Compulsory registration for elders' homes

Irangika Range

Registration of elders' homes with five or more inmates will be made compulsory. This will be under amendments proposed to Sections 17 and 18 of the Sri Lanka Protection of The Rights of Elders Act No. 9 of 2000.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera told the Daily News the amendments will be presented in Parliament on May 23 for approval. Meanwhile, the Social Service Ministry has made it compulsory for volunteers and other care-givers looking after elders at elders' homes in the country to undergo training on care giving conducted by the ministry. There are nearly 278 elders' homes in the country sheltering around 6,775 elders looked after by nearly 1,000 care-givers. There are several elders' homes where the inmates were subjected to psychical and mental pressure from care-givers.

"That is why the ministry has decided to provide care-givers with special elderly care training," he said.

"There should be a proper mechanism to monitor the elders' homes in the country. Therefore, a set of guidelines have been prepared by the National Secretariat for Elders. It is necessary to ensure clean kitchens, toilets and bathrooms at each elders' homes to obtain approval from the respective District Health Service Directors. Public Health Inspectors would continuously monitor these places. Minister Perera further said Social Services offices attached to the ministry will continuously supervise all elders' homes after the registration process is completed.