Elderly Care India: Resource and Knowledge Platform
Standards & Policies
An effort has been made to collate the guidance documents, best practices and international guidelines in order to facilitate easy access under one resource website. Since the database has been collected from online open source hence validation at users end is recommended.
If any corrections, amendments and additions are suggested then please contact us.
Important Disclaimer: Since the information has been collected on a personal basis to the best of our knowledge hence all members are indemnified against any legal notices. Any discrepancies will be corrected within 7 days of brining to notice of the Administrator. No Government, Agency or Author endorses or validates the contents of this website.
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National Standards
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National Policies
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International Standards
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Guidelines
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Reports
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Schemes & Policies
- Old Age Homes Manual
- Care Homes Standards
- Home Care Standards
- Registration & Licensing
- Senior Living Standards
- Registration & Funding
- Tamil Nadu - Care Homes Standards
- Accreditation Standards
Manual On Old Age Homes
Housing is a State subject in India. While Central Government can suggest standards and guidelines for setting up Elderly Care Homes, however it is the State Government who have to eventually look after the welfare of the elders especially w.r.t old age care.
As per the national level recommendations, each district should have an Elderly Care Home of 150 beds, unfortunately the reality is completely different.
Since there is no Accreditation and Standards agency to assist and monitor the development of the Aged Care Sector in India, hence enforcing any minimum national standards is a challenge.
The Manual on Old Age Homes by Dr. P. K. B. Nayar, Centre for Gerontological Studies was prepared for The Government of Kerala, Department of Social Justice. Though I would have personally preferred to call it Manual On Senior Citizens Home or Elderly Care Homes, however it is an exhaustive document which will definitely be of great help for the State and Philanthropic run elder care homes.
The manual covers a vast range of operational guidelines and standards, which if implemented in true spirit would improve the functioning of any Elderly Care Home.
Since the manual is prepared for the State run Elder Care Homes, I feel there are a few recommendations which are Institutional in nature and can be reviewed again. Overall it is a great document which can benefit a lot of senior living operators.
Thanking Dr.Nayar and the team for presenting such a structured manual. The same is attached for reference.
The document can be accessed on: Manual On Old Age Homes Download
Minimum Standards to be maintained by Senior Citizens Care Homes
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had constituted an eminent panel / Experts Committee in June 2022, to develop uniform acceptable standards for establishment and management of senior citizen homes.
The committee has submitted its report suggesting Mandatory Minimum Standards (MMS) and Preferred Minimum Standards (PMS).
I think it is a positive step in the right direction and would help many senior care homes and operators.
The Office Memorandum is dated 17th June 2022 and last date for submitting views by other stakeholders has been mentioned as 30th June 2022.
On the website of the Ministry the last date for submitting views by stakeholders is mentioned as 1st June 2023. Either there is a typo error in the Office Memorandum or there is a mistake on the website. Anyhow that is a minor issue.
Sharing the document as I believe the Senior Care sector requires the eminent expert committee members to keep educating us besides keeping us updated on the proposed standards and guidelines.
The document can be accessed on: Minimum Standards for Senior Citizens Care Homes Download
Model Rules and Standards for Home Care
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had constituted an experts committee to formulate uniform acceptable standards for home care and hospices for senior citizens.
While this is definitely a positive step however in my personal opinion the guidelines need more elaboration.
Home care and palliative / hospice care are different type of care offerings which should ideally have different sets of standards and guidelines. Clubbing of different types of care services can create confusion amongst service providers and increase chances of non-adherence.
The recommendations seems to be very generic in nature which can create loopholes in the system and service delivery.
Some of the points recommend by the committee are listed below and may need more deliberation;
Rule 1.4: Basic home care services shall be provided by care providers including but not limited to geriatric animators (trained by NISD or an equivalent organization), counsellor, physiotherapist, dietician and volunteers.
If this rule has to be followed to the word, then 95% of the home care providers will not qualify.
Rule 1.7.1: Each district shall form a group of 5 to 6 trained volunteers from the community to make 2 to 3 home visits per week within a 20 kilometres radius area.
Volunteering in India has not been a very successful and practical model, expecting district level volunteering program to succeed as an ongoing activity may be expecting too much.
Rule 3.3: Home care team shall comprise a Counsellor possessing MSc/MPhil Clinical Psychology with one year experience in palliative care.
This rule is probably difficult to adhere to because a lot of service providers are charitable organisations who don't have the bandwidth to hire professionally qualified people.
Rule 3.6: Home care team shall comprise a Geriatric Animator possessing a Certificate of having passed Geriatric Animator’s course from National Institute of Social Defense or an equivalent organization.
Similar to rule no 1.4 this rule can become a problem because most of the home care providers in India are mom and pop stores who are probably not even aware of a word called Geriatric Animator. The equivalent organizations to NISD should be mentioned to facilitate smooth implementation rather than making it debatable.
To summarise my views, I feel the document should have also talked about issues like scope of care givers i.e. job profile of care givers, nurses, paramedic etc. The question about who is eligible to give medicines or an injection as part of home care service should be clearly defined.
Secondly a sample service agreement should have been shared which documents things like indemnity for service providers, actions against possible abuse, dispute resolution, legal liabilities, complaint escalation etc.
The document can be accessed on: Home Care Standards & Guidelines Download
Registration & Licensing of Elderly Care Homes in India
India is an emerging market especially when it comes to Senior Living. There are many formats of residential care facilities that are catering to different economic strata of elderly however focus of the day is on assisted living and high dependency care.
Initially the good Samaritans and people with a philanthropic mindset used to setup Senior Citizen Care Homes but the trend is changing now. Over the past 15 years there has been a huge growth in the pay and stay category including retirement housing.
Central Government and the State Governments are also showing keenness to gradually address the cause of Ageing in India, which was much needed.
Having seen the positive developments for 18 years in the area of Aged Care, in my personal opinion we still have a long way to go. Though it is not practical to simply copy standards from socially developed countries yet as a country we need to educate and empower all stakeholders in this field and follow best practices.
The first area of intervention which comes to my mind is, what are the rules, regulations, licences and approvals required for setting up a Senior Citizen Care Homes in India.
Assuming that many people who want to get into the Elderly Care sector would want to know about the relevant Legislative Acts, rules, permissions etc, hence I have compiled a list in my limited capacity.
Not all licences & approvals which are documented would be required for setting up a senior citizen home. It will eventually depend upon the type of care, building, manpower and state specific requirements. These are suggested requirements which can be referred and evaluated based on the type of facility planned.
The compilation is purely personal and has no validation from any regulatory body. This is an effort to document my individual learning and is to be read only as a reference material.
Hope this helps the larger cause, any feedback or corrections would be appreciated.
Pankaj Mehrotra
The document can be accessed on: Registration & Licensing Download
The document can be accessed on: Registration & Licensing Download
The document can be accessed on: Registration & Licensing Download
Senior Living Standards of various Countries (Desk Research)
(Refer to respective authorities for revised & updated standards)
It is a well-established fact that formulation of national level policies, standards & guidelines help in defining the framework for proper training, effective implementation & safeguarding of stakeholders, yet many countries tend to shy away from this activity.
Developed social economies have well defined legislative acts & standards for care of older people. These standards are normally shared freely for knowledge sharing & also serve as reference guide for all concerned.
India is gradually progressing towards implementation of National Standards for Senior Living, however we still have a lot of work to do on the ground level.
The mantra for successful adherence of care standards will depend upon the quality and ease of understanding the training content along with hand-holding the implementation process for state social welfare departments.
On one hand it may not be fair to compare Indian Elderly Care Standards with Care Standards of socially developed countries, yet in my opinion it is advisable to take que from the well defined policies and guidelines which have worked well for other nations.
The objective of sharing the standards is not to compare as to which country has better standards rather it is to showcase them in a consolidated manner.
Though there is ample reference & training material available on the internet however country specific standards needs to be designed for practical & realistic understanding by all personnel.
Awareness, training & adherence are the foundation pillars for successful implementation of policies, standards & guidelines. In India we need to understand these basic principles & customise content as per the calibre of prospective manpower & not try to download knowledge which is not relatable and difficult.
It is crucial that the concerned staff be educated on the importance of eldercare policies in the overall functioning of service delivery processes.
Some countries have national level policies whereas some are regulated at the state level. In India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) is the central nodal agency for National level standards however the implementation of the central guidelines are the responsibility of the state governments.
Since Elderly Care in India is paving new paths hence it is even more critical that standardization of care policies are implemented by respective States which are in sync with the National Standards.
I have compiled a set of senior living standards of a few countries which were / are used as regulating and monitoring of care delivery. Some standards might have been revised for which updated standards needs to be referred.
Pankaj Mehrotra
The document can be accessed on: Senior Living Standards Download
The document can be accessed on: Senior Living Standards Download
The document can be accessed on: Senior Living Standards Download
The document can be accessed on: Senior Living Standards Download
Registration & Funding of Senior Citizen Care Homes
Any NGO or institution seeking funding from Government of India for running Senior Citizens Care Home needs to be registered under "Section 19" of "The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007".
Under the scheme of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna (AVYAY), the Central Government supports senior citizen care homes through financial grants. This grant is given to those care homes which are registered.
The central government scheme through Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) gives grant-in-aid to Senior Citizen Homes to provide food, care and shelter to indigent Senior Citizens.
One of the funding conditions for assistance is;
1) If an organization has already received or is expected to receive a grant from some other Government sources for the purpose for which the application is being made under this Scheme; assessment for central grant will normally be made after taking into account grant from such other sources.
Since many good Samaritans, Corporate Houses and NGOs who want to set-up charitable Senior Citizen Homes are not clear on the procedures of registration and funding, it is suggested that they should read the document Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna (AVYAY), formerly known as National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC).
For individual entities except for State Governments the chapter of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) is relevant.
AVYAY is a well thought out and excellently drafted scheme which covers all the key components for the welfare of Senior Citizens.
However, the first step to receive funding is to register the Care Home with the relevant state department. Normally it is the district Social Welfare department or Woman and Child Development department which issues the certificate of registration.
A sample registration certificate along with documentation required for seeking funding for running a Senior Citizen Care Home in the district of Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh is being shared as reference.
The document can be accessed on: Registration & Funding of Care Homes Download
Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens Care Homes Standards
At times, it seems that it is easier to go to the moon than finding National Standards for Elderly Care Homes in India.
1700 odd senior citizen care homes (NGO, Govt & Private) are being run mostly without any National Standards.
Central Government supported 551 in FY 20-21 under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna (AVYAY) but unfortunately the level of service delivery standards is something debatable.
Since there are no detailed and/or specific building code for senior citizen homes hence most of them have been and are being constructed as per the intellectual capabilities of the architects.
Since there is very limited information related to the licensing and registration of Senior Citizen Care Homes (Old Age Homes) hence many homes are operating under guest houses, hostels, nursing homes etc or are not registered.
Social welfare including elderly care is a state subject, due to which there is fragmented growth of the sector. Some state governments have been active but then as a country, we are a far cry from being socially developed w.r.t. aged care.
Tamil Nadu government had published a revised version of minimum standards for Old Age Homes in 2016, which is attached. Unfortunately the document was formatted in such a manner that it was a task for me to correct it and share it on public domain.
If India wants to be seen as an Elder friendly Nation, then we need to put in capital and intellectual resources to catch-up with the developed countries.
It is high time that concerned stakeholders take note of this burgeoning problem otherwise the country will have a big task to sort out the mess in the coming years.
The document can be accessed on: Essential Standards for Old Age Homes - Tamil Nadu Govt Download
Accreditation Standards for Care Homes in India
Indian Senior Care sector is slowly gaining traction which is now visible through the efforts of National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) who have developed the first Accreditation Standards for Care Homes.
The Accreditation Standards are definitely a positive move in the right direction and I am sure over the next few years they will be further fine-tuned and become more detailed.
The attached Standards are broadly classified under 6 chapters;
1) Responsibilities of Management (ROM)
2) Facility Management and Safety (FMS)
3) Health, Hygiene and Infection Control (HHIC)
4) Resident Engagement and Wellness (REW)
5) Resident Rights and Education (RRE)
6) Human Resource Management (HRM)
There are a total of 92 objective elements;
1) 28 are in CORE category which will be mandatorily assessed during each assessment.
2) 57 are in Commitment category which will be assessed during the final assessment.
3) 04 are in the Achievement category to be assessed during surveillance.
4) 03 are in Excellence category which will be assessed during re-accreditation.
Anyone who is involved with Eldercare or running a Senior Living Facility will benefit from reading this document.
The document can be accessed on: Accreditation Standards for Care Homes in India Download
- National Policy for Older Persons
- Senior Citizens Act, 2007
- Central Govt Scheme
- Retirement Housing Policy - Haryana
- Punjab Management of Senior Citizen Homes for Elderly Persons Scheme, 2019
- Odisha Elderly Care Policy
- Section 19 of MWPSC Act
- AVYAY – 22-23
- Policies, Acts & Schemes
- Suggested National Policy Framework
- Suggested National Service Delivery
- SAGE - Support for Startups
- The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
National Policy for Older Persons (NPOP)
For an elderly population of 138 million, India does not have a National Level implementation team for Elderly Care.
India has more elderly people than the combined population of countries like United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
For an elderly population size like India, we are still dependent upon NGO's, civil society and other stakeholders to draft the National / State Level policies.
Rather than developing internal capacities at the Ministry level, we are still struggling about the basic standards, guidelines and accreditations to be implemented in the area of Senior Care. Though a few states are doing good work, yet in general we lack the will for senior care.
The bigger picture to debate and act upon is, "Are we as a Nation moving in the right direction with respect to social infrastructure for Elderly Care?" Does the 10% vote bank not matter to policy makers and political parties?
National Policy For Older Persons (NPOP 2011) talks about focus on promoting "Ageing in Place" (helping seniors live healthy within their own houses), Assisted Living facilities in every districts and many other initiatives. While on paper this sounds good but unfortunately the ground realities are totally different.
Another point of concern is, if the Government departments themselves keep using the word, "Older Persons", be it through the National Policy or in the City Master Plans (old age homes), then we as a country will never be able to come out of the taboo associated with the word "Old Age Homes".
There was a time when people used to retire at the age of 50, then it became 60 and now people are easily working till the age of 65-70. So the question is, "How Old Is Old"?.
While private operators and developers are building senior living projects and home care / domiciliary care businesses for the middle and upper middle income groups, however there are no checks and balances for the underprivileged. The poor and disadvantaged face the brunt of ageing.
Central government can only define the guidelines and recommendations but eventually it is the State Governments who have to build and manage these facilities.
Since each district should ideally have an Assisted Living Facility (ALF), I guess it is high time that the district level administrators should be held accountable for the social welfare of Seniors.
The document can be accessed on: National Policy for Older Persons Download
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
There have been many instances where children have abandoned their parents. Normal trend by these type of children, is to leave their parent(s) outside religious places, leave them outside an Elder Care Home or at airports/railway stations. These cases are not rare but are for real.
To ensure that such cases do not happen, an Act was passed in 2007. The Act became a law because the Government had to step in to ensure the wellbeing of older people. Certain amendments to the Act are in the pipeline.
The Act primarily states that, children have certain responsibilities towards their parents which needs to be followed. Also if one is a legal heir to a childless Senior then, they too have a responsibility to care for the elderly person.
Though most people would be aware of the Act, but there is a huge population who are unaware of their rights, especially those in the rural areas.
The Act can be of great use to elderly people who are facing domestic issues and have to depend upon their children.
The document can be accessed on: Maintenance & Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act Download
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)
[Formerly National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC)]
As per the Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States (2011-2036), the population of senior citizens in India is projected to increase from 10.38 crore in 2011 to 23 crores in 2036. The percentage of senior citizens against total population is expected to increase from 8.4% to 14.9%.
An amount of Rs 10,517.62 crore has been allocated for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for financial year 2021-22.
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), has been assigned a total budget for the welfare of Senior Citizens at 533.81 crores for 2021-2022.
Assuming that the Elderly population is presently about 10% of the total population, then in my opinion the budget allocated for Elderly Care sector should also be proportional.
This would mean approx. 1,100 crores should have been allocated instead of the allocated budget of 533.81 crores.
The document can be accessed on: Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana Download
Retirement Housing Policy - Haryana
For the overall development of Senior Living sector in India, it is important to have well defined standards, guidelines and policies.
Southern parts of India have seen an exponential growth in Senior Living projects over the past 10 years, however North India is yet to catch the trend.
Setting up a retirement home or assisted living project can be a bit tricky, especially when one is not sure of the government policies and development norms for the same.
While some states have come up with their own guidelines, unfortunately many are still lacking behind.
In November 2020, the State Government of Haryana approved draft of policy for Retirement Housing under the provisions of Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975 to cater to the ageing population and their specific needs.
Through this policy document, developers will get more clarity on the permissible built-up area, ground coverage, communal facilities like dining, medical center, recreation areas etc.
The document can be accessed on: Retirement Housing Policy Download
Punjab Management of Senior Citizen Homes for Elderly Persons Scheme, 2019
For the success of any sector or social welfare scheme, the foremost thing is information sharing.
Open source information which helps in the development and benefit of society plays a pivotal role.
In 2019, Punjab Government came out with a scheme for supporting and assisting in developing Senior Citizen Homes. Though this is not new scheme or guidelines but an updated version of the earlier initiative. A brief of the scheme is given below;
3. Manner of registration of Senior Citizen Homes:- (1) All institutions of housing elderly persons, whether run by the Government or voluntary, shall be registered under this scheme, irrespective of being registered or licensed under any other Act for the time being in force.
7. Programmes admissible for assistance under the Scheme:-
(1) An estimate of the funds and other logistics required for each Old Age Home having a capacity of one hundred and fifty persons, being built and managed by the Department has been worked out after consideration of various relevant factors......
(2) The Department can collaborate with Non-Government Organizations or Voluntary Associations and provide financial assistance to run the Senior Citizen Homes. The Senior Citizen Homes, run by the said organizations can be adopted by the Government.......
The document can be accessed on: Punjab Management of Senior Citizen Homes for Elderly Download
ABADANA
(A Scheme for Welfare & Protection of Senior Citizens of Odisha)
Each state in India has to formulate their own Elder Care policies w.r.t to the National Policy on Older People.
ABADANA is the Odisha State Govt initiative for the welfare of Elders.
The document can be accessed on: Odisha State - Elderly Care Policy Download
Section 19 of The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act
As per the MWPSC, section 19 directs the State Governments to set us Senior Citizen Home in each district.
The extract of the same is as follows- The State Government may establish and maintain such number of old age homes at accessible places, as it may deem necessary, in a phased manner, beginning with at least one in each district to accommodate in such homes a minimum of one hundred fifty senior citizens who are indigent.
The report submitted in Lok Sabha in 2019 on the progress of the same is attached for reference.
The document can be accessed on: Section 19 of MWPSC act Download
Annual Action Plan (2022-23) - Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) - Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) - A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for welfare of Senior Citizens
Annual Action Plan (2022-23) - Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has brought out the annual scheme document for FY-2022-2023.
The document contains Scheme wise Annual Action Plan for (i) National Action Plan for Sr Citizens, (ii) Health and nutritional support for indigent elders, (iii) Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), (iv) Livelihood and Skilling for Senior Citizens (SHGs), (v) National Helpline, Awareness Generation, Training and Capacity Building, (vi) Promoting Silver Economy and (vii) Channelization of CSR Funds for elderly Care under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY).
The Scheme National Action Plan for Sr Citizens (NAPSrC) has two sub schemes: (I) Integrated Programme for Sr Citizens (IPSrC) (II) State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC).
Since the Central Government is dependent upon the State Governments for successful implementation of the scheme components, it is critical that work is undertaken in an integrated manner rather than in isolation.
This updated document would help researchers, policy makers, NGO's, senior living operators, international and domestic investors who are interested to keep a track on the Government annual budget and policies.
The document can be accessed on: National Action Plan for Sr Citizens - 2022-2023 Download
Policies, Acts & Schemes for Older Persons in India
It is said, "Knowledge is Power", but then how many older people are aware of their powers? It is also said "Pen is mightier than the sword" but then how many poor and underprivileged elders know how to read and write in India?
While on one hand, it is easy to criticize the Government regarding lack of citizen friendly policies, schemes and programmes, but then as citizens are we actually aware about the existing policies which affects us?
In my opinion if elderly care sector has to grow, then people need to share their learning for the larger cause.
I believe that, it is better to share one's knowledge and be of help to the country rather than taking all the knowledge and learnings to the grave.
While most policies, programmes and schemes are for the benefit of poor, underprivileged and disadvantaged elderly however that does not mean that the middle class and rich are not covered.
If educated people do not raise the issues for the benefit of poor and underprivileged older people then who will.
This activity of research and compilation is not based on any hidden agenda, financial interest or political alignment, rather it is an effort as a socially concerned citizen.
Central Government, State Governments, Civil Society, Private Sector, Individuals and Philanthropists interested or involved with Elderly Care may like to review this snapshot and share their feedback.
Hoping that many more concerned citizens come forward to collectively build a stronger, mightier and socially developed India.
Pankaj Mehrotra
The document can be accessed on: Policies, Acts & Schemes Download
Suggested National Policy Framework for Older Persons in India
To commemorate the International Day for Older Persons, 2023, I am sharing the "Suggested National Policy Framework for Older Persons" in India for the benefit of the country.
The efforts put in & the suggestions are purely personal as a socially concerned citizen & not based on any hidden agenda, financial interest or political alignment.
The suggestions in the policy document are not sacrosanct but is a suggested framework which defines the boundaries, scope of services, policies & Legislative Acts for the welfare of Senior Citizens.
Central Government, State Governments, Civil Society, Private Sector and Philanthropists interested in Elderly Care may like to read this document.
The suggested policy framework has been divided under 14 main headings;
1. National Standards, Guidelines, Legislative Acts, Policies & Training
2. Inclusivity, Participation and Anti-Age Discrimination
3. Awareness, Information and Research
4. Income Security
5. Food Security
6. Health, Medical and Well-being
7. Safety, Security and Protection of Elderly Rights
8. Built Environment
9. Housing, Shelter and Residential Care
10. Support Services
11. Transportation and Access
12. Social, Cultural, Recreational and Travel
13. Employment, Mentoring and Volunteering
14. Technology
I genuinely hope this suggested policy framework can give some direction to the policy makers, decision makers, investors & concerned citizens.
I would also like to thank my colleague Ms. Anushree Shukla for proof reading and giving critical inputs.
Pankaj Mehrotra
The document can be accessed on: Suggested National Policy Framework for Older Persons Download
Suggested National Service Delivery Framework for Older Persons in India
How does a Nation become socially developed w.r.t Elderly Care?
The answer is simple, it is the collective responsibility of all citizens.
Though it is easy for us citizens to find drawbacks in the National or State Policies but then we need to also understand that the policy makers are one of us, they cannot be expected to know everything to perfection.
The recommended Elderly Care Service Delivery Framework has been designed to help all stakeholders to deliver high quality care for older people in India.
These service delivery guidelines are in no way to be construed as exhaustive or exclusive. It is envisaged that the guidelines will be used in conjunction with the existing policies, schemes and programs of Central and State Governments.
The framework recommends service delivery through a two-tier structure i.e. Center Based Services (CBS) and Home Care Services (HCS).
The current system of elderly care in India does not offer integrated services due to which many support services are not available at the grassroot level.
Hence, there is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive service delivery model that optimises the quality of life for older people in the entire spectrum of the ageing process.
The service delivery framework can also be used by new start-ups to explore the business model they want to develop.
I genuinely hope that these suggestions can help the Government, Pvt Sector, NGOs & MSME in developing quality care for Senior Citizens.
Pankaj Mehrotra
The document can be accessed on: National Service Delivery Framework for Older PersonsDownload
Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) - Support for Startups
There is no doubt that India is the land of Startups and luckily the same bug has bitten the Elder Care sector too.
In the recent past there has been positive traction to develop innovative solutions for Aged Care and many small companies and startups are joining the bandwagon.
To support new ideas and opportunities for the Silver Economy, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had created an initiative called SAGE.
The Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) is to identify, evaluate, verify, aggregate, and deliver products / solutions / services directly to the stakeholders, giving them wide choice to select the products / solutions / services that would suit their requirements, thereby improving their quality of life.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment would act as the facilitator in the process while ensuring that the products / solutions / services are made available to a large number of needy people.
Start-ups already functioning in the elderly segment in India proposing to expand operations.
All the startups fulfilling the startup norms as per guidelines by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India are eligible for applying.
The recent Minutes of Meeting on Evaluation of SAGE by Empowered Expert Committee (EEC), 10th & 11th January 2024, is attached for reference so that many new startups can explore financial support.
The document can be accessed on: Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine Download
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
Mental Healthcare Act is an important Legislative Act for people who are suffering from mental illness. It is even more important for older people and care operators especially in situations where the resident or the elder is unable to make decisions for himself or herself. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (“MHCA”) is a law which provides for and regulates mental health care and treatment in India.
The MHCA came into force on 29th May, 2018 repealing the earlier Mental Health Act, 1987. It was enacted in pursuance of obligations under the United Nations Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 (“UNCRPD”) which India ratified in 2007.
The MHCA adopts a rights-based approach to mental healthcare and treatment by placing obligations on the government and mental health professionals to protect the rights of persons with mental illness.
Basic guiding principles of MHCA
1) All individuals have basic human rights, including the right to equality, liberty and dignity.
2) Every person must be given the autonomy to make the choices they consider the best for themselves and this extends to decisions about their mental health care and treatment.
3) Everyone has the right to full participation and inclusion in society.
4) No person can be discriminated against based on any grounds such as caste, class, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, social, political or cultural beliefs.
5) Every person has the right to receive any form of support to help them make their own decisions.
The document can be accessed on: The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 Download
The document can be accessed on: Training Manual for Mental Healthcare Act,2017 for Caregivers Download
- Mental Capacity Act, 2005, UK
- Health and Social Care Act 2008, UK
- National Minimum Standards Malta
- Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes (Elderly) – Hong Kong
Elderly Care - Mental Capacity Act 2005
Aged Care sector in India is gradually blooming into a flower and this is the time all industry professionals and concerned stakeholders need to provide nourishment in the form of knowledge sharing. Since Senior Care as a professional domain is relatively new, it is important that one refers to the time-tested standards and guidelines of matured social economies.
I will try to highlight the good practices across the Globe which can be evaluated by the relevant industry leaders and take up the subject with the government representatives. There is need for important Acts which will have long lasting and positive implications for the eldercare sector.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005, covering England and Wales, provides a statutory framework for people who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves, or who have capacity and want to make preparations for a time when they may lack capacity in the future. It sets out who can take decisions, in which situations, and how they should go about this.
The legal framework provided by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is supported by the Code of Practice (the Code), which provides guidance and information about how the Act works in practice. The Code has statutory force, which means that certain categories of people have a legal duty to have regard to it when working with or caring for adults who may lack capacity to make decisions for themselves.
How should the Code of Practice be used?
The Code of Practice provides guidance to anyone who is working with and/ or caring for adults who may lack capacity to make particular decisions. It describes their responsibilities when acting or making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the capacity to act or make these decisions for themselves. In particular, the Code of Practice focuses on those who have a duty of care to someone who lacks the capacity to agree to the care that is being provided.
Statutory Principles in relation to Capacity to Consent. The Act sets out five statutory principles:
1. A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity.
2. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help them to do so have been taken without success.
3. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because they make an unwise decision.
4. An act done, or decision made, under this Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in their best interests.
5. Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the person’s rights and freedom of action.
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 in India can also be referred alongside.
The document can be accessed on: Mental Capacity Act 2005 Download
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, UK
Health and Social Care are one of the main foundation pillars for the development of any nation, the others being food, shelter and economic safety.
While India is coming out of the shadows and developing it's own identity on the world landscape yet we have miles to go to be seen as a strong social economy.
I feel the time has come to take elderly care on a serious note because by 2050 India will have a skewed population boom which could have one out of four people above the age of 60 years.
The only way to ensure necessary checks and balances is if the government defines critical Acts which could ensure a safe and professional service delivery for Aged Care.
Countries like UK, USA, Canada, Australia have well defined regulations and Acts which governs the well-being and rights of senior citizens. Though these guidelines have been evolved and fine tuned over the past few decades yet there is scope for improvement. Indian bureaucracy and the judiciary should review the best practices across the globe and develop country specific Acts and guidelines.
The Health and Social Care Act of United Kingdom can be referred as a beginning guide which could be then compared to the National Minimum Standards of United States or the Australian regulations.
Attaching the Health and Care Act for better reach and understanding.
The main purpose of the Health and Care Act is to establish a legislative framework that supports collaboration and partnership-working to integrate services for patients. Among a wide range of other measures, the Act also includes targeted changes to public health, social care and the oversight of quality and safety.
The document can be accessed on: Health and Social Care Act Download
National Minimum Standards For care homes for older people, Malta
For the first time in the history of ageing welfare in the Maltese Islands, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing is specifying Standards for care homes for older persons that define the arrangements, facilities and procedures that need to be in place and implemented to ensure the delivery of a quality service.
These Standards focus on the home’s obligations to health, personal care, daily life and social activities, complaints and protection, environment, staffing, and management and administration. They stipulate the minimum requirements as regards the required knowledge, skills and competencies needed by management and staff to ensure that each residence delivers individually tailored, comprehensive and quality services. They should also be of great help to those who manage such homes and assist them to closely monitor the services provided under their watch are kept to the expected requirements and levels. More so that it is the Government’s commitment to create and realise it’s programmes for Active Ageing, rather than simply care for the elderly.
The document can be accessed on: National Minimum Standards for Care Home Download
or the website at: https://aacc.gov.mt/
Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes for the Elderly
How important is it to have National Standards for Senior Citizens Care Homes in India? I guess it is not that important because till date the fifth largest economy in the world is yet to develop their own National Standards / Code of Practice for Aged Care.
Unfortunately the basic recommendations which were drafted in the past were a result of half baked efforts and were created by stakeholders who had superficial knowledge on the subject.
I strongly feel that, if India has to progress in the domain area of Social Welfare especially w.r.t Elderlycare then the policy makers need to engage stakeholders who have non-conflicting roles and without any hidden agendas.
The attached document "Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons)" by Hong Kong Department of Social Welfare is a concise and practical guide.
This Code of Practice is issued by the DSW under section 22 of the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance, setting out principles, procedures, guidelines and standards for the operation, keeping, management or other control of RCHEs for compliance by operators.
Operators of RCHEs should study this Code of Practice in detail, as well as the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance and the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Regulation.
The DSW may refuse to issue a licence to the applicant under section 8(3)(c) of the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance if it appears that the premises used for the residential care home do not comply with any requirements relating to design, structure, fire precautions, health, sanitation and safety set out in this Code of Practice.
The guidelines to be followed are listed under the following chapters:
1) Licence
2) Building and Accommodation
3) Fire Safety and Precautions
4) Area of Floor Space
5) Furniture and Equipment
6) Management
7) Staffing of RCHEs
8) Health Worker
9) Health and Care Services
10) Infection Control
11) Nutrition and Diet
12) Cleanliness and Sanitation
13) Social Care
Since India does not have National Standards for Senior Living and it seems that the policy makers are totally clueless about the way ahead, hence it is suggested to them that if they can't create in-house standards then the least they can do is "Cut Copy Paste" from other countries. However for that they will have to at least read the document and change the name of Hong Kong to India.
The document can be accessed on: Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes (Elderly) - Hong Kong Download
or the website at: https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/
- Home Care
- Care Homes Checklist
Home Care - Working safely in people’s homes
Over the past 10 years, India has seen a huge growth in the home care sector. Demand for caregivers, nurses and other home based services has seen an exponential growth which can mainly be attributed to the demanding needs of the greying population.
Since most elders prefer to stay in their own homes and typically shift to a residential facility as a last resort, hence the need for home care workers has increased.
While demand for trained and professionally qualified manpower is on the rise however it has been seen that most home care workers are not properly trained in eldercare.
Caregiving work especially the job of bedside attendant is not a highly sought after career in India. The perception of low dignity of work is one of the main reasons due to which educated caregiver are difficult to find. At the country level most paid care workers have not even finished school and are not professionally trained or qualified to care for older people.
The moment we hire a caregiver or a home-based support provider we are entrusting our health and well-being in the hands of a third party. Most families depend upon agencies to provide caregivers without really being aware of the skill sets hence the caregiver are rarely questioned.
Since most families hire caregiver who are not equipped to handle emergencies and/or any situation which requires a deeper understanding of elderly care, hence it is important that national level standards, guidelines and training should be developed inorder to facilitate the growth of the sector.
Resource document "A guide to working safely in people’s homes", State of Queensland, provides practical advice to health and community service organisations about how to manage work health and safety for community workers working in people’s homes.
The guide outlines many common hazards found in the community services sector, primarily in the home environment, and provides solutions based on the principles of risk management.
It is important for all relevant parties, including clients and primary carers, to work together to identify work health and safety risks and the best ways to manage them.
Though many private companies are offering professional care services for elderly care unfortunately they are mainly concentrated in urban areas. India needs a system which can deliver affordable care services across the country which includes semi-rural and rural areas also.
The Australian Government does not endorse or recommends the website Elderly Care India.
The document can be accessed on: Home Care Workers - Safety Guidelines Download
Identifying the Best Care Home
Finding a suitable Care Home for our parents or ourselves can be a challenging task, it's an important decision both for the senior citizen as well as for the family members.
Questions like, am I taking the right decision, what if the Home turns out to be just a dumping ground for parents etc etc will keep bothering us till the time we don't pay the deposit or buy the Retirement Home.
Since Care Homes are mushrooming across the country, hence it is important to take an informed decision before entering Care.
While the serene location and the smiling staff may look glamorous on first sight, but then, the big question will always remain i.e. why did we not use a checklist to evaluate the critical aspects of the Care Home services and facilities before deciding.
Though there are numerous guidelines and checklists for selecting a Care Home, but for the convenience and easy read I am attaching Age UK - Care Home Checklist.
Age UK have put this checklist together to help you find the best care home for seniors and family.
The first section covers some of the things worth evaluating before considering a move. It suggests questions one may like to ask while visiting care homes.
The second section is there for when you’ve picked a care home that’s suitable for you. It covers some of the things you might need to do before making the move.
Though some parts of this checklist may not be relevant in the Indian context yet in the overall sense, the document covers most of the important questions to be asked.
The document can be accessed on: The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 Download
The document can be accessed on: Training Manual for Mental Healthcare Act,2017 for Caregivers Download
or the website at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/
- Senior Housing
- Elderly In India - 2021
- Senior Care Reforms in India
Senior Housing: A Sunrise Sector in India
An insightful and well researched report on Senior Living by the team of PHD Research Bureau of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This research paper will be of immense value to investors, developers, operators and urban planners who are looking to foray into the Senior Housing sector in India.
Though the report is of 2017, but in my opinion the research findings still holds good. It has scientifically captured the Indian Senior Living dynamics and gives important insights related to purchasing power, potential market demographics, important services and facilities etc.
The document can also be accessed on the website of PHD Chamber Of Commerce and Industry.
The document can be accessed on: Senior Housing - A report by PHD Research Bureau Download
Elderly In India - 2021
Government of India, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, National Statistical Office, Social Statistics Division has come out with this great document about the Elderly in India.
The main chapters of interest are:
1) Population and Vital Statistics
2) Economic Status
3) Health and Social Status
This publication, 5th in series, has been prepared with the objective of providing data help to policy and programme making for elderly population. Attempts have been made to cull out data on different aspects of elderly population from different sources and put them together at one place. Chapter-2 gives the details of the policies and programmes of Government of India for the welfare of elderly persons while Chapter-3, Chapter-4 and Chapter-5 provides the data on elderly population and certain vital statistics, economic status of elderly persons and health and social status as available from different data sources. Concepts and definitions for the terms used in the publication have also been included as Appendix.
This updated document would help researchers, policy makers, NGO's, senior living operators, international and domestic investors who are interested to keep a track on the Government policies and the critical data points to refer.
The document can be accessed on: Elderly in India 2021 Download
Senior Care Reforms in India - Reimagining the Senior Care Paradigm
This document by NITI Aayog attempts to highlight the landscape of senior care services available, as well as the gaps and challenges in the current senior care ecosystem. It strives to push the frontiers of senior care by recognizing the evolving medical and non-medical needs of seniors, thus envisioning a multi-pronged strategy for designing an effective and synergized senior care policy.
The document can be accessed on: Senior Care Reforms in India Download
or the website at: https://www.niti.gov.in/
- Financial Schemes for Older Persons
- Health & Insurance Schemes for Older Persons
- Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)
- Livelihood Schemes for Older Persons
- Advocacy & Awards
- National Schemes
- Legislative Acts, Policies & Laws
Financial Schemes for Older Persons
1. Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS): A government-backed retirement savings program in India designed to provide financial security for senior citizens. It offers attractive interest rates and tax benefits and is available to individuals aged 60 and above.
2. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY): A government-backed pension scheme in India, primarily designed for senior citizens aged 60 and above. This scheme is offered by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and provides regular pension income to beneficiaries. It offers a guaranteed pension payment for ten years, with the option to receive payments monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. PMVVY is aimed at providing financial security and support to senior citizens during their retirement years.
3. Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana: A lumpsum deposit scheme which gives a monthly pension at a guaranteed rate per annum.
4. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): A part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) in India, it grants monthly pensions to citizens aged 60 and above who belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
5. Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Any Indian citizen between the ages of 18 and 40 years can enroll and the contributions need to be made by the enrolled member at least for 20 years. The pension returns are given after the subscriber turns 60.
6. Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund: The Fund has been created to be utilized for the promotion of the welfare of senior citizens. The fund is administered by an Inter-Ministerial Committee, comprising of Depart¬ment of Financial Services, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Min¬istry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as the Nodal Ministry for the administration of the Fund.
7. Reverse Mortgage: Scheme for senior citizens to assist them to mortgage their property and earn out of the same subject to a limit of 60% of the value of the residential prop¬erty and in a time limit.
8. Artisans Scheme: Scheme under The Ministry of Textile which provides financial assistance per month handicrafts awardee artisans above 60 years of age.
9. Scheme for Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists: Scheme under The Ministry of Culture which provides financial assistance per month to artistes aged 60 years and above.
Health & Insurance Schemes for Older Persons
1. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): A government scheme in India aimed at providing assisted-living devices and physical aids to senior citizens belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
2. Varishta Mediclaim Policy: Meant for senior citizens between 60 and 80 years of age. They can buy National Insurance Company’s Varistha Mediclaim Policy online until they are 80 years of age, while they can continue to renew the Varistha Mediclaim Policy until 90 years.
3. National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): Indian initiative providing dedicated healthcare services to senior citizens aged 60 and above at different healthcare levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary) to address their unique health challenges.
4. Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS): Health Insurance coverage to se¬nior citizens as a top-up over the existing Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) which incorporates the earlier Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).
5. Vayo Mitra- Ayush Geri¬atric Healthcare Services: Under the National Ayush Mission, Vayo Mitra, is to provide specialized and comprehensive Ayush Geriatric Health Care Services to create awareness within the community on differ¬ent aspects of ageing.
6. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): PMSBY is available to people in the age group of 18-70 years with a bank or post office account and give consent to join/enable auto-debit. The risk coverage under the Scheme is 2 lakhs in case of accidental death or total permanent disability and 1 lakh for partial per¬manent disability.
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)
1. Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY): A central sector scheme, which was previously known as National Action Plan for Senior Citizens, with the vision of enabling senior citizens to live healthy, happy and empowered lives within society.
2. Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC: A program designed to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens, especially indigent senior citizens, by providing basic amenities such as housing, food, medical care, and opportunities for recreation and entertainment.
3. Maintenance of Senior Citizen Homes (SrCH): Scheme under the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana is meant to offer financial assistance to organisations for running and main¬tenance of Senior Citizen Homes.
4. Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs): RRTCs are the nodal agency on aged care under the supervision of Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, to provide technical support and inputs on senior citizens programs.
5. State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC): Scheme to support State Governments through Grant-in-aid for State-specific activities for the welfare of senior citizens.
6. Mobile Medical Units (MMUs): Scheme is meant to support MMUs sup¬ported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC).
7. Physiotherapy Clinics: Scheme is meant to support Physiotherapy Centres sup-ported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC).
8. Cataract Surgeries: A supported activity to assist the National Program for Control of Blindness in addressing blindness through Cataract Surgeries.
9. Training to Geriatric Caregivers & Health Care: A support scheme through Grant- in-aid for providing training for the creation of a pool of trained Caregivers for older people.
10. National Helpline for Senior Citizens: An all-India support helpline for all senior citizens of the country. Some of the support given by the helpline is providing free information, guidance, emotional support, abuse prevention, control and intervention.
Livelihood Schemes for Older Persons
1. Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity (SACRED): An initiative aimed at facilitating employment opportunities for senior citizens, by bringing Senior Citizen employment seekers and the employment providers together through an IT platform.
2. Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR): Scheme designed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to promote Elderly Self-Help Groups under the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC). It aims to streamline elderly empowerment in the development debate, enhance the overall quality of life for senior citizens, and ensure their active participation in society.
3. Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE): An initiative that aims to create a centralized portal in India for start-ups to offer products and services catering to the elderly population. This platform facilitates the delivery of various products and services designed to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens.
Advocacy & Awards
1. Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): A nation-wide campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It focuses on making public spaces, infrastructure, transportation, and technology more accessible, enabling PwDs to participate fully in society and enjoy equal opportunities.
2. Scheme of National Award for Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Sammans): An initiative in India that recognizes and honours outstanding senior citizens and institutions/organizations that have made significant contributions to the welfare and well-being of elderly individuals, especially indigent senior citizens.
National Schemes
1. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U): ): Flagship programme being implemented by Government of India under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to provide all weather pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries in the urban areas of the country through States/UTs/Central Nodal Agencies.
2. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): A government program in India designed to uplift the urban poor by offering skill training, self-employment opportunities, access to credit, and social security measures, with the goal of enhancing their livelihoods and reducing poverty in urban areas. It aims to empower marginalized urban communities for sustainable economic development.
3. PM Vishwakarma Scheme: An initiative to help enhance the skills of workers and facilitate their access to loans for improved earnings.
4. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): A centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India that offers financial assistance, in the form of social pensions, to individuals living below the poverty line (BPL), including the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.
5. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): PM-JAY, popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, is the world’s largest health insurance / assurance scheme fully funded by the government. PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) and incorporates the earlier Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).
6. Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMGAY): Previously known as Indira Awas Yojana, is a public housing scheme in India. It focuses on constructing or upgrading dwelling units for various disadvantaged groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, by providing financial assistance for housing needs.
7. Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC): Housing complexes developed under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) scheme, designed to provide affordable rental housing options to eligible beneficiaries, including seniors and economically disadvantaged individuals.
8. National Programme for Control of Blindness: An Indian program committed to reducing avoidable blindness through optimal resource utilization and improved access to quality eye care services.
9. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): A government initiative in India that legally guarantees certain number days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of rural households who request employment and are willing to perform unskilled manual labour.
10. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme aimed at achieving food security and eliminating hunger in India, targeting the most impoverished individuals by providing essential food and commodities at subsidized rates to meet their daily needs.
11. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme: A government initiative, part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), providing monthly pension support to disabled individuals aged 18 or older with 80% or more disability who are part of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. This scheme is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development under the Central Government to support disabled individuals in India.
Legislative Acts, Policies & Laws
1. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act: An Indian legislation aimed at safeguarding the rights of senior citizens, including parents, who are unable to support themselves financially. It imposes a legal obligation on children and grandchildren to provide financial support and maintenance to their elderly parents or grandparents if they are in need.
2. National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP): A policy framework in India aimed at providing state support to ensure the financial and food security, healthcare, shelter, protection against abuse and exploitation, and improved quality of life for older citizens, promoting their well-being and inclusivity in society.
3. Article 21 of Indian Constitution: Safeguards our right to life and personal liberty, ensuring that these rights can only be restricted through lawful procedures. It is a fundamental right and a core element of personal freedom in India.
4. Article 32 of Indian Constitution: It is a vital constitutional provision that grants individuals the right to approach the Supreme Court of India to seek justice when they believe their fundamental rights have been violated, empowering citizens to protect their rights through the highest court.
5. Article 41 of Indian Constitution: The well-being of senior citizens is mandated in the Constitution of India under Article 41. “The state shall within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to public assistance in cases of old age”. The Right to Equality is guaranteed by the Constitution as a fundamental right. Social security is the concurrent responsibility of the Central and State Governments.
6. Article 47 of Indian Constitution: : It directs the state governments to prioritize and enhance public health and nutrition, highlighting the government's responsibility in this regard.
7. Clinical Establishment Act: Enacted by the Central Government in India, this legislation aims to register and regulate all clinical establishments in the country, with a view to prescribe minimum standards for facilities and services provided by these establishments to ensure quality healthcare delivery to patients.
8. Mental Healthcare Act: An Act aimed at providing mental healthcare and services for individuals with mental illness while protecting and promoting their rights during the delivery of mental healthcare and services. This act outlines provisions for the care and treatment of individuals with mental health conditions.
9. National Food Security Act (NFSA): ): An Indian law that legally entitles approximately 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). This act aims to provide food security to those in need by granting access to essential food commodities.
10. National Health Policy: A policy framework in India that aims to achieve the highest possible level of health and well-being for all citizens of all ages. It emphasizes preventive and promotive healthcare across various developmental policies and seeks to provide universal access to high-quality healthcare services without causing financial hardship to individuals.
11. Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act: An Indian legislation that aims to protect and enhance the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. It promotes their inclusion and equal participation in society by prohibiting discrimination and ensuring accessibility, education, employment, and social security, among other provisions.