The Keralam government is set to introduce a law aimed at enhancing the care and protection of elderly individuals. This initiative, announced by the chief minister’s office on Tuesday, seeks to professionalize the caregiving sector and establish a comprehensive framework for geriatric care.
Keralam State Elderly Persons Bill Under Review
Chief Minister VD Satheesan convened a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram to review the draft of the Keralam State Elderly Persons (Care and Protection) Bill, 2026. He instructed officials to accelerate the drafting process for the legislation. The bill aims to create a comprehensive support system for the elderly, addressing the evolving demographic trends in the state.
“One of the main objectives is developing the caregiving sector into a professional system. For this, a framework for geriatric care certification will be formed. Care givers would be given training and certification. Their backgrounds would be checked and a state-wide registry will be developed.
The legislation, once passed, would fix quality standards and responsibilities of assisted living facilities, home care agencies and government homes housing destitute elderly persons, the CM’s office said. This will help create jobs for skilled caregivers,” the office said. The government, the CM’s office said, was committed to building a ‘silver economy’ that would tie the rising needs of elderly persons with new economic and employment opportunities. State and district-level mechanisms would be put in place for the effective implementation of the bill’s goals, it said.
