New WHO Guidelines on Elderly Care: What HCPs Should Know

What HCPs should do (practical, instant
steps)

1. Start screening older patients with very short tools (5–10 minutes): ask about mobility (falls), memory/confusion,
   vision/hearing, weight loss/appetite, and mood. If any domain is impaired,
   flag for a fuller assessment. (WHO recommends this intrinsic-capacity
   approach.) (World
   Health Organization)


2. Use or adapt a simple Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)
   template for patients who screen positive —
   record medications (polypharmacy), function (ADLs), social supports,
   cognition and mood, nutrition, and gait/balance. CGA need not be performed
   only by a geriatrician — trained primary care teams and CHVs can initiate
   it. (PubMed
   Central)


3. Map local referral options now:
   physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition support, social services
   and community health volunteers (CHVs). Create a one-page referral pathway
   for your clinic. Integration is the key WHO asks for. (World
   Health Organization)


4. Talk to and support caregivers at
   each encounter — give simple guidance on mobility safety, medication
   adherence, and signs that need urgent review. Share contact information
   for local support (community groups, CHV schedules). (World
   Health Organization)


5. Audit elderly patients’ medication lists for polypharmacy risks — deprescribe where appropriate, and
   educate patients/caregivers about side effects and interactions.
   (Polypharmacy is a common, modifiable contributor to falls and
   hospitalisations.)

What facility managers & program
leads should prioritise

• Train staff (nurses, clinical
  officers, CHVs) in the intrinsic capacity approach and CGA basics. Short
  in-service courses, simulated cases, and mentorship work well. (UNFPA East and Southern Africa)


• Introduce simple metrics: % of
  patients >60 screened, % with CGA completed, falls per 1000 older
  patients, readmission rates — use these for continuous improvement. (World
  Health Organization)


• Design low-cost rehabilitation pathways (group exercises, community-based physio, home visit
  protocols) as these prevent functional decline and reduce admissions. (The Lancet)


• Engage county health planners to
  include basic long-term and rehabilitative services in UHC benefit
  packages.

Challenges to expect (and quick
mitigation ideas)

• Workforce shortages: use
  task-sharing — train nurses/clinical officers and CHVs to do screening and
  basic interventions. (UNFPA East and Southern Africa)


• Limited specialist access: set up
  tele-mentoring relationships with urban geriatricians where possible.

Caregiver strain & poverty: link families to social protection and
community groups; simple counselling and education reduce caregiver burnout. (World Health
Organization)

Where to read the WHO guidance &
Kenya policy (references / links)

• WHO — Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE): Guidelines
  on community-level interventions to manage declines in intrinsic capacity
  (full guideline). (World
  Health Organization)


• WHO — Integrated care for older people (ICOPE) programme
  page and resources. (World Health
  Organization)


• WHO / UN — Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 — strategy,
  plan and resources. (World
  Health Organization)


• Kenya — National Policy on Older Persons and Ageing (2018)
  — national policy document and guidance for county implementation. (repository.kippra.or.ke)


• UNFPA / Kenya — Country summary on healthy ageing (Kenya)
  — assessment of readiness, training and service gaps. (UNFPA East and Southern Africa)


• Reporting on the care gap in Africa (journalism): Associated
  Press — coverage highlighting real-world care shortages for older
  Africans. (AP News)

(Click the links above in the published
article to open the WHO and Kenya policy pages.)