Govt moves to regulate elder care institutions with new guidelines

Colombo, April 2 (Daily Mirror) - The government is taking steps to introduce regulations and guidelines to standardize institutions providing residential care for senior citizens, in line with broader efforts to safeguard their rights and well-being.

A draft of the proposed regulatory framework was presented to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya during the opening of the ‘Silver Age Center’ in Kataragama on March 31.

The draft was submitted by representatives of the National Council for Senior Citizens, highlighting the growing need to ensure quality, accountability, and proper oversight in facilities catering to the elderly.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Sri Lanka must adapt to the challenges posed by its rapidly ageing population. She said that ensuring access to healthcare, transportation, lifelong learning, and social engagement opportunities for senior citizens is essential.

She further highlighted that senior citizens should be able to live with dignity regardless of whether they reside with families, independently, or within care institutions.

The government aims to move away from outdated models of elderly care and instead promote institutions that cater to the diverse physical, social, and emotional needs of senior citizens.

The initiative forms part of a broader policy approach focused on creating an inclusive society that guarantees safety, freedom, and well-being for all citizens.

The ‘Silver Age Center,’ an Elder Care, Training and Research Centre equipped with modern facilities, was declared open as part of this effort to improve the quality and scope of elder care services in the country.