About Us
From Australia and Antigua to Vanuatu and Zambia, through our growing networks we are sharing ideas, creating connections, and challenging ageism across the 56 countries of the Commonwealth.
Latest News
India Mission
The CommonAge team actively participated in three significant events: Dementia India Alliance – DemCon 24, Souhrudam, and the 5th ASLI Annual Conclave.
Ageing Well in the Commonwealth – A Roadmap for Healthy Ageing Across the Life Course: 2024–2030.
In October, 2024 at CHOGM in Samoa, Dame Carol Black, the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Ageing Well, released a Report on “Ageing Well in the Commonwealth – A Roadmap for Healthy Ageing Across the Life Course: 2024–2030.”
Mansur Dalal, Chair is one of the speakers on this podcast.
Coming of Age: Meeting the needs of our ageing population: Ontario Long Term Care Association, host Donna Duncan is joined by two visionary leaders to discuss how to tackle these workforce challenges on a global scale: Mansur Dalal, Chair of CommonAge and founder of the Association of Senior Living in India.
In this Podcast, Andrew, Larpent, Chair Emeritus, speaks about the report, Dementia in the Commonwealth.
Andrew Larpent, Chair Emeritus, was the featured guest on the podcast \’Business Show with CommonAge: Dementia in the Commonwealth,\’ hosted by Arif Zaman, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN).
New report sheds light on dementia in the Commonwealth
Launched today, 6 September 2024 at the International Dementia Conference, Sydney, Australia, our Dementia in the Commonwealth report.
28 delegates benefit from our Train the Trainer initiative
‘TRAIN THE TRAINER’, a first-time initiative of a free training programme for those delivering elder care in developing countries, was held in Durban, South Africa, between June 10th to 21st, 2024. With a special focus on ageing in Africa, the training programme aimed for enhanced elder care outcomes through international collaboration, emphasising knowledge sharing and capacity building. This was a collaboration between CommonAge and TAFTA and conducted by Fulbright Scholar, Dr Renu Abraham Varughese. There were 28 delegates from three countries who participated in this training programme. One of the program’s
What we do
We are an accredited Commonwealth civil society charitable organisation, advocating to ensure that older people are fully recognised in society, and are supported and enabled to live well in an all age-inclusive Commonwealth.
Advocacy for the Rights of Older Persons: The latest report “Dementia in the Commonwealth” was released by CommonAge board members at the CHOGM meeting on 22nd October 2024 in Samoa. Our purpose, through this report, is to support and encourage a more dynamic approach to the challenges of dementia by Commonwealth states. With dementia being the 7th leading cause of death worldwide, the number of older people in these countries is expected to double in the next 25 years. Learn More
Bursary Programme: We support the professional development of young leaders, by providing travel bursaries to relevant conferences and events across the commonwealth. Learn More
C.A.R.E Awards: We recognize and celebrate the amazing work carried out by our members across the Commonwealth, by felicitating them with our biennial C.A.R.E (CommonAge Recognising Excellence) awards. Learn More
We have recently launched 4 country chapters in South Africa, India, Botswana and Kenya
- We are working towards promoting Healthy ageing across the Commonwealth through “Conversations in Common” series. Learn More
- We actively lobby governments, encourage sharing of ideas and promote Intergenerational activities, hold both physical and virtual events, make submissions to international papers, and support ongoing research into issues affecting older people in the Commonwealth.
- We work with hundreds of organisations across the Commonwealth – from grass roots to government departments. We challenge ageism and support the campaign for a UN Convention of Rights of Older Persons.
- We strive to establish standards in senior care in countries across the Commonwealth.
- We are acting as catalyst in providing a collaborative platform for free quality training opportunities to those delivering elder care in developing countries. (Train the Trainer Programme).
- We participate through a Delegation to the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). (CHOGM, May 2023).
- We publish reports and papers from time to time: Learn More
- We are promoting a CommonAge Youth Chapter, by engaging with dynamic young people, who are actively engaged in older people affairs across the Commonwealth.
- CommonAge at the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting Commonwealth Year of the Youth; CommonAge supports emerging young leaders.
Our Story
From an idea to a reality, this is our story.
The Chairman of CommonAge, Andrew Larpent, was fortunate to be offered a place on Commonwealth Study Conferences Leaders (CSC Leaders) programme. Andrew’s involvement took him first to London in March 2013 for a week of immersion in the challenges and opportunities facing communities from Commonwealth countries living in the UK.
It was during this programme that the initial concept for CommonAge was developed and tested. It was overwhelmingly supported as one of the leading initiatives to be taken forward after the study conference.
