It has been proposed to expand community-based care services through local levels, provide health services from day service centers directly to homes, implement rehabilitation programs, and extend elderly-friendly services.
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The National Senior Citizens Policy (Draft)–2083 has proposed making the family the primary basis for the care of senior citizens. The Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Security has prepared the ‘National Senior Citizens Policy Draft, 2083’, prioritizing a family- and community-based care system in view of the loneliness faced by senior citizens.
According to the draft, which has been made available for public discussion and suggestions, it is proposed that arrangements for old age homes or other institutional care will be made only in cases where care from the family or community is not possible. This establishes old age homes not as the first choice, but as the last resort.
According to the 2078 census, there are 2,977,318 senior citizens in Nepal, which is 10.21 percent of the total population. In recent years, due to urbanization, the increasing trend of small families, and foreign employment, the care of senior citizens has begun to emerge as a family challenge. The draft notes that some senior citizens are forced to live alone, and some are unable to receive regular health services, mental support, and daily care. It clarifies the roles of the state and local governments, not making the family solely responsible.
It is proposed to expand community-based care services through local levels, day service centers, home-based health services, rehabilitation programs, and senior citizen-friendly services. The health of senior citizens has also been prioritized. Provisions have been proposed to make health and care (geriatric) services, regular health check-ups, mental health services, and chronic disease management more effective. The goal is to develop a system where health services are not limited to hospitals but, if necessary, are delivered at home. Senior citizens are defined not only as beneficiaries of social security allowances but also as sources of experience and knowledge.
Provisions have been proposed to involve able senior citizens in social, educational, and development activities, to utilize their skills and experience in the community, and to encourage intergenerational knowledge transfer.
The draft addresses neglect, violence, economic exploitation, and property-related disputes against senior citizens. Provisions have been proposed to make prevention of incidents, complaint management, and legal protection systems more effective. Single, disabled, economically disadvantaged, and female senior citizens are identified as groups requiring special protection. The draft states that, under the federal governance system, the role of local governments will be increased in expanding services related to senior citizens.
It is proposed that local levels will be responsible for updating records of senior citizens, operating community-based services, coordinating health services, and conducting programs for social participation. It is mentioned that arrangements will be made to ensure that senior citizens can easily access the concession facilities provided in public transportation, and that such facilities will gradually be extended to air transportation as well.
