Roundtable Consultation on ‘Emerging Elderly Care Models – Opportunities for Improving Women’s Engagement in Caregiving’
The roundtable consultation on ‘Emerging Elderly Care Models – Opportunities for Improving Women’s Engagement in Caregiving’ was held on November, 12, 2024 at the Ambassador Hotel, New Delhi. Moderated by Dr. Sona Mitra, Director of Research and Policy at IWWAGE, and co-hosted by IWWAGE and The Quantum Hub as part of the Future of Work series, the event aimed to explore the complexities of elderly care and the challenges of integrating women into the formal caregiving workforce.
The event featured an esteemed panel of experts from academia, industry, and policy. Discussions sought to unpack the opportunities and challenges within the elder care sector, highlighting its crucial role in empowering women economically.
Radha Chellappa, Executive Director, IWWAGE, began the session by emphasising IWWAGE’s strategic focus on the care economy. She noted, “The lack of elder care support significantly reduces women’s participation in the workforce. Geriatric care must adopt a multidimensional approach, extending beyond physical needs to holistic well-being.”
Sonakshi Chaudhry, Manager, Strategic Partnerships & Communications, The Quantum Hub, provided a demographic analysis, drawing attention to India’s ageing population and the feminisation of ageing, which sees elderly women facing heightened vulnerabilities due to limited financial independence. She stated, “The elder care market holds immense potential. A 2% investment of GDP could create 11 million jobs, addressing gendered occupational segregation and boosting women’s employment through technology-driven health services.”
Participants examined innovative models, including Japan’s community care hubs and Denmark’s universal elder care systems. Indian initiatives, such as Bengaluru’s Nightingale Centres and the Ministry of Social Justice’s Integrated Centres for Senior Citizens, were commended. Kerala’s palliative care policy was highlighted as a replicable example of community-led, nurse-centric care.
The discussions underscored the need for robust policies to address the feminisation of ageing and ensure affordable elder care. Dipa Sinha, Independent Researcher advocated for stronger social security measures, such as pensions for informal workers. Mini Sukumar, Member, Kerala State Planning Board, showcased Kerala’s community-based programs that bridge funding and resource gaps.
Workforce transformation was a key focus, with recommendations for upskilling caregivers, improving job stability through flexible arrangements, and fostering international opportunities. Mitali Nikore, Founder, Nikore Associates, proposed leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to reimagine skill development and create aspirational career pathways in elder care.
Sonal Shah, Founder – The Urban Catalysts emphasised the role of spatial planning in developing elder-inclusive urban environments, such as multigenerational care facilities that promote intergenerational engagement and reduce caregiving burdens. Debasis Barik, Senior Fellow – NCAER stressed the importance of early healthcare interventions for middle-aged individuals to ensure healthier ageing populations and reduce future care needs.
Speakers, including Karina Bhasin, Program Manager, UNDP and Priya Anant, Founder, LifeCircle Home Care, discussed the transformative potential of technology in elder care, such as virtual care ecosystems and monitoring platforms. However, they cautioned that the human touch in caregiving remains irreplaceable, calling for balanced integration of technology.
In her closing remarks, Professor Rama Baru, former Professor at JNU, called for greater state involvement to ensure equitable elder care solutions. She stated, “The government must balance regulation with affordability, leveraging partnerships without abdicating responsibility.”
The roundtable concluded with actionable recommendations, including developing elder-inclusive infrastructure, fostering care entrepreneurship, and creating pathways for intergenerational knowledge transfer.
