Balçova Municipality has adopted a comprehensive, community-based approach to active and healthy ageing, integrated into its social services, urban development, and public health policies. The municipality prioritises prevention, participation, and inclusion, ensuring that older adult residents remain active contributors to community life and local decision-making processes.

A flagship initiative is the Olgun Gençlik Merkezi (Mature Youth Centre), a dedicated municipal facility for residents aged 60 and above. The centre provides an integrated programme combining physical activity, cognitive stimulation, psychosocial support, and lifelong learning. Activities are delivered with professional support in gerontology, psychology, and physiotherapy, ensuring safe and evidence-based practice. Regular programmes include balance and strength exercises, body–mind practices, yoga and breathing sessions, chair volleyball, rhythm workshops, memory-enhancing activities, chess and mind games, as well as art, theatre, and creative drama workshops.

Beyond health promotion, the centre strengthens social participation and inclusion through language courses, digital literacy seminars on smartphone use and online safety, and group-based cultural activities. The Olgun Gençlik Merkezi operates as a community hub encouraging peer learning, volunteering, and active citizenship, fostering social connection and reducing isolation.

Balçova Municipality complements centre-based services with accessible public spaces, neighbourhood-level social support services, and inclusive communication practices. Older adult residents are engaged through continuous interaction, informal consultations, and feedback mechanisms embedded in daily service delivery.

Looking ahead, Balçova is committed to developing a structured Age-friendly Action Plan aligned with the WHO Age-friendly Cities and Communities framework. Future priorities include enhancing accessibility in the built environment, expanding digital inclusion initiatives, strengthening intergenerational programmes, and improving monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Balçova’s work has received international recognition, including being selected as a finalist in the European Social Services Awards (ESSA), reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, active, and healthy ageing.