“Elder care firms offer vital support for ageing parents of distant children. These companies provide healthcare, companionship, and daily assistance to seniors. Many non-resident Indians and those living far away utilize these services. India’s senior population is growing, increasing the demand for elder care. Companies ensure safety and peace of mind for families with their services.
When Arpita Bhayani’s mother was diagnosed with dementia in September 2024, the initial shock gave way to spiralling concern. Not just because Bhayani and her brother stay abroad and their parents live independently in Gurugram, but also because of their fragile ages—while mother Archana Chakravarti is 84, father Pranab Kumar is 90. Since Bhayani was determined to find a solution that would ensure their parents’ safety and her own peace of mind, in October she contacted Samarth Eldercare, the Gurugram-based company she had heard of through a friend.
“We didn’t just want carers, but a trusted ecosystem that would provide healthcare, communicate with the family overseas, and give us the confidence that someone was looking after them,” says Bhayani, who has been away from India for nearly 35 years, first in the United States (US) and currently in the United Kingdom (UK). “There are three carers who contact my parents every week, including a care manager and a specialist for dementia care,” she adds.
There are many non-resident Indians and those living in distant cities within India who feel cornered by the same concern, guilt and helplessness for their ageing parents, because as Bhayani says, “Distance doesn’t mean we stop caring for them.
India’s senior population (60 years and above), which was around 142 million (10% of the total population) in 2021, is expected to grow to 231 million by 2036 (15% of the population), and to nearly 340-350 million (21% of the population) by 2051, according to a CARE Ratings report. A large percentage of this population lives independently, and increasing longevity means many are left fending for themselves in old age through various medical conditions. “They are the most vulnerable segment because they carry the disease burden, don’t have caretakers, and more importantly, are in a state of denial,” says Dr Aman Khera, CEO & Founder of Delhi-based Aegiscare, which has 65% NRI clients, mostly from the US.

While children have traditionally remained the main support system for senior citizens, providing physical, emotional, and often financial assistance to them, this has started to crumble due to the large number of nuclear families and children’s migration to other cities or countries for work. Realising the need for support to this segment, a large number of elder care companies have mushroomed in the past few years with a few hundred in operation today.”