Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Kerala Develops Elder-Care Law For Rapidly Ageing Population
Kerala has many older people, and their number is expected to grow quickly.
The state wants to improve how older people receive care and protection.
It is studying Japan, where people use long-term-care insurance and professional caregivers.
It is also studying Norway, where local governments provide many public care services.
Kerala cannot copy either country because it has less money and different family and community systems.
Many working-age people have moved away, leaving some older people living alone.
The proposed law may create stronger oversight and protections against neglect.
Kerala also wants trained and registered home-care workers.
Mobile clinics, day homes, volunteers and community healthcare will remain important.
Nearly 16.5% of Kerala’s population is over 60, a share expected to exceed 23% by 2036.
The state is fast-tracking the Kerala State Senior Citizens (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill.
Kerala’s elderly population faces rising chronic illnesses, with more than 70% living with at least one chronic condition.
The proposed system draws lessons from Japan’s professional care model and Norway’s publicly supported municipal services.
Kerala plans to combine statutory oversight, trained caregivers, public healthcare, local institutions and community-based support.
- Who
- The Kerala government and its senior citizens, caregivers, local bodies and community networks are central to the effort.
- What
- Kerala is fast-tracking a senior-citizens care and rights bill while developing a broader elder-care system.
- When
- The effort is underway; the elderly population is projected to exceed 23% of Kerala’s population by 2036.
- Where
- Kerala, India, with policy lessons drawn from Japan and Norway.
- Why
- The state’s population is ageing rapidly, life expectancy is increasing, birth rates are low, and many older people need support for chronic conditions or living alone.
- Current elderly population
- Nearly 16.5% of Kerala’s population is above 60.
- Projected elderly population
- More than 23% of the population is expected to be over 60 by 2036.
- Fertility rate
- Kerala’s total fertility rate is around 1.35.
- Life expectancy
- Average life expectancy is about 78.4 years for women and 71.9 years for men.
- Chronic conditions
- More than 70% of Kerala’s elderly population has at least one chronic condition, according to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India.
- Proposed oversight
- The framework includes a Kerala State Elderly Commission and a dedicated Department for Elderly Care.
- Existing community programmes
- Vayomithram mobile clinics, Pakal Veedu day homes, volunteer networks and palliative-care services support older people.