In accordance with the Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1992, October 1st is celebrated annually as the International Day of Older Persons worldwide, including in Azerbaijan.
According to information from the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, individuals who have reached the age of 70 are considered older persons, based on the Law "On Social Services."
Under the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, special care was always shown to elderly people and older persons, ensuring the implementation of targeted measures in the field of their social security. The principle of ensuring citizen welfare, which is at the core of President Ilham Aliyev's successful policy, has enabled significant steps to be taken in strengthening the social protection of the population, including older citizens.
Today, every older person in our country is covered by the social security system. They are provided with monthly pensions or benefits. Based on the instructions of the Head of State, 5 major social reform packages were implemented in 2018-2025, leading to a significant increase in social payments, including an almost 3-fold increase in the minimum pension, a 2.6-fold increase in the average monthly pension, and a 5-fold increase in the volume of benefit and scholarship payments.
In recent years, various measures aimed at promoting an active and healthy lifestyle for elderly and older persons have been implemented based on a joint project initiated by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population and the UN Population Fund, titled "Building a Society for All Ages: Promoting the Welfare of Older Persons in Azerbaijan through Active Aging."
Currently, nearly 4,000 older persons are provided with social services by the Social Services Agency and DOST Agency, which are subordinate to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. Of these, 230 individuals live under permanent state care in a social service institution for older persons, while 3,750 older persons receive social and household services in their homes.
Modern conditions have been created in all social service institutions, including the social service institution for older persons, in accordance with contemporary requirements. Various activities are organized in these institutions for the effective organization of residents' leisure time, including excursions to cultural centers, various recreation centers, walks, and so on.