We need to build a strong healthcare system for our elders: Rajagopal G, KITES Senior Care

Rajagopal G

In an exclusive chat, Rajagopal G, Founder & CEO at KITES Senior Care, talks about why our healthcare system needs a revamp.

Is India well-equipped to take care of its elderly population?

India is going through a demographic shift - we are seeing a steady increase in our senior population. Surveys and studies indicate that the number of elders will surge to 173 million by 2026, amounting to over 12% of the estimated total population. A report by CII estimates that the number of elders in India will increase to over 300 million by 2050.

The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India states that about 40% of the country's senior population have some form of disability, and as high as 20% are suffering from mental health issues. Also, 27% of this population group has multi-morbidities, which translates to roughly 35 million people. Add to this the impact of COVID19 and the health issue it brings with it - the impact is enormous!

The ongoing pandemic has brought a key issue to light - India's healthcare system needs a complete revamp. Our facilities, specialists, workforce, infrastructure, government focus and support all need to come together to ensure that we are well-prepared to meet the medical needs of our elderly demographic.

What steps should we take to take care of our elderly population?

We must work towards building robust policies &solid infrastructure to ensure a healthy and happy senior population. This needs a holistic view and approach to cover healthcare as well as aspects like insurance, taxation, public infrastructure, government focus on community care etc.

The ongoing pandemic situation showed us that it is critical to plan for preventive and ongoing healthcare for seniors, as they are a vulnerable segment of the country. Even stepping out for groceries or vaccinations is cumbersome. We have miles to go to ensure that we have the right systems and infrastructure in place to take good care of our elders.

In mature markets like Europe and the Americas, the government has laid out a robust care plan that addresses the financial aspect, insurance, facilities, and the different stages of care (preventive, home care and transitional care). It is critical to bring eldercare to the forefront in Indian healthcare!

How do you see the geriatric care space evolving in the next five years?

Geriatric care is in its nascent stages in India. We see the government getting more involved in the policy framework for this group. Out of hospital care models will evolve to ensure the care continuum of the elderly & simultaneously ease the burden on the hospital sector. Home care, which has shown tremendous traction in the past decade, will mature to address the specific needs of the elderly. Technology will play a crucial role which will encompass telemedicine, remote monitoring etc. Group housing will play an important role and get a boost especially after what we have experienced in the recent pandemic. We will see the emergence of tailored insurance products to support these new-age initiatives. Most importantly, there will be PPP models that will emerge to serve the underprivileged which is a large group to be attended to of the elderly.

Tell us about the journey of KITES Senior Care. What are your growth and expansion plans?

We set up KITES Senior Care in 2016 as a geriatric care specialist with a vision to provide quality out of hospital geriatric care - be it guidance, medical assistance, hospitalization, preventive, palliative, home and transitional care. Our focus is to cater to any health issue that the elderly might face.

Geriatric care extends beyond hospital care and includes active ageing and preventive care programs, home-based care, specialised care centres such as skilled nursing facilities, transitional care facilities, palliative care and hospice centres, memory care centres and psychiatric care units. While older persons in urban areas have access to primary care and hospital care (which is lacking in the rural areas), none of the other aspects as enumerated above are available in the current scenario. This is the space we want to address.

As of today, we have a 24-bed eldercare Centre in South Bangalore and a 40-bed facility in North Bangalore providing transitional and palliative care services. These facilities are fully equipped with State-of-the-Art Medical facilities, Consultation rooms, Counselling rooms, Yoga & Exercise Hall, Cafeteria, Activity Zone, Library, Prayer room and a Terrace Lawn.

We also set up an exclusive Dementia & Alzheimer's Care Centre in Bangalore. The new 24-bed facility provides Residential Care, Day Care, Memory Clinic and Family Counselling Services for elders with Dementia & Alzheimer's.

Most recently we set up a government-approved 30-bed COVID Care Centre in Bangalore to treat patients with mild to moderate symptoms. The facility is equipped with Oxygen support, Medicines, Lab Services, Ambulances, Emergency Management, Bio-med Waste Disposal, Nutritious veg meals and Super Specialists to conduct Online Consultations.

All our facilities are led by a team of highly specialized and well-trained medical experts.

The geriatric care market is a USD 5 billion opportunity in India. We aim to invest in the right people, right facilities and expand our presence across South India.