Dignity For The Elderly: Ministry Releases Model Guidelines For Retirement Homes In The Country

Union housing and urban affairs ministry has released model guidelines for the development and regulation of retirement homes in the country. These guidelines prescribe an elderly-friendly environment, physical standards and specifications for nursing homes.

“Model Guidelines address the special needs and protect the rights of senior citizens and retirees living in Retirement Homes who aspire to spend their retired life independently in a safe, secure and dignified environment. The Guidelines provide option to senior citizens and family members, who are willing and can afford to purchase a living space for their parents,” said a government release.

According to a research report by Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj (JLLM), the demand for senior housing in India stood at about 7 lakh units in 2018. Also, by 2025, the number of Indians above the age of 60 years will reach 173 million, which was 76 million in 2011. Further by 2040, it will grow to over 250 million. Thus, the demand for retirement homes will increase substantially in the coming decades.

Essentials

The guidelines state that retirement homes should be aligned with the Principles, Guidelines, Norms etc as prescribed in ‘National Building Code’ (NBC), ‘Model Building Bye-Laws’ and ‘Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for persons with Disability and Elderly Persons’.

These homes are expected to have “elderly-friendly built environment like lifts with audio and visual signage and signalling systems, wheelchair accessibility, mandatory ramps, the design of spaces to enable barrier-free movement...”

Common essential services like 24X7 water and electricity supply, maintenance of proper hygiene, indoor and outdoor recreation Opportunities etc, should also be made available to senior citizens in such places.