Keralam government to launch support network for elderly neighborhood residents

The Government of Kerala has decided to create a neighborhood support network for senior citizens from ward level to ensure a strong social support mechanism for senior citizens.

Chief Minister VD Satheesan recently announced that this network will ensure the district’s attention to the elderly and their needs. It would have digital data on the elderly and their level of vulnerability in each ward and would work in coordination with the care unit the government planned to create. This should be allowed because those who need special attention among the elders are not many, he said.

The government will use the Kudumbashree mechanism to create a network from the ward level to the level of local government institutions. The network will identify and assess the needs of older people who need special attention, such as older people who live alone, are bedridden or have various disabilities, and those who are economically and socially marginalized. It then connects seniors with state services and programs and provides coordinated support at the local level during emergencies.

Vulnerability Mapping

The network will carry out a mapping of the vulnerability of the elderly in each ward, decide on the services to be provided to them based on the requirements and formulate individual support plans. It will use a ‘service directory’ for emergency/referral services and a ‘digital dashboard’ for activity monitoring.

The network will work in coordination with local government institutions, health department, Kudumbashree and voluntary organizations under the government’s 100-day action plan, as per the directives of the newly formed department of senior citizens.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) government has announced the establishment of a dedicated department for the elderly as the state grapples with an ever-increasing aging population.

Published – 03 Oct 2026 19:24 IST