New Delhi [India], October 13: Ageing is a natural part of life, but the support older adults need as they age is changing. Longer life expectancy, evolving family structures, chronic health conditions and the growing prevalence of cognitive difficulties are creating an urgent need for organised, compassionate and specialised senior-care services in India.
At the heart of this changing landscape is an important question: how can older adults continue to live with dignity, remain meaningfully engaged and receive the care they need as their circumstances change?
Founded by senior physician and healthcare visionary Dr Ramesh Goyal, VataVriksh Parent Care in Gurugram, Haryana, seeks to address this question through an integrated approach to senior living.
Do you want to receive news updates on WhatsApp?
Get the latest and most reliable news updates instantly on WhatsApp. Join now and be the first to read every story.
The philosophy goes beyond accommodation and routine assistance. It emphasises personalised care, physical activity, nutrition, medical continuity, cognitive and emotional stimulation, and meaningful social interaction – recognising that ageing should be accompanied by respect, dignity and purpose.
India’s Ageing Population: A Growing Need for Better Care
India is undergoing a significant demographic transition. According to Government of India population projections, the number of people aged 60 and above is expected to increase from approximately 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036.
The India Ageing Report 2023, published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Institute for Population Sciences, further projects that people aged 60 and above could account for more than one-fifth of India’s population by 2050.
These figures highlight the importance of preparing for the changing needs of older adults. While many remain independent and active, others may require assistance with daily activities, mobility, medication management, recovery following illness or support for cognitive decline.
Families often try to manage these responsibilities at home. However, when care requirements become more complex, professional support can help provide structure, supervision and appropriate assistance while easing some of the practical demands on family caregivers.
The need, therefore, is not simply for more places where older adults can live. It is for care environments that understand their physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs.
Dementia: The Growing Challenge Behind the Numbers
One of the most significant challenges associated with ageing is dementia, a condition that can affect memory, thinking, communication, judgement and the ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
A nationally representative study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia in 2023 estimated that approximately 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above were living with dementia, corresponding to an estimated prevalence of 7.4% in this age group.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimated that 57 million people were living with dementia in 2021, with nearly 10 million new cases occurring annually.
Behind these statistics are individuals and families navigating changes in memory, behaviour, communication and independence. Caregiving can become particularly demanding when an older adult needs regular supervision or assistance with familiar routines.
Dementia is not an inevitable part of normal ageing. Persistent changes in memory, thinking or everyday functioning warrant appropriate medical assessment. Early recognition of concerns can help families explore further evaluation, understand support needs and plan for the future.
This is where specialised memory care, cognitive assessment and individualised engagement can contribute to a more informed approach to senior care.
Dr Ramesh Goyal: A Medical Career Driven by Compassion and Purpose
Dr Ramesh Goyal is a senior physician, healthcare visionary and advocate of structured, compassionate senior care. With more than 35 years of medical and leadership experience, he is the Founder and Chief Architect of VataVriksh Parent Care, Gurugram, an initiative developed to address the evolving needs of elderly parents and promote dignified ageing.
Dr Goyal’s vision for VataVriksh Parent Care is rooted in the belief that older adults deserve more than basic care and supervision. They deserve opportunities to remain active, socially connected and meaningfully involved in life, with support adapted to their changing needs.
Through VataVriksh Parent Care, Dr Goyal seeks to bridge the gap between traditional family caregiving and the increasingly complex requirements of ageing. The vision is to help older adults not merely live longer, but experience fuller, more dignified and more meaningful lives.
Cognitive Assessment by Dr Subodh Kumar: Understanding Individual Needs
Complementing its wider senior-care services, VataVriksh Parent Care offers cognitive assessment byDr Subodh Kumar (PhD in Psychology from Banaras Hindu University) to help evaluate cognitive functioning and inform individualised care recommendations.
Cognitive difficulties can affect different aspects of everyday life. An older adult may experience changes in memory, attention, language, orientation, problem-solving or the ability to manage familiar tasks. Understanding the areas affected can help families and caregivers make more informed decisions about further evaluation and appropriate support.
By incorporating cognitive assessment into its broader senior-care approach, VataVriksh Parent Care seeks to connect an understanding of an individual’s abilities with practical care planning. This helps move the conversation beyond a general label or diagnosis towards the person’s actual needs, preferences and day-to-day functioning.
VataVriksh Parent Care: Comprehensive Senior Care forfor India’s Changing Families
Guided by Dr Ramesh Goyal’s vision of dignified ageing, VataVriksh Parent Care in Gurugram offers integrated residential and non-residential services tailored to older adults’ changing needs. These include assisted living, dementia and memory care, senior day care, respite care, palliative care, rehabilitation and post-operative support.
Residential services include senior-friendly accommodation, nutritious meals, housekeeping, routine health monitoring, yoga, meditation and daily recreational activities. Memory care combines structured routines, supervised engagement and activities adapted to individual abilities, while day care provides daytime supervision, social interaction and caregiver support for seniors continuing to live at home. Rehabilitation and post-operative care support recovery, mobility and daily functioning according to individual needs.
As India’s population ages, these services offer families flexible care options based on their loved ones’ health, independence and support requirements. Professional care can complement family involvement while helping older adults maintain dignity, social connection and meaningful engagement. Through this integrated approach, VataVriksh Parent Care aims to help seniors not merely live longer, but live with greater comfort, purpose and quality of life.
Enquiries: Families can contact VataVriksh Parent Care to discuss its services and explore a care arrangement suited to their elderly family member’s needs.
If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.
