Towards an age-ready Kerala: transferring custody rights

Dr. Sudha Chandrashekar, CEO, Swasti – The Health Catalyst | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The Kerala Senior Citizens (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026 presents an opportunity to strengthen Kerala’s response to an aging population. The Kerala government’s initiative to introduce this first-of-its-kind legislation in the country is a welcome step to protect the rights and welfare of senior citizens.

By recognizing dignity, independence, safety, participation and access to care, the Bill provides the basis for moving beyond social care and towards a comprehensive rights-based approach to ageing.

Central principle

A central tenet of the bill is aging in place, allowing older people to remain in their homes and communities as long as possible, with institutional care as a last resort. This requires supporting families through affordable health care, community services, trained caregivers, rehabilitation and social support. Care must be organized as a continuum, responding to changing needs, not just during crises.

Equally important is the shift from managing addiction to preventing or delaying preventable functional decline. Of particular relevance is the Act’s provision on standardized care assessments that include internal capacity and functional dependence. Linking these assessments to primary and community health care could allow earlier identification of changes in mobility, cognition, sensory function, and activities of daily living, followed by early interventions to help maintain independence.

Addressing critical gaps

The bill also addresses critical gaps in the care ecosystem through provisions for registration and regulation of care institutions, training and certification of caregivers, and minimum service delivery standards. These measures must be accompanied by appropriate supervision, further education, fair working conditions and support for family carers.

The proposed institutional mechanisms at the district level offer an opportunity to strengthen accountability, grievance redressal and coordination. The bill also introduces sanctions, including fines and imprisonment, for specific violations, reinforcing the importance of respecting and protecting the rights of seniors.

Effectiveness will depend on clear responsibilities, adequate resources, effective enforcement and convergence across health, social care and local government systems.

Age-ready Keralam must be measured not only by the institutions and services in place, but also by whether older people can maintain their functional abilities, remain connected to their communities and live with dignity, independence, safety and purpose.

Another priority is the translation of legislative provisions into accessible, fair and quality services, especially for elderly people living alone, people with disabilities or dementia and people without sufficient family support.

Overall, the bill provides a robust framework for geriatric care. Its effective implementation can help set an effective precedent that can be replicated nationally.

(Prof. (Dr.) Sudha Chandrashekar is CEO, Swasti – The Health Catalyst, a non-profit global public health organization).

Published – 14 Oct 2026 07:00 IST