Ageing with Dignity: How Technology is Changing Elderly Care in India
Geriatric Well-being
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Healthcare leaders and policy experts came together to explore how tech can support elderly Indians in living healthier, more connected lives.
Captain Neelam Deshwal, Chief Nursing Officer at Fortis Healthcare, shared how mobile apps are becoming lifelines for seniors.'Many apps now come with features like large fonts, voice assistants, medication reminders, and emergency alerts. Some even help older people stay socially connected,' she said.
These tools don't just support health—they fight loneliness. 'Now, many seniors video call their families or join virtual groups from home. It helps them stay engaged and feel less isolated,' she added.
Still, she acknowledged the challenges: 'Complicated language, annoying pop-ups, and lack of support in regional languages often make these apps hard to use. Privacy concerns are also a big issue.'
Colonel Binu Sharma, Senior Director of Nursing at Max Healthcare, highlighted the inequality between urban and rural healthcare access.'In cities, we have teleconsultations, remote monitoring, and digital health dashboards. But rural India is still far behind,' she said.
'Eighty percent of our elderly live outside the metros. They need more than just access to tech—they need it to be truly usable and helpful," Sharma added.
Dr. Prasun Chatterjee, Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Artemis Hospital, emphasized the mental health side of ageing.
'Geriatric mental health is often overlooked. Early signs of cognitive decline are frequently missed—even by doctors,' he noted.
He shared how AIIMS, in partnership with DST, developed tools that assess mental well-being through voice and emotion analysis. 'We can now use telemedicine to diagnose, counsel, and offer therapy remotely,' he said.
Empowering Caregivers with Digital Skills
Captain Deshwal pointed out that elder care in India is still mostly family-driven. 'Caregivers need to be trained on how to use health apps and medical devices. If they don't understand the tools, the technology is useless,' she said.
She suggested more hands-on training, easy demo videos, and guides tailored for caregivers.
Col. Sharma added, 'Elderly care should be as simple as booking a cab—affordable, low-effort, and intuitive. We need to stop expecting bedridden seniors to travel across cities. Instead, tech should help healthcare reach them at home.'
Making Elderly Tech Affordable
While technology is advancing, affordability remains a big concern. 'Most health insurance policies stop covering people after age 75. Without financial support, the best tech solutions are out of reach for many,' Sharma warned. She called for more public-private partnerships to build cost-effective elder care systems.
Dr. Chatterjee highlighted how predictive tech could reduce emergency visits. 'Imagine if a system could alert families when a senior needs care—before things get serious. It saves money, reduces stress, and avoids last-minute panic,' he said.
All the experts agreed: India needs a public health roadmap for geriatric care. As the country ages, it's not just about living longer—it's about living better. The future of elder care lies not in hospital beds, but in homes filled with empathy, innovation, and accessible technology.
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