The Cabinet approved during last week’s session On the system of rights and care for the elderly For the year 1443 AH, aiming to clarify the rights of citizens aged 60 years and over.
The system of rights and care for the elderly clarifies that the elderly have the right to live with his family, and they must shelter and take care of him, and the responsibility for this lies with the family members.
Elderly and nursing homes
He stressed that social care homes may not accommodate an elderly person except following his approval, or following a court ruling has been issued to that effect, or in cases that pose a threat to his life or safety.
When is an elderly person in need?
An elderly person is considered needy if he is unable to provide the necessities in whole or in part, as a result of a deficiency in his financial, physical, psychological or mental capabilities.
His support shall be on the husband or wife if she wishes, or the father if he is able, or in the event that one of the male children is unable, and if he is unable, one of his grandchildren, and if he is unable, one of his brothers; Provided that the duty of maintenance is transferred to the person chosen by the elderly, even in the event that someone is more likely than him, or the court determines the breadwinner.
What if the family is unable to support?
In the event that the family is unable to support the elderly person, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will provide him with auxiliary medical supplies free of charge.
Senior Perks
The elderly are given priority in obtaining basic services provided by government agencies, or those who provide them on their behalf. The Ministry of Resources and Human Development grants him a privilege card so that he can benefit from the public services he needs for the necessities of his daily life, and government agencies give him discounts on the public services they provide.
Guardianship over the elderly
The Ministry of Human Resources has the right to self-guardianship for the elderly or those who are incompetent, and for those who are judicially proven to have no guardian. The breadwinner is prohibited from disposing of the money of the elderly without his consent or deliberately violating the protection of the rights of the elderly in need of care.
Prohibitions and penalties
The new system prohibits the breadwinner from disposing of the elderly’s money without his consent, or deliberately violating his rights and care, or misusing his money.
The penalties included imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine of 500,000 riyals for the breadwinner who violates some provisions of the system. As for care homes, they are punished with a fine of not more than 100,000, provided that the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development nominates a person to control the violations stipulated.