Rent-a-grandchild: Businesses offering companions to elderly grow in India
Summary
Companies in several Indian cities are offering paid companions to older adults for errands, medical visits and social activities. The services target a small, relatively wealthy group, as India’s older population is projected to grow sharply in coming decades.Key Facts
- People over 60 made up 10.5 percent of India’s population in 2022, according to a report by UNFPA and the International Institute for Population Sciences.
- The report projects that people over 60 will make up 21 percent of India’s population by 2050, or about 347 million people.
- India’s government estimates the senior care industry at about $7 billion.
- One Gurugram company charges 450 rupees an hour for 10 service hours per month, or 400 rupees an hour for 25 hours.
- The company’s companion Roney Raju has supported an older client during surgery and helped track his doctors and medicines.
- Companions commonly undergo police checks and shadow experienced staff before working on their own.
- A 2017 report identified at least five startups offering young companions to older adults in India.
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