WHO / Michael Duff
Chernor, a pharmacist at Koidu Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, distributes freediabetes medication to patient Komba on 4 April 2024
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Share your experience: Help shape quality health care for older people

WHO invites older people, unpaid carers, health and care workers and managers worldwide to participate in an online survey about quality of health care for older people.

10 November 2026
Call for consultation

Background 

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with its partners, is conducting a needs assessment to inform the development of the WHO Global Standards for Quality Health Care for Older People. 

Quality health care is essential to promoting health, well-being, and dignity in older age. Quality health services should be effective, safe, people-centred, timely, equitable, integrated and efficient.  

We want to understand what matters most to older people, unpaid carers, and those who provide, manage or organize health and care services. Your experiences and priorities will contribute to the evidence informing the Global Standards. 

Surveys open until 10 December 2026 
Available in 23 languages 

Who and how can contribute? 

Participation is voluntary. Choose the survey that best applies to you and select your preferred language.  

Before starting, please read the relevant Survey at a glance, which explains the study, what participation involves and how your information will be handled. 

Three online surveys have been developed for different groups: 

1. Older people: Experiences of health services   

People aged 60 years or older have used health and care services at least once in the past 12 months.  

The survey asks about the experiences, needs, and priorities of older people, regarding the quality of these services.  

Estimated completion time: 30 minutes  

Take the survey for older people   

2. Unpaid carers: Experiences of health services for older people   

People aged 18 years or older, who currently provide or have provided within the past 12 months, unpaid care or support to someone aged 60 years. The older person must have used health services at least once in the past 12 months.  

The survey asks about the care received by the older person and about the unpaid carer’s own experiences and support needs. 

Estimated completion time: 30-35 minutes  

Take the survey for unpaid carers  

3. Health and care workers and managers: Perspectives on quality health care for older people 

Health and care workers and health programme managers who provide, manage or organize health or care services for older people (aged 60 years or older).  

The survey asks about the quality of care, challenges encountered and opportunities for improvement in the health and care services for older people.  

Estimated completion time: 30- 35 minutes  

Take the survey for health and care workers and managers  

Why participate? 

Your experiences and perspectives can help identify what matters most for quality health care for older people, including what is working well and where improvements are needed. By participating, you can contribute to a better understanding of the needs, expectations and priorities of older people, unpaid carers, and those who provide and organize their care worldwide. 

Further information 

Survey period: 10 November 2026 – 10 December 2026 

If you would like a PDF version of the survey in your language to print or have any questions about the survey, please contact mncah@who.int.