Care Work in India
Caring for Older Indians
How India's ageing population is changing eldercare as joint families shrink, the rise of old-age homes and home care, and laws on maintaining parents.
India is ageing.
Numbers
- People aged 60 and above were over 10 percent of the population in the 2020s and are projected to rise to around 20 percent by 2050, according to the UNFPA India Ageing Report 2023.
Changing families
- Joint families are shrinking.
- Migration of children to cities and abroad leaves parents alone.
- Women’s employment reduces time for unpaid care.
Care options
- Family care, still dominant.
- Home care services with nurses and attendants.
- Old-age homes and senior living communities, growing in cities.
- Day care centres for seniors.
Laws
- The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 requires children to maintain parents and allows tribunals to order support.
Costs
- Professional eldercare can be expensive.
- Most older Indians lack pensions, depending on family.
Business opportunity
The silver economy, including eldercare services, is a growing market.
The NRI parent
An elderly couple in Kochi whose children live abroad hire a home care agency to provide an attendant and arrange medical visits.
Thinking families will always care for elders as before
Shrinking families and migration are changing eldercare.
Key takeaways
- People over 60 may be about 20 percent of India by 2050.
- Joint families and migration reduce family care.
- Home care, senior living and day care are growing.
- The 2007 Act requires children to maintain parents.
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