Business Daily Media

Men's Weekly

.

PolyU School of Nursing hosts Healthy Ageing Conference 2025, experts from 15 countries and regions join forces to promote healthy ageing

HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach Newswire - 29 May 2025 - The world is facing the challenge of an ageing population, making the maintenance of health and quality of life for the elderly an urgent issue.

As a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Community Health Service, the School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in collaboration with the PolyU Research Institute of Smart Ageing (RISA), is hosting the Healthy Ageing Conference 2025 from 29 – 30 May. The conference aims to promote healthy ageing efforts in the Western Pacific region and beyond, bringing together over 200 experts from 15 countries and regions.

As a WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Service, the School of Nursing at PolyU, in collaboration with the PolyU RISA, is hosting the Healthy Ageing Conference 2025. Distinguished guests presided over the inaugural ceremony, including Dr Libby LEE, the Acting Secretary for Health of the Government of HKSAR (centre); Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU (6th from the right); Ms Xinjie QI, Second Class Counsel (Deputy Director-General Level) of the Department of Ageing and Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (6th from the left); Dr Ching-choi LAM, Member of Executive Council of HKSAR Government and Chief Executive Officer of Haven of Hope Christian Service (5th from the right); Dr Hiromasa OKAYASU, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the WHO WPRO (5th from the left); Prof. Kar-kan LING, Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) of PolyU (4th from the right); Dr Raymond HO, Assistant Director (Elderly Health) of the Department of Health of HKSAR (4th from the left); Prof. Angela LEUNG, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services HKSAR (3rd from the right); Prof. David SHUM, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of PolyU (3rd from the left); Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of RISA of PolyU (2nd from the right); Prof. Janelle YORKE, Chair Professor of Nursing and Head of School, School of Nursing of PolyU (2nd from the left); Prof. Jed MONTAYRE, Associate Head (Strategy) and Associate Professor, School of Nursing of PolyU (1st from the right); and Prof. Ivy ZHAO, Assistant Professor of School of Nursing, and Deputy Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services of PolyU (1st from the left).
As a WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Service, the School of Nursing at PolyU, in collaboration with the PolyU RISA, is hosting the Healthy Ageing Conference 2025. Distinguished guests presided over the inaugural ceremony, including Dr Libby LEE, the Acting Secretary for Health of the Government of HKSAR (centre); Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU (6th from the right); Ms Xinjie QI, Second Class Counsel (Deputy Director-General Level) of the Department of Ageing and Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (6th from the left); Dr Ching-choi LAM, Member of Executive Council of HKSAR Government and Chief Executive Officer of Haven of Hope Christian Service (5th from the right); Dr Hiromasa OKAYASU, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the WHO WPRO (5th from the left); Prof. Kar-kan LING, Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) of PolyU (4th from the right); Dr Raymond HO, Assistant Director (Elderly Health) of the Department of Health of HKSAR (4th from the left); Prof. Angela LEUNG, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services HKSAR (3rd from the right); Prof. David SHUM, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of PolyU (3rd from the left); Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of RISA of PolyU (2nd from the right); Prof. Janelle YORKE, Chair Professor of Nursing and Head of School, School of Nursing of PolyU (2nd from the left); Prof. Jed MONTAYRE, Associate Head (Strategy) and Associate Professor, School of Nursing of PolyU (1st from the right); and Prof. Ivy ZHAO, Assistant Professor of School of Nursing, and Deputy Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services of PolyU (1st from the left).

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, stated that the conference provides a platform for policymakers, the healthcare industry, academics, and stakeholders to jointly promote healthy ageing. He said, "With PolyU's extensive experience in the education of healthcare professionals, we have submitted a forward-looking and innovative proposal to the Government for the establishment of Hong Kong's third medical school, aiming to leverage the University's robust capabilities in medical science, medicine and engineering integration, and AI-driven medicine to nurture a new generation of medical doctors who are socially responsible and technologically proficient."

Ms Xinjie QI, Second Class Counsel (Deputy Director-General Level) of the Department of Ageing and Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, stated in her speech that China and the WHO have conducted a series of collaborations on integrated medical and elderly care, the establishment of age-friendly medical institutions, and the development of geriatric medicine, achieving positive results. She expressed willingness to strengthen exchanges with other countries and share innovative experiences. She also emphasised that advancing the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a national strategy, and the National Health Commission will continue to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao in areas such as healthy ageing.

Dr Libby LEE, the Acting Secretary for Health of the Government of HKSAR, stated that the HKSAR Government is actively reforming the healthcare system, including enhancing the primary healthcare services. As outlined in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint released in December 2022, the Government's strategy adopts a prevention-focused, community-based approach. It aims at supporting and equipping people to lead a healthy life in the community, thereby improving the overall health status of the population. This conference serves as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange across healthcare disciplines, experience sharing, partnership building, as well as innovative solutions exploration. It definitely will contribute to the enhancement of the wellbeing of older persons in Hong Kong and beyond.

Dr Hiromasa OKAYASU, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), reaffirmed that the conference offered an exceptional platform for policymakers, stakeholders, practitioners, researchers, and academics to come together and address the pressing trends and challenges related to population ageing in the region. He stated, "PolyU's School of Nursing made significant efforts to facilitate a wide range of discussions, encompassing research and practical ideas, all with the aim of enhancing healthy ageing."

In 2019, WHO introduced the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework, transitioning from a disease-centred approach to one that assesses the intrinsic capacities of older adults—encompassing both physical and mental abilities. This comprehensive, person-centred model is designed to identify early signs of decline in intrinsic capacity, enabling timely interventions to mitigate, halt, or reverse frailty and dependence in older individuals. Building on expert feedback and the latest research, WHO has recently launched ICOPE 2.0, featuring the following key enhancements:

  1. Inclusion of Three Essential Factors in Ageing: In addition to evaluating six intrinsic capacities—cognition, mobility, nutrition, vision, hearing, and mental health—ICOPE 2.0 now incorporates "urinary incontinence management", "social care and support", "carer support" and vaccination advocacy, thus providing a more accurate representation of older adults' health status and quality of life.
  2. Introduction of Three Filter Questions: To streamline the assessment process for cognitive, hearing, and vision capabilities, a rapid screening system has been established. If an older adult responds "yes" to any of these questions, they will be referred directly for a comprehensive evaluation.
  3. Provision of Immediate Recommendations and Interventions: Following the completion of the ICOPE 2.0 assessment, the responsible assessor is equipped to offer tailored health advice and community support based on the individual needs of the older adult.

Prof. Angela LEUNG, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, remarked, "ICOPE 2.0 enhances the entire assessment and intervention process, facilitating the early identification of older adults in need of support and care. This approach helps to mitigate or slow the decline in quality of life associated with ageing. Additionally, the HKSAR Government has been actively reinforcing support for caregivers in recent years, which aligns seamlessly with the inclusion of caregiver elements in ICOPE 2.0. This underscores the importance of recognising that caring for older adults involves not only the individuals themselves but also the necessity of bolstering support for caregivers, as this is crucial for sustainable solutions."

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services has developed comprehensive online and offline educational materials for ICOPE 2.0, with a training video premiered at the conference.
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services has developed comprehensive online and offline educational materials for ICOPE 2.0, with a training video premiered at the conference.

To enhance the understanding of ICOPE 2.0 among healthcare professionals and stakeholders in elder care, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services has developed comprehensive online and offline educational materials for ICOPE 2.0, with a training video premiered at the conference. The video not only elucidates the ICOPE 2.0 framework but also demonstrates its application through real-life case studies. Additionally, the conference featured an ICOPE Community Practice Workshop which attracted experts from various countries to explore the updates in the new version, share insights, and discuss community application strategies. This initiative aims to benefit older adults globally and foster cross-regional knowledge sharing and technology transfer.

Beyond promoting the implementation of ICOPE 2.0 in communities, the conference addressed a variety of topics related to healthy ageing, including policies on elderly health, technological innovations, and the latest developments in community care. Key areas of focus encompassed geriatric medicine, mental health, and smart ageing technologies, while also highlighting the latest research findings and practical examples of ageing studies from the Western Pacific region.

Prof. Leung envisioned that the conference and resource-sharing initiatives will inspire more community organisations, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to actively promote healthy ageing initiatives. The School of Nursing at PolyU will continue to uphold its leadership role as a WHO Collaborating Centre, driving the development and implementation of innovative solutions for elder health, thereby making a significant contribution to the global goal of achieving healthy ageing.

Hashtag: #HealthyAgeingConference2025 #WorldHealthOrganization #WHO#HealthyAgeing #PolyU #SchoolofNursing #Elderly #ICOPE2.0 #WHOCollaboratingCentreforCommunityHealthServices

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services at the School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Since December 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the School of Nursing of Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services (WHO CC). Committed to advancing the WHO's mission, the School actively promotes evidence-based community health services, aiming to enhance health outcomes at local, regional, and global levels.

In 2023, the School was redesignated by WHO, with a focus on key indicators related to ageing and health. It is dedicated to promoting and implementing the WHO's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) guidelines, while also providing a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration to foster initiatives in healthy ageing.

About the Healthy Ageing Conference 2025

The theme of the conference is "Progressing the Healthy Ageing Agenda: Translating and Implementing Healthy Ageing Programmes and Initiatives in Our Communities." Organised by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services (WHO CC) at the School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, this event is strongly supported by the Title Sponsor, AIA Hong Kong.

The conference aims to unite stakeholders, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and other relevant individuals from around the globe to collaboratively advance the healthy ageing agenda. By translating and implementing healthy ageing programs and initiatives across the region, the conference aspires to contribute to the United Nations' Decade of Healthy Ageing goals. For more information, please visit the official conference website: .

News from Asia

Skyborn enters Preferred Supplier Agreement with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier for Gennaker offshore installation vessel

Gennaker's offshore wind turbine transportation and installation will be performed by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier (Fred Olsen). Installation of 63 offshore wind turbines during 2028 i...

Cyberport Leads Nine Start-ups to Join WAIC 2025

Project from the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme Shortlisted for Top 30 of the SAIL AwardHONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 July 2025 - World Artificial Intelligence Conference 20...

Henan Meets SCO: Anyang Receives Acclaim from Media and Think Tank Guests

ANYANG, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 July 2025 - From July 23 to 27, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Media and Think Tank Summit was held in Henan Province. During this event, guests...

SY Holdings Establishes Singapore International Headquarters to Explore Web3.0 Ecosystem and Innovative Applications of Stablecoins

SHENZHEN, CHINA - EQS Newswire - 29 July 2025 - SY Holdings Group Limited ("SY Holdings" or the "Group," stock code: 6069.HK), an "AI + industrial supply chains" digital intelligence technology com...

LANDMARK Invites the Community to 'Find Your Chapter' and Celebrate the Love of Reading This Summer

Rediscover the Joy of Reading This Summer at LANDMARK, Featuring an Engaging Book Stop Pop-Up, Exclusive Promotional Offers, and Curated Literary Experiences for All Ages. HONG KONG SAR - Media Ou...

Seafood Expo Asia Announces Conference Program with Expert-led Sessions on Sustainability, Aquaculture, Fish Processing, Aquafeeds and Consumer Trends in Asian Market

The conference program will begin on the first day of the Expo, which runs from 10-12 September 2025 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, and continue throughout the three-day even...

Suanova Information, a Yeebo’s Subsidiary, Makes Its Debut at the 2025 WAIC

Securing a Key Role in China's AI Computing Power Sector Driving Industry Innovation and DevelopmentHONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 July 2025 - Suanova Information (Shanghai) Limited ...

Storefriendly Introduces New Self-Service Storage System & IoT-Driven Smart Management — Enhanced Facilities to Meet Evolving Customer Needs

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire – 30 July 2025 - Storefriendly Self Storage Group has recently been honored with the prestigious "I&T Award (Hong Kong)" and "ESG Award (Hong Kong)" by ...

Kim Gan Enterprise Commemorates 24 Years in the Automotive and Industrial Supply Sector

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 July 2025 - Kim Gan Enterprise Pte. Ltd., an auto parts supplier in Singapore, is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 2001, ...

Letright Spotlighted In Nikkei Bizruptors For Revolutionizing Sustainable Luxury In Outdoor Living.

Recognition by Nikkei BizRuptors underscores Letright’s role in redefining eco-conscious luxury in global outdoor livingKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 July 2025 - Letright I...

Small-Business Cash-Flow Playbook 2025

An educational guide to managing ATO debt, real-time super and growth finance in Australia’s new landscape Why ATO debt just became the most expe...

Landowners Offered $30,000 Per Year for Just 1 Hectare: The Rise of 5MW Battery Projects Across Australia

In a pivotal shift reshaping Australia’s renewable energy landscape, landowners in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria are being offered up ...

Major national security tech alliance launches with Aerologix a founding member

Australia’s leading drone intelligence pioneer bolsters sovereign tech power Australia’s leading aerial data and drone intelligence platform, Aer...

Chris Hancock AM Honoured as 2025 Communications Ambassador

SYDNEY Chris Hancock AM, former CEO of AARNet, has been awarded the prestigious Communications Ambassador title at the 2025 Telecommunications Indus...

Baby boomers are driving development feasibility leading to larger apartments

As residential developers continue to grapple with feasibility issues on apartment projects, the sector is struggling to deliver volumes of new st...

Hays launches FY25/26 Salary Guide: ‘Salary Paradox’ deepens as pay rises fail Australians

Rising dissatisfaction with pay, progression and perks is fuelling a new wave of career change in FY25/26, as Australians demand more from employe...

Sell by LayBy