‘Old Age Home’ to be replaced with ‘Snehalayam’ in Kerala
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Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday directed the state government to completely phase out the term “Old Age Home” from official and public usage and replace it with “Snehalayam”, in line with a government order issued in 2024.
Judicial Member K. Baijunath directed the Social Justice Department to take immediate administrative measures to replace the old nomenclature on name boards, official websites, publications, public records and all other communication platforms.
The Commission also called for awareness campaigns to ensure that the term “Old Age Home” is no longer used in public discourse.
The order was issued while disposing of a complaint that argued that the term “old age” creates a sense of inferiority and stigma among senior citizens.
The Commission noted that the state government had officially renamed all such institutions as “Snehalayam” through Government Order No. 247/2024/SJD dated December 2, 2024. However, despite the order, the earlier nomenclature continues to be widely used.
The directive assumes added significance as Kerala has the highest proportion of elderly citizens in the country. Nearly 18.7 per cent of the state's 3.30 crore population is above the age of 60, reflecting a rapidly ageing society and growing demand for institutional elderly care.
Kerala currently has 16 government-run elderly care institutions, including specialised dementia care centres. In addition, around 690 privately managed homes are registered under the Orphanage Control Board.
Together, these institutions provide care to more than 35,000 senior citizens, making the adoption of a more dignified and compassionate nomenclature all the more relevant.
The Commission directed the Director of the Social Justice Department to ensure strict implementation of the government order across the state.
The directions were issued while disposing of a complaint filed by Prof Varghese Mathew, who had sought the renaming of old age homes in keeping with the dignity and welfare of senior citizens.