India’s ageing population: Why the country needs urgent policy frameworks for senior care

In June 2026, the Kerala state government made history by establishing the first dedicated department for senior citizens' welfare by any state government. This is a landmark move for the country because it is perhaps the first time a government has moved senior welfare out of the broader Department of Social Justice and Welfare, thereby emphasising the unique needs of older adults that extend beyond the traditional scope of social justice.

While Kerala has taken a significant stride towards prioritising senior welfare, is the rest of India preparing for this demographic shift? And if so, who is leading that preparation?

For decades, India has been known as a young country, with its economic growth closely linked to its large working-age population. While this demographic advantage is expected to continue for another couple of decades, India's ageing population is also increasing, with nearly 20% of the population expected to be above the age of 60 by 2050. This is roughly where Singapore, South Korea and many European countries stand today.

The more critical point, however, is the disparity in ageing across Indian states. At the state level, Kerala is already comparable to several European countries and is likely to reach the 20% mark very soon. The other southern states, along with Maharashtra, are not far behind. This means that if we exclude a few states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, with their relatively younger populations, much of India is already becoming an ageing society.

This makes it the ideal time for India to begin framing comprehensive policies for older adults. At the national level, India still does not have a standalone department for ageing or a dedicated budget to address the needs of its elderly population. Given the demographic differences across states, some regions require far more proactive ageing policies than others.

However, before allocating budgets and creating dedicated departments, governments must first understand what older adults need and how those needs can be addressed. Most states, while framing their policies on elderly care, draw inspiration from the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (MWPSC Act).

The challenge, however, is that the Act largely focuses on maintenance and legal remedies while assuming that the family will remain the primary source of support for older adults.

In a country like India, where a large section of the younger population migrates to cities or overseas for education and employment, many elderly parents are left behind without that primary support system. This is also one of the key reasons why South India has witnessed the rapid growth of private retirement communities.

India's policies must evolve from a family-only support model to a family-community support model, where public and private stakeholders work together to make support services more accessible for older adults.

Today, services such as assisted living are often perceived as a luxury. For families caring for an elderly member with conditions such as dementia, however, these services are an absolute necessity. In the absence of affordable assisted living facilities, family members are often compelled to become full-time caregivers.

The major gap in caregiving

The issue of caregiving itself highlights another major gap. India produces one of the largest numbers of nursing graduates every year, many of whom migrate overseas. Yet, home nursing and caregiving services continue to face immense challenges, particularly in terms of availability, quality and affordability.

Many private players have entered this space by offering elderly home-care and assisted living services ranging from basic to premium. However, these services often require older adults to relocate from their homes and remain financially out of reach for many families.

Operating a quality assisted living facility with trained caregivers, medical support, food and basic amenities can cost anywhere between ₹20,000 and ₹35,000 per person each month. Once real estate costs are added, the monthly expense for an elderly couple can easily range between ₹40,000 and ₹50,000. Most Indian families simply cannot afford this.

Even home-based care often carries significant hidden financial and emotional costs for family caregivers. While charitable institutions and old-age homes provide free or low-cost services, they primarily cater to destitute senior citizens and not to the much larger segment seeking dignity, specialised care and a better quality of life.

Many ageing countries provide financial assistance through insurance, government aid or subsidies to help families access institutional as well as home-based care. India must seriously consider adopting similar support mechanisms so that older adults can live with dignity rather than merely survive.

Another important pillar of a family-community support model is enabling seniors to continue living independently within their own neighbourhoods. For many older adults, the greatest fear is not financial insecurity but becoming physically and emotionally dependent on others.

Unfortunately, most Indian cities have not been designed with older adults in mind. Urban planning should ensure that every ward has a community centre, every district has access to dementia care, every city or town has dedicated geriatric healthcare services—especially when fewer than half of government hospitals currently have dedicated geriatric wings—and that all public spaces provide clean, accessible washrooms and wheelchair-friendly infrastructure.

Cities could also introduce dedicated public transport services for senior citizens, similar to women-only buses in some states. Such measures would reduce the growing dependence on ride-hailing services for routine travel and improve mobility for older adults.

Equally important is addressing the emotional vulnerability of ageing. Community-based interventions and greater public awareness can help identify and reduce loneliness, social isolation and depression among senior citizens.

A community-led model for ageing also creates enormous opportunities for the private sector. As the silver economy gains momentum, private participation is expanding across assisted living, home-care services, senior engagement platforms, senior tourism, fall-detection technologies and many other segments. However, most solutions continue to address only one aspect of ageing and often function in isolation. As innovative solutions emerge, companies must closely study the changing needs of India's ageing population and provide more integrated, holistic models of care.

This industry also requires stronger financial backing. As one of India's most promising sectors in terms of long-term growth, senior care requires far greater participation from capital markets than it currently receives. With adequate investment, the sector has the potential to fundamentally transform the way India cares for its ageing population.

Ultimately, anyone drafting policies for older adults or building solutions for senior care must ask a simple question: Would this help me live independently and with dignity in my own old age? Older adults do not need a one-size-fits-all approach. They need a support ecosystem that recognises the different stages of ageing and provides reliable, personalised care throughout later life.

Ageing does not begin only when people become old or experience a health crisis—it begins much earlier. Therefore, policies on ageing should not focus solely on today's elderly but also prepare younger generations to remain active, independent and healthy as they grow older. India is ageing. How gracefully that transition unfolds depends entirely on the choices we make today.

The author is director of Vedaanta Senior Living, which offers retirement living and senior care services across many Indian cities.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK or its publisher.