The University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) has released the Toledo Manifesto on Active and Healthy Ageing, a document outlining practical measures to improve the quality of life of older adults in Europe. The initiative stems from international CoLab and hackathon promoted by the COLOURS European University Alliance, coordinated by the GENUD Toledo research group.
Led by professors Ignacio Ara Royo and Luis Alegre, the Toledo Manifesto brings together 16 proposals structured around four main themes: the promotion of active and healthy ageing; barriers and facilitators to ageing in place; the health economy of ageing; and strategies and public policies. Each proposal is grounded in scientific evidence and based on the conclusions drawn from conferences, round tables, and collaborative sessions involving more than twenty experts from Spain, France, Italy, Poland, and Sweden.
Among its key recommendations, the document highlights the need to encourage active lifestyles, prevent frailty through integrated interventions, and promote multicomponent exercise as a key tool to preserve both physical and cognitive function. It also stresses the importance of offering diverse housing options that allow older adults to maintain autonomy and continue their life projects, and of recognizing the social and economic value of both formal and informal caregiving.
From an economic perspective, the manifesto advocates for early planning to ensure the sustainability of healthcare and welfare systems, introducing measures to support informal caregivers and long-term strategies for active ageing. In the area of public policy, it calls for a community-based, intersectoral approach free from ageism, prioritizing effective and equitable interventions while integrating technological advances such as telemedicine and remote monitoring to enhance home care.
The CoLab, held in May at the University Hospital of Toledo, gathered national and international specialists in health, economics, social care, and public policy. The initiative was supported by CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES), the Castilla-La Mancha Health Research Institute (IDISCAM), the Regional Health Service (SESCAM), and the Department of Social Welfare, among other institutions.
Following the CoLab, students from UCLM and the University of Ferrara (Italy) took part in a mentored hackathon. Over several days—and after visiting senior centers and care homes in Toledo and Torrijos—they presented innovative proposals on active ageing, health economics, home accessibility, and public policies for healthy living. Some of these ideas will evolve into entrepreneurial projects.
