Social protection for the elderly can improve welfare of an entire population

Countries that passed and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals last year are keen on one principle: Leave no one behind. That includes the welfare and social protection of the world’s fast-growing elderly population.

Investing in social protection and welfare programs targeting and empowering the elderly makes economic — and social — sense, according to Daniel Horn, HelpAge International’s economic advisor for social protection.

“One thing to conceive of when that question is asked is to understand that old age is not a category you’re born into,” he told Devex. “We [all] get there. This isn't a stagnant, static population.”

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