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WHO Long-Term Care Standards Consultation Open Until 30 October 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) is accepting public comments on the draft Global Standards for Long-Term Care from 18 May to 30 October 2026. WHO describes the document as a proposed framework intended to guide the planning, delivery, monitoring and improvement of long-term care for older people. Feedback received during the consultation will be analysed and used to revise the standards before finalisation and official publication.

For retirees, cross-cultural families and other households planning long-term living in Chiang Mai or Lamphun, the consultation offers a timely source of questions about home-based care, accessibility and the practical setting in which care may be provided. The document is a draft for public consultation. It is not a law, a mandatory building standard, or an endorsement or certification of any home design or service provider.

Eight areas covered by the consultation

WHO’s official call for comments lists eight chapters: definitions and principles; home- and community-based care; facility-based care; support for unpaid carers; workforce; financing; governance; and quality monitoring. WHO is requesting feedback on relevance, comprehensiveness, clarity, feasibility, priorities and the overall structure of the proposed standards.

Input can be provided through an online questionnaire, written submissions to the address published by WHO, and regional or partner-convened consultation events. The full draft is available in English. WHO states that the summary and questionnaire are available in eight consultation languages, while written submissions may be made in any WHO official language.

The consultation remains open until 30 October 2026. WHO says all input will inform revisions before the final document is published, and that a separate summary of consultation findings will follow. As at 15 September 2026, the standards therefore remain a consultation draft.

Why the home and community are part of the discussion

Home- and community-based care is one of the eight areas identified by WHO. The wider United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030, led by WHO, also includes age-friendly environments and long-term care among its four action areas. WHO describes an age-friendly environment as one that enables people, regardless of physical or mental capacity, to continue activities they value and to live with dignity.

These statements do not prescribe a single house type, and they do not replace Thai building law. They do, however, explain why the setting of care can form part of a household’s long-term planning. Questions may include how daily routines work, which spaces must remain accessible, where assistance could be provided, and how privacy can be maintained for residents and carers.

What WHO’s published housing guidance covers

The WHO Housing and Health Guidelines, published on 23 November 2018, are separate from the 2026 long-term care consultation. The published housing guidelines provide recommendations relating to insufficient living space, indoor temperatures, injury hazards and the accessibility of housing for people with functional impairments. They also summarise existing WHO recommendations on water quality, air quality, neighbourhood noise, asbestos, lead, tobacco smoke and radon.

WHO states that the housing guidelines are intended to inform policy and regulation at national, regional and local levels. They are also relevant to people involved in construction, maintenance and demolition where those activities affect health and safety. WHO notes that implementation is adapted to the context and priorities of each country.

A Thai government plan-library example

Thailand’s Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) lists a “medium-sized home for older people” in its online plan library. The official page states that anyone using the plan must apply for local construction permission and comply with the Building Control Act, planning requirements, local ordinances and other applicable laws. A site plan must be prepared, and the foundation type must suit the actual site conditions.

This is an important limitation. A reference plan is not automatically ready for every plot. A proposed home in Chiang Mai or Lamphun still requires project-specific review of the land, levels, drainage, local requirements and professional design responsibilities.

Questions to prepare before planning a long-term home

These points are presented only as planning considerations. Any actual design must be adapted to the occupants, site, budget and applicable local regulations. Before meeting an architect or engineer, a family can document the following:

1. Who will live in the home, and what does each person’s daily routine involve?
2. Which spaces should remain easy to reach if mobility changes?
3. If care is needed, how would work areas, rest areas and privacy be arranged?
4. How do the entrance, bathroom, bedroom and shared living spaces connect?
5. Does the land have slopes, level changes, drainage issues or regulatory constraints?
6. Does the working budget include external works, building systems and site preparation as well as the house itself?

This is not a medical or legal certification checklist. It is a practical way to organise household needs before a project-specific design is developed.

Frequently asked questions

Are WHO’s draft long-term care standards already in force?

No. WHO states that the document is open for consultation until 30 October 2026 and will be revised before finalisation and official publication.

Is the draft a home-design or building certification standard?

No. It addresses long-term care systems. It is not a Thai building law, a mandatory home-design standard or a certification of a builder, architect or project.

Can people in Thailand submit comments?

WHO invites Member States, care providers, professional associations, organisations of older people and unpaid carers, civil society, academic and research institutions, and other interested stakeholders to respond using the channels on its official consultation page.

Can a DPT reference plan be built on any plot without changes?

No. The DPT page says local permission is required and the plan must comply with applicable laws and local ordinances. The site plan and foundation must also be suited to actual site conditions.

What can Greenery discuss with a household?

The team can help document household needs, review initial site context and outline spaces for a custom-home project in Chiang Mai or Lamphun. Visit the Home page, House designs, Portfolio, About us and Contact page.

Book a free initial consultation with an architect. The initial consultation does not include free architectural drawings or free home design, and it is not medical, legal or WHO standards certification.

Sources

1. World Health Organization, “Call for public consultation on Global Standards for Long-Term Care,” 18 May 2026, official consultation page (accessed 15 September 2026).
2. World Health Organization, “WHO’s work on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030),” official initiative page (accessed 15 September 2026).
3. World Health Organization, “WHO Housing and health guidelines,” 23 November 2018, official publication page (accessed 15 September 2026).
4. Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, “Medium-sized home for older people,” official plan-library page (accessed 15 September 2026).