The govt old-age home in Thevara is now at full capacity with 50 inmates
The state govt has introduced Keralam Senior Citizens (Care and Protection) Bill, 2026 in the legislative assembly on Oct 13 to create a rights-based framework to regulate elder care.
Govt old-age home in Thevara is now full, with 50 inmates, all of whom came forward willingly to take shelter. Our current capacity is 150 beds and there are nearly 140 inmates. We always keep 10 beds vacant to meet emergency situations.
The beds become available only when a death is reported as people arriving at old age homes are not going back,” says Savitha Umer, coordinator of an NGO in Ernakulam.
They have to wait until their application is approved based on vacancy,” said an officer. If an elderly person is found neglected at home during an investigation, the authorities try to avoid institutional care for the elderly. Instead, they convince the family members to take care of the senior citizen. “Govt old age homes do not take those abandoned by children. We take those with identity cards after collecting applications from them. They cannot come directly to old age homes for shelter. “Our facility has been expanding bed capacity frequently. Once an elderly person comes, they will be here for years.