Binish Thomas (Special Correspondent)
There is something deeply unsettling about a society that teaches its children to respect their parents, celebrates the sacrifices of grandparents, and speaks endlessly about family values – yet leaves some of its oldest citizens struggling for safety, care and dignity.
For decades, the Indian family has been regarded as the first line of protection for the elderly.
Parents raise their children, make sacrifices for their education, build homes and spend their working lives securing their families’ futures. In return, they hope for companionship and support in old age.
But what happens when that promise breaks down? What happens when older people are neglected, abused, financially exploited or simply abandoned by the very people they once protected?.
Kerala has now placed this question at the centre of a proposed law :
The Keralam Senior Citizens’ (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026, introduced in the state Assembly by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan on October 13, seeks to establish a more comprehensive framework for protecting older people.
It proposes to regulate elderly-care institutions, strengthen safeguards against abuse, improve access to healthcare and digital services, and recognize the right of senior citizens to live with dignity and independence.
The bill is not yet law. It has been referred to a select committee for further consideration. But its introduction raises a question that extends well beyond Kerala: is India prepared for a future in which caring for its elderly can no longer be left to family goodwill alone?.
The family is changing. So must our idea of care :
Kerala’s ageing population makes this question particularly urgent. Longer life expectancy, lower birth rates and the migration of younger generations have changed the structure of households across the state.
Many older people now spend long periods alone while their children live elsewhere for work or education.
Distance does not necessarily mean abandonment. Thousands of families continue to care for their elderly parents with commitment, including from thousands of kilometres away. But distance can make it harder to identify neglect, arrange medical assistance or intervene when something goes wrong.
And not every older person has children who can help. Some are widowed. Others have no close relatives, live with disabilities or suffer from conditions that require continuous care. For them, the absence of a reliable support system can turn an ordinary health problem into a crisis.
A modern system must support both family-based care and professional services. Most importantly, it must recognize older people as individuals with rights, preferences and the capacity to make decisions about their own lives.
That is one of the central ideas behind Kerala’s proposed legislation: older people should be able to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, with appropriate support, while institutional care should be available when necessary.
Abuse behind closed doors :
Elder abuse is not always visible. It may involve physical violence, but it can also take the form of humiliation, emotional intimidation, financial exploitation, denial of food or medication, and neglect of basic needs.
Financial abuse deserves particular attention. An older person’s property, savings or pension may become a source of conflict within a family. In some cases, people who depend on relatives for everyday assistance may find it difficult to report mistreatment or challenge decisions made on their behalf.
The proposed bill seeks to establish clearer accountability for such conduct. It provides for penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs.50,000 for specified offences involving abuse or abandonment. It also proposes safeguards against the unauthorised possession of residents’ property and the operation of care centres without registration.
Another important provision concerns reporting suspected abuse. Under specified circumstances, registered medical practitioners and senior citizen care centres would have to report suspected abuse or exploitation within 48 hours.
This could make a meaningful difference. A doctor treating an older person with unexplained injuries, for instance, may be among the first to suspect that something is wrong. A formal reporting obligation can help ensure that such concerns are not simply ignored.
Who is watching the people entrusted with their care?.
As the demand for professional elderly care grows, so does the need to ensure that the people providing it are competent and trustworthy.
Families often hire caregivers because an elderly relative needs help with bathing, mobility, medication, feeding or other daily activities. Yet families may have limited means of checking a caregiver’s qualifications, background or training.
Kerala’s proposed bill seeks to address this gap through the registration and regulation of care centres and a certification framework for caregivers. It envisages prescribed training, police verification and a searchable register of certified caregivers.
These are important safeguards, particularly for people who are bedridden, living with dementia or otherwise unable to communicate mistreatment easily. But regulation must extend beyond paperwork.
Care homes need adequate staffing, hygiene standards, medical support, complaint procedures and regular inspections. Caregivers themselves also need proper training, fair remuneration and safe working conditions.
An elderly-care system cannot function well if its workers are undertrained, underpaid or left without support. Protecting senior citizens and protecting those who care for them should be complementary objectives.
The real test will be whether the proposed framework develops into a system of meaningful oversight rather than another set of registrations and certificates.
The next threat may arrive through a smartphone :
The vulnerabilities of older people are not confined to homes and care centres. Increasingly, they extend into the digital world.
Fraudsters exploit fear, trust and unfamiliarity with technology to target senior citizens through fake calls, fraudulent investment schemes, impersonation, phishing messages and other forms of cybercrime. The growing use of artificial intelligence also creates new opportunities for impersonation and deception.
An older person who loses life savings to a digital scam may face more than financial hardship. The loss can undermine independence, create dependence on relatives and leave the victim feeling ashamed or reluctant to report the crime.
The proposed bill recognizes the need for better protection against cyber fraud. It also envisages more accessible digital services, including features that make government portals easier to use, while retaining non-digital alternatives for people who cannot comfortably navigate online systems.
This matters because digital inclusion should not become digital exclusion. Banking, healthcare and public services may increasingly move online, but senior citizens should not be forced to depend on others simply to access their own entitlements.
Dignity means having a choice
One of the most important aspects of ageing is the loss of control that can accompany physical frailty or illness. Decisions about housing, treatment, finances and everyday routines may gradually shift from the individual to relatives or caregivers.
That transition can be necessary, but it should not erase the older person’s preferences.
The proposed bill includes provisions relating to living wills, which allow people to record their wishes concerning medical treatment in specified future circumstances.
It also envisages improved access to geriatric healthcare, specialised care for conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, and more age-friendly public spaces and services.
These proposals point towards a broader understanding of elderly welfare. It is not enough to keep an older person alive or provide a place to sleep. Care must also preserve autonomy, comfort and human dignity wherever possible.
A law is only as strong as its implementation :
Kerala’s proposed bill is an important step towards recognizing elderly care as a public responsibility, not merely a private family matter. But legislation alone cannot resolve every problem associated with ageing.
Protection units must have trained personnel and adequate resources. Complaints must not disappear into bureaucratic procedures. Care facilities must face genuine scrutiny. Older people living alone or in remote areas must be able to access services without excessive difficulty. And families need practical support before a caregiving crisis becomes a case of neglect.
There is also a larger question of economic security. Many senior citizens depend on modest pensions, savings or support from relatives. Healthcare costs, inflation and the expense of long-term care can rapidly erode their financial independence. Rights on paper cannot substitute for affordable services and reliable social-security support.
The state must therefore look beyond punishment. Prevention, counselling, community-based care, financial assistance and accessible healthcare are equally important parts of the response.
The measure of a society :
A parent’s contribution to a family does not become worthless when that parent grows old, falls ill or can no longer earn an income. Yet too often, older people are treated as burdens precisely when they need patience, companionship and care the most.
Kerala’s proposed legislation cannot, by itself, restore broken relationships or guarantee that every child will fulfil every family obligation. What it can potentially do is establish boundaries: abuse must have consequences, care providers must be accountable, and older people must have avenues for protection when those around them fail them.That is why this debate matters.
A society’s progress is not measured only by its economic growth, technological achievements or modern infrastructure. It is also measured by whether people can grow old without fear of being exploited, abandoned or stripped of their independence.
Kerala has opened an important legislative conversation. The challenge now is to turn that promise into a system that works in real homes, hospitals, neighbourhoods and care centres.
Because growing old should never mean becoming invisible. And dignity in old age should never depend entirely on whether someone happens to have a caring family.
