On October 1 marks the International Day of Older Persons. The Public Defender’s Office joins this year’s theme chosen by the United Nations – “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights”.

This theme highlights the role of older people in buildingresilient and equitable societies. Older people are not just care recipients; they make a significant contribution to the well-being, development and social sustainability of society with their own experience and knowledge.

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), adopted in 2002, remains the cornerstone of global policy, which serves to create a dignified environment for people of all ages. In 2025, a special impetus was created by the adoption of Resolution 58/13 by the Human Rights Council, which aims to develop a new, binding mechanism for the legal protection of the rights of older persons.

In terms of the protection of the rights of older persons, the activities of private institutions for older persons and the increase in their number have become a particularly relevant issue in Georgia, given the fact that there is still no state monitoring mechanism. In such conditions, the Public Defender’s supervision of the protection of the rights of older persons in institutions becomes particularly important.

In June 2025, the Office examined eight long-term care institutions for older persons. The monitoring revealed shortcomings that directly affect the rights of older persons and their dignified life and, at the same time, are systemic in nature. In particular,

• The unregulated state of private institutions – there is no data on their number, beneficiaries or services;
• Care based solely on a medical model – beneficiaries are treated as patients and not as persons with rights, which increases the risk of isolation;
• Cases of neglect and ill-treatment – ​​especially of bedridden and incapacitated older people;
• Inadequate hygiene of institutions and beneficiaries
• Lack of social activities – the daily life of older persons is often limited only to physical care;
• Lack of feedback mechanisms – beneficiaries do not have a real opportunity to express their opinion or protest the service;
• Serious problems with personnel qualifications – there are frequent cases when caregivers are not professionally trained.

The issues reflected in the monitoring report once again confirm the need for appropriate regulatory norms and effective control mechanisms, therefore, the positive impact of a mandatory international protection mechanism, if adopted, should be emphasized once again.

On the International Day of Older Persons, we must once again remember that older people are an integral part of our history and development, and their voice, dignity, and rights must always be protected.