The adoption of a HRBA within long-term care settings requires a supportive institutional and policy framework. This support is required for the three stages of service provision: policies and service planning; support structures for service provision itself; and on-going monitoring and evaluation.

Iniquum est conlapsis manum non porrigere; commune hoc ius generis humani est. – It is wrong not to give a hand to the fallen; this law is universal to the whole human race.

Seneca the Elder, Orator/Philosopher

Policies supporting a human-rights based-approach to long-term care should reflect states’ human rights obligations in relation to health and social care:

• Policy reform should ensure the participation of older persons, their families, care providers and staff as well as organisations providing training for care staff.
• A co-ordinated human rights-based approach to long-term care should focus on education and awareness-raising of all stakeholders within the sector, clear, practical guidelines for service providers and the empowerment of and support for service-users.
• Monitoring compliance of service provision against relevant human rights indicators and put in place an independent regulatory system to ensure human rights are upheld.