The rights of an older person are not different from a person’s basic human rights.

Unfortunately, in some cases, older people are denied some of their basic rights or face discrimination due to their age. To avoid any abuse or disrespect of their rights, it is worth highlighting some important rights which are sometimes sidelined.

Older persons should preserve the following rights:

• The right for equality and non-discrimination based on age
• The right to protection from abuse
• The right to live in dignity and security
• The right for integration in the society
• The right for independence and freedom
• The right to decent living conditions and access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and healthcare
• The right to healthcare (including mental healthcare)
• The right to access their medical file and receive full information about their diagnosis and decide on their treatment plan
• The right to be involved in decision making
• The right to have access to work opportunities
• The right to social security
• The right to education, capacity building and training
• The right to safe environments
• The right to participate in public life and sustainable development activities
• The right to choose their legal representative