How many people reside in nursing homes in Kazakhstan? Why do some families decide to move their loved ones into such facilities? These questions were explored by a Tengri Life correspondent who spoke with readers who have experienced the situation from various perspectives.
"This topic is very sensitive," noted a resident of Almaty. Each family makes their choice independently, she added.
"My 86-year-old grandmother suffered from dementia. But we realized it too late. She started having memory issues, often confusing names and events, forgetting important things. Gradually, it became difficult for her to speak. She needed extra care. She lived with her younger son for a while, and then my father, her elder son, and my mother took her in. We cared for her here. It was very painful to watch her gradually forget how to walk and talk. Of course, she was under medical supervision. Some acquaintances suggested placing her in a nursing home, claiming she would receive better care there. But we certainly did not want to and would never have dared," she remarked.
The young woman notes that caring for her grandmother was not easy.
"I tried to spend as much time as possible with her. Gradually, she stopped recognizing even her relatives. I can't imagine how she would have lived in a nursing home, completely helpless. We made our choice right away that, despite all the difficulties, we would stay with her until the end," the Almaty resident shared.
A pensioner in her 80s, living independently, mentioned in a conversation that she would not want to end up in a nursing home.
"I manage on my own for now. Yes, I am over 80, and sometimes it is difficult, but my relatives visit me, close friends call, and I am always in touch with them. I would not like to end up in a nursing home. I have a friend who currently lives in one of those facilities. On weekends, her children often take her home. She likes it there. But I couldn't do it," she anonymously shared.
Kazakhstani Madina told us that her family decided to place her uncle in a nursing home due to personal circumstances.
"My uncle lived in a village and drank a lot. One day, he froze both of his hands, which prevented him from working. His children abandoned him, and his sisters took care of him: they moved him to the city, rented an apartment, and supported him. Over time, he began to forget his relatives and started having hallucinations. Fearing for his condition, they decided to place him in a nursing home, where he was cared for. He lived there for three years and passed away," Madina recounted.
She noted that her uncle's pension was used to pay for his care in the nursing home.
Occasionally, on the increasingly popular social media platform Threads, threads discussing or reflecting on the topic: "Should you send a loved one to a nursing home or not?" appear, with requests for "good recommendations." Discussions are often heated, with people sharing their stories and observations.
Screenshot: Threads
Most people often note that a nursing home is a last resort, as loved ones should be surrounded by care at home, despite the challenges. However, some believe that professional care and safety are ensured in such facilities, which families may not always be able to provide.
How many Kazakhs live in nursing homes
Nursing homes (or institutions providing specialized social services in a stationary setting) in Kazakhstan can be state-run or private.
Accordingly, private facilities operate on a commercial basis, with living expenses covered by the pensioners themselves or their relatives. This material discusses only state-funded facilities.
To answer the question: "How many Kazakhs live in nursing homes?" we sent an official request to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. We received a response from the department of special social services of the agency.
It was clarified that in the field of social protection of the population, "to create conditions for overcoming the reasons that objectively disrupt a person's vital activity and to ensure equal opportunities for participation in social life, special social services are provided". These services are offered in stationary facilities, semi-stationary settings, at home, and during temporary stays.
"According to the information from the akimats, as of January 1, 2025 (for the year 2024), 7,230 people received special social services in stationary conditions, including 4,842 elderly citizens," the agency reported.
According to the department, the average age of residents is 68 years.
It was also reported that in 2023, 7,317 individuals received services in centers providing special social services, including 4,882 elderly citizens.
"The decrease in the number of service recipients is related to age factors and the natural level of mortality," the department reported.
Main reasons
What are the main reasons that lead elderly people to nursing homes?
The department responded that, according to the regulations governing these organizations, services are provided to elderly individuals who:
- have reached the retirement age established by the Social Code and cannot care for themselves independently. They also require special social services in a stationary setting due to health reasons;
- do not have able-bodied adult children or a spouse who are obligated to support their incapacitated parents/spouse and care for them according to the code.
Services are also provided to elderly individuals who have able-bodied adult children or a spouse, who, for objective reasons, cannot provide constant assistance and care. For example, if they:
- have a disability of group I or II;
- suffer from oncological or mental illnesses;
- are incarcerated;
- are registered at a mental health center;
- permanently reside abroad;
- (for a spouse) – are themselves of advanced age.
The department also emphasized that the funding for providing special social services is carried out from local budget funds.
As the acting director of the department of special social services, Kalmakova, informed us in response to our inquiry, in 2025 the ministry "began the transformation of the social services system to improve their quality." According to them:
- all centers providing special social services (COSSU), including those working with elderly citizens, must obtain a license;
- the financing format will change, and a unified methodology for calculating tariffs will be introduced across the country.
Thus, the department promises improvements in this area. However, there are still many issues. Periodically, stories emerge about how helpless elderly individuals are treated in some institutions. For example, in January 2025, details about the living conditions of seniors in a scandalous nursing home in Pavlodar came to light. The nursing home was set up in a two-story cottage rented in one of the city's neighborhoods. It operated in this building for almost three months. Services cost the relatives of elderly individuals 160,000 tenge, excluding food, which included sanitary and hygiene services, such as haircuts and shaving. You can learn more about this story through the link.
