October 1 – International Day of Older Persons

October 1 is observed worldwide as the International Day of Older Persons every year, in accordance with the Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992.

According to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Social Services,” persons aged 70 and above are considered older persons in Azerbaijan. Ensuring the inclusion of older persons in the social protection system and their well-being has an important place in the social development strategy authored by National Leader Heydar Aliyev. This policy is being successfully continued by President Mr. Ilham Aliyev. The special attention and care of the head of state to the social sphere have enabled important steps to be taken to strengthen the social protection of the population, including older citizens.

The pension system, which plays an important role in the well-being of older persons, is continuously strengthened. Within the framework of five social reform packages implemented since 2018, significant increases have been achieved in social payments, including increases of up to threefold in the minimum and average monthly pensions. Pension indexation and increases are also ensured at the beginning of each year.

In recent years, on the initiative of First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, a project titled “Building a Society for All Ages: Promoting the Well-Being of Older People in Azerbaijan through Active Ageing” has also been implemented. As part of the project, various activities aimed at enabling older persons to lead active and healthy lifestyles have been carried out.

At the same time, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation organises noble humanitarian initiatives for older persons residing at the social service institution for older persons under the Social Services Agency of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population. Currently, 210 older persons reside at the institution under permanent state care. As in other social service institutions, modern conditions have been created at the social service institution for older persons in line with current requirements.

The Social Services Agency and the DOST Agency provide social services at home to older persons living alone, and nearly 3,600 such older persons are currently covered by these services. Meanwhile, 200 older persons receive social and household, social and psychological, social and legal, and social and cultural services at day care centers operating in Baku, Ganja and Sumgayit cities, as well as in Lankaran, Gazakh and Tovuz districts under the Agency’s social orders.

Work to expand the coverage of social services provided to older persons and improve the quality of these services is continuously carried out.