Centre Issues Guidelines for ‘Retirement Homes’

With senior citizens projected to form nearly 34% of the country’s population by the end of the century, the Modi led government has issued some basic guidelines for regulation and redevelopment of “retirement homes” in order to protect their rights and address their special needs.

According to the sources, a task force for constant dialogue with states and other stakeholders will be constituted by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to ensure implementation of these guidelines. Developers can now build and manage the ‘retirement homes’ or engage a ‘service provider’ or ‘retirement home operator’ for management of these homes, as per the guidelines. They say that such service providers will be required to be registered with appropriate state authorities.

The guidelines state that:

• Retirement homes should be aligned with the Principles Guidelines Norms as prescribed in the National Building Code (NBC). Model Building Bye-Laws’ and ‘Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standards for barrier-free built environment for persons with disability and elderly persons.’
• Elderly friendly built environment like lifts with audio and visual signage and signalling systems, wheelchair accessibility, mandatory ramps, design of spaces to enable hassle-free movement, anti-skid tiles in bathrooms and stairs, elderly friendly design of door-knobs, handrails, furniture, etc., kitchens with gas leak detection systems, power back up facilities in corridors, lobby, lifts and apartments.
• Compliance with Green Building Principles as provided in Model Building Bye-Laws and use of non-polluting and renewable energy.
• Provision of common basic services like 24x7 water and electricity supply, maintenance of proper hygiene, indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, security and housekeeping, single window facilities and helpdesk transportation assistance, yoga and fitness facilities, caregiving facilities, etc.
• Provision of essential medical safety and security services like 24x7 ambulance service, a mandatory tie-up with emergency facilities with nearest hospitals and pharmacy, regular medical check-up of residents, emergency alarm systems, trained and skilled security personnel, CCTV cameras in common areas, prior police verification of all the personnel deployed in the Retirement Homes.
• Customized services over and above the basic common services like internal and external housekeeping, managing dining services, assistance with legal services, etc. if required by the residents.