April 2026

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 28 apr 2026

Ageing population requires well thought out planning and careful execution of strategies for health provision and delivery. It shifts the role of families and care givers. India's demography will soon enter into this critical phase and getting prepared to handle it effectively is a necessity. Data points to the rise of chronic conditions and the need to focus on long-term care - India has 160 million people that are aged 60 and above; By 2050 this number will double to 346 million; 2024 Niti Aayog data shows 40% seniors live with some form of disability, 75% have one or more chronic conditions, 70% seniors remain financially dependent, and 78% lack pension cover. Ishaan Khanna, CEO of Antara Assisted Care Services, provides ways to manage this challenge and overcome the rising demand for senior health and care. He says, 'India's healthcare system has made significant progress, in addressing acute conditions and improving life expectancy. This approach was well-suited to an earlier era when infectious diseases were the primary drivers of mortality. Today, the burden has shifted towards non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, and cognitive decline, conditions that require continuous management rather than one-time intervention...care for the elderly often begins at the point of escalation - a hospital admission, a fall, or a complication. While acute care systems are critical, the larger opportunity lies in strengthening what happens before that point...Preventive and continuous care can play a critical role in helping Indians age better by identifying risks early, managing conditions proactively, and enabling seniors to maintain functional independence for longer through informed caregiving choices. This becomes even more important as changing socioeconomic structures reshape traditional caregiving systems.' Evidence from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries shows that preventive home-based interventions have reduced hospital admissions by nearly 7% and hospital stays by over 10%, while lowering mortality among seniors. Moreover, even a 10% increase in prevention-focused spending can reduce overall healthcare costs over time, while improving healthy life expectancy. He suggests - Prevention must take a centre stage in healthcare ecosystem; Technology can play an important role in scaling this approach through remote monitoring tools, teleconsultations, AI-enabled risk assessment, digital health records etc; Embed preventive care into primary and community healthcare systems to improve access, enable early intervention, and reduce pressure on hospitals. Read on...

BW Healthcare World: Rethinking Health And Care For Seniors In India
Author: Ishaan Khanna

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