Gender Minister Shidhatha Shareef has stated that work is being done to establish an elderly home.

She said this on RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee programme on Sunday night, where she stressed that it is a key priority of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration.

As such, the minister said that elderly homes will be opened in two areas “within the coming two years.” One is to be established in capital Malé City, while the location of the second home “is yet to be confirmed.”

Noting that there are people that think that elderly homes run the same as the Guraidhoo Center, Shidhatha stressed that both “are vastly different.”

While the center in Guraidhoo island is mainly for people with special needs, the minister added that work is being to upgrade the place and improve the services there as well.

Furthermore, she said that the elderly homes will be established in the most suitable environment and that elderly citizens can reside there for 24 hours. She added that the homes will also provide day care services.

President Solih had, during his address at the year's inaugural parliament sitting, announced plans to establish the country’s first ever housing programme; targeting elders left without care.