Reimagining Elder Care in India | Dr Charu Dutt Arora | TEDxGreenfield

Elder Care Challenges in India - The current healthcare system in India treats older patients like cases, with families often overwhelmed and underinformed [4] - Death is a taboo subject, hindering necessary discussions and leading to fear-based decisions instead of love-based ones [4] - India faces a rapidly aging population, projected to have over 300 million people above 60 years old by 2050, raising concerns about preparedness [5] - Aging is often viewed as a crisis rather than a phase of life requiring coordinated planning and support [6] Vision for Elder Care - The vision is to provide elder care at home through a well-structured ecosystem that is scientifically backed, evidence-based, and filled with compassion and empathy [7] - A home healthcare model should prioritize both medical and emotional well-being, involving families in decision-making [8] - The goal is to transform the perception of aging from a crisis to a phase of life, replacing panic with planning and fear with familiarity [6][7] - Home healthcare should restore trust, ensuring elders are well-cared for, supported, and medically informed, allowing them to age with dignity and grace [13] Call to Action - Individuals should engage in difficult but necessary conversations with their parents about aging and end-of-life wishes [14] - Healthcare workers should approach elder care as a devotion, not just a duty [15] - Innovators should develop tools, platforms, and AI solutions for scientific and comfortable home care models [16] - Policymakers should ensure elder care at home is a right, not a privilege [16]