India's Elderly Are Renting Grandkids For Company

[Riddick]

In a country where family is society's strongest cultural pillar, the thought of the elderly living alone has long been anathema, but many old people today are embracing the notion.

Over the past five years, startups supplying young people to run errands and provide companionship have mushroomed across India.

What was the once the responsibility of sons and daughters is now passing to paid companions, who help with everything from daily chores, like buying groceries, and visiting the doctor, to mundane things, such as reading the newspaper or having a conversation.

Beyond providing company and medical support, some startups such as Samvedna Senior Care in Delhi are even teaching the elderly how to adapt to the tech-savvy modern world. For instance, professionals at Samvedna provide lessons on how to use the internet and smartphone apps, including WhatsApp.

There are 103 million Indians aged over 60 in India, according to the 2011 Census, and this figure is expected to hit 143 million by 2021. Already the elderly account for 8.6% of India’s population, the highest proportion ever.

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