New Law Exempts Elderly from Cost of Living in Care Institutions

Egypt's House of Representatives, led by Counselor Dr. Hanafi Jabali, Speaker of the Council, approved Article (12) of the draft law on the rights of the elderly. The article pertains to a complete exemption for elderly individuals from the costs of accommodation and subsistence in care institutions. According to the approved text, elderly individuals in care who do not have a caregiver will be exempted from shouldering the financial burden of accommodation and subsistence in social care institutions.

These costs will now be the responsibility of the relevant ministry, with specific procedures and conditions for exemption to be outlined in the executive regulations.

Additionally, social institutions that provide care for the elderly are prohibited from forcing them to stay without their consent. Furthermore, they are not allowed to deny their request to leave, whether the request comes from the elderly individual themselves, their legal representative or the responsible ministry. In such cases, the request must be delivered to the person in charge of their care, in accordance with the regulations specified by the executive regulations of this law.