Older persons are playing an increasingly significant role in society as they grow in number and as healthcare improves in some parts of the world. However, as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated in 2014, "Discrimination and social exclusion persists" for older persons and "we must overcome this bias in order to ensure a socially and economically active, secure and healthy ageing population."

1 October the International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.