{"id":24573,"date":"2026-09-06T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T01:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=24573"},"modified":"2026-09-06T07:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T01:15:28","slug":"elderly-care-is-not-charity-but-a-responsibility-of-the-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=24573","title":{"rendered":"Elderly Care Is Not Charity, but a Responsibility of the State<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nepal\u2019s elderly population is steadily increasing. Families are becoming smaller, youth migration is rising, and the traditional joint-family structure is weakening. Yet the country\u2019s system for elderly healthcare, housing, long-term care and social protection remains largely rooted in older assumptions. Society has changed, but policy has not kept pace.<\/p>\n

Nepal has a strong cultural tradition of children caring for aging parents. That remains a valuable social norm. But it is no longer realistic to assume that every family has the time, financial capacity, medical knowledge and physical facilities needed to provide adequate care. Many children live abroad, one spouse may already have died, chronic diseases are becoming more common, and a growing number of elderly people require assistance even for basic daily activities.<\/p>\n

Under these circumstances, the state cannot simply describe elderly care as a moral responsibility of the family and withdraw from the issue. Old age is not a personal accident. It is a natural stage of human life. The right to live with dignity in old age must therefore become an integral part of social protection and public health policy.<\/p>\n

Nepal has old-age homes, several non-governmental organizations are active, and local governments operate certain programmes. The government also provides social security allowances. But cash support alone cannot define an elderly-care policy. Senior citizens need medicines, regular health check-ups, safe housing, assistive devices and, in some cases, round-the-clock professional care.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest weaknesses is the absence of uniform and enforceable quality standards. What kind of building should an elderly-care centre operate from? How many staff members should it employ? Who responds to medical emergencies? How should residents be evacuated during fires, earthquakes or other disasters? How should medicines be managed? How should elderly residents be protected from physical, psychological or financial abuse? Nepal needs clear national standards covering all these areas, backed by mandatory compliance and regular inspection.<\/p>\n

The country must now move elderly care from the realm of charity into the sphere of professional social services. The perception that an old-age home is necessarily a place of abandonment and helplessness must also change. A modern elderly-care centre is neither a hospital nor a prison, and it is not a substitute for family. It should be an institution that provides necessary support, healthcare, social interaction and a safe living environment.<\/p>\n

Local governments have a particularly important role to play. Every municipality and rural municipality should maintain updated records of elderly residents who live alone, lack family support, suffer from chronic illness or require special care. Health posts, hospitals, social development units and communities should be connected through a regular coordination system. During emergencies, the state should know where vulnerable senior citizens are and what assistance they require.<\/p>\n

The government can also encourage the private sector to enter elderly-care services under clear regulations. But old age must not be left to an uncontrolled profit-driven market. Fees, service standards, staffing, healthcare, food quality, safety and grievance mechanisms all require effective state oversight.<\/p>\n

Another urgent requirement is trained human resources. Dementia, mobility problems, diabetes, hypertension, post-stroke disability and social isolation require forms of care different from ordinary medical services. Nepal should introduce specialized training in geriatric nursing, elderly-care assistance and professional caregiving. Such services could also become an important source of employment in the future.<\/p>\n

The issue of elderly care is not only about today\u2019s senior citizens. Today\u2019s young people are tomorrow\u2019s elderly population. The quality of any civilized society is reflected in how it treats people when they are most vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Nepal must therefore stop viewing old age solely through the lens of family responsibility. Social security allowances are necessary, but they are not sufficient. What is needed is safe care, quality healthcare, institutional protection and the guarantee of a dignified life.<\/p>\n

Senior citizens need more than money to live with dignity. They need support. Providing that support is not charity. It is a fundamental responsibility of the state.<\/p>\n

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