulary
- Investment
- money or effort used now to create a future benefit
- Data
- facts or measurements collected for study
- Source
- the person, organization, or document that provides information
Comprehension
What happened in this story, and why does it matter?
Answer guide
Countries have improved laws and care policies, but major gaps remain. Add one supporting fact from the article.
Quick check
Which sentence best describes this story?
- Countries have improved laws and care policies, but major gaps remain.
- An analysis of 15 countries found that large, regular tax increases produced the strongest results.
- The guidance says planning, water, cooling and on-site care can prevent many illnesses.
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The best answer is A.
Grammar focus: Cause and effect
Look for words such as “because,” “so,” “while,” and “as a result.” They connect an event with its effect.