Healthy Ageing: Strengthening Geriatric Healthcare Systems in Tanzania through Research, Education and Intervention – The HeART Study

project summary

Tanzania is facing a growing challenge: more people are living longer, but the healthcare system is not yet equipped to meet the needs of older adults. Many live with chronic illnesses or disabilities, often without access to care—especially in rural areas where family support can be limited and health services are far away.

The HeART project (Health and Ageing Research for Tanzania) brings together experts from Tanzania and Denmark to improve care for older adults. The project explores how ageing, illness, and access to healthcare are experienced, and how poverty, gender, disability, and stigma increase vulnerability in old age.

Through training and academic exchange, the project will equip nurses, doctors, and community health workers with new skills in geriatric care. Selected healthcare professionals will take part in exchange programs to Denmark, learning directly from international best practices in geriatrics. Community health workers in Tanzania will deliver home visits in underserved rural areas, providing support to those who often go unseen.

The project will also establish a database—the HeART database—to collect vital information about older people’s health and social conditions. This will support better care planning and policy development.

In the future, the project aims to develop a national database, develop new teaching materials and programs in gerontology and geriatric care at the diploma, master’s, and PhD levels—ensuring lasting impact on education and healthcare. Built on a long-standing partnership between Tanzanian and Danish institutions, HeART combines research, education, and community engagement to build a more age-inclusive health system for the future.