October 1 — International Day of the Elderly: history, traditions, payments

Every year, on October 1, more than 100 countries around the world celebrate the International Day of the Elderly, aimed at drawing public attention to the problems and needs of the older generation. In 2025, it falls on a Wednesday. Izvestia tells about the history and traditions of the holiday.

International Day of the Elderly in 2025 — the history of the holiday

The International Day of the Elderly was established in 1990 by the UN General Assembly. Its purpose is to draw public attention to the problems of population aging and improve the living conditions of the older generation.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the United Nations recorded a significant increase in life expectancy and an increase in the number of elderly people. Compared to the middle of the 20th century, people began to live an average of 20 years longer. In this regard, there is a need to develop new approaches to social protection and the participation of the older generation in society.

In 1989, the United Nations adopted the first resolution, which contained the international plan of action on aging and improving the living conditions of older women, as they turned out to be the least protected group of the population over the age of 60. In 1990, it was proposed to expand measures to support the elderly, and an international holiday was established to raise awareness of the needs and opportunities of the older generation. It was first celebrated in 1991. The celebration came to Russia a little later — in 1992.

Pension indexation in 2026: when payments will be increased

The insurance pension will be indexed once next year.

In 1991, the United Nations formulated five key principles that define the rights and opportunities of older people:

• Independence is the ability to work and determine retirement independently, as well as access to food, water, and housing.;
• participation — involvement in the life of society;
• care — support and care from the family or the state, access to medical care;
• self—realization - opportunities for education, cultural recreation, and development;
• dignity is the observance of human rights, fair treatment regardless of age.

According to the UN, there are currently more than 1.2 billion people over the age of 60 living in the world. By 2050, their number is projected to reach 2.1 billion, accounting for more than 20% of the world's population. These figures highlight the need to pay attention to the needs of older people and create conditions for their active participation in society.

Traditions of the International Day of the Elderly

Every year, the International Day of the Elderly is dedicated to a specific topic. In 2025, it reads like this: "Leadership of the elderly in the implementation of local and global actions." The campaign highlights the important role of senior citizens in building a stable and prosperous society. The older generation is not only recipients of social support, but also active participants in progress, contributing to healthcare, financial well—being and the protection of human rights.

Traditionally, on October 1, thematic events are organized — concerts, exhibitions, meetings and discussions where the rights, interests and health of the elderly are discussed. The institutions provide free medical examinations, legal consultations and other services. Charitable organizations carry out support campaigns: volunteers visit nursing homes, help single pensioners and organize cultural events aimed at the social activity of the older generation.

Payments for the International Day of the Elderly on October 1

In Russia, one-time payments to pensioners are provided for the International Day of the Elderly in some regions. These support measures are implemented by local authorities, so the amount and conditions of receipt vary.

For example, in the Chelyabinsk Region, payments amount to 800 rubles for women over 55 and men over 60. In the Ryazan region, pensioners over the age of 90 who receive an insurance pension will receive an additional 539.24 rubles. In the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, a payment of 5,000 rubles is provided for pensioners under the age of 70 with at least 15 years of work experience. Residents of the region over 70 years old, with the same length of service, and the disabled will receive 16 thousand rubles.

Payments to pensioners on October 1: who will receive an increase on the Day of the elderly

Additional charges are due to several categories of pensioners in different regions.

At the federal level, payments for the International Day of the Elderly are not allowed, this is an exclusively regional support measure, so it is important to find out in advance at the local branch of the Social Fund whether it is provided and under what conditions.

Interesting facts about the elderly

In honor of the holiday, Izvestia collected some interesting facts about the elderly.

• Today, the average life expectancy in the world is 73.5 years. In Russia, women live an average of 78.3 years, while men live 68.4 years. The reasons for this gap are stress levels, risk—taking and bad habits, as well as different attitudes towards medical care.
• The record for the longest life expectancy among women belongs to Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Kalman. She lived for 122 years, from 1875 to 1997. In 1965, she sold her apartment to a 47-year-old lawyer. Under the terms of the contract, the buyer had to pay a monthly fee covering the cost of the property until the death of its owner. It was assumed that the lawyer would pay the full amount within 10 years or even earlier. However, Kalman lived for another 30 years and even managed to outlive the buyer — the apartment went to his widow.
• In Japan, elderly drivers must put a special "koreisha" sign on their cars. It was introduced in 1997 and initially looked like a fading autumn leaf (by analogy with a special sign for novice drivers, which looks like a green sprout). However, not everyone liked the comparison with the dying nature, many elderly car owners refused to use the sign. Therefore, in 2011, the design of the koreysia was changed to a colored quatrefoil.
• In Singapore, traffic lights at pedestrian crossings, activated by a button, are equipped with a green signal extension function for the elderly and disabled. The special mode is activated by a special card. It increases the green signal time by 3-13 seconds, depending on the length of the transition.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of World Tourism Day.