Expert Talk: The Need for Assisted Living for Dementia Care for Senior Citizens in India

As India’s population ages, the challenges of elderly care are becoming increasingly important. Among them, dementia, a condition that affects memory, thinking, and daily functioning, requires specialised attention. Assisted living has emerged as a supportive solution, offering senior citizens a safe and dignified life while ensuring quality dementia care.

What is Dementia?

Let’s begin from the beginning. Dementia is not a single disease, but rather a term used to describe an array of symptoms that affect cognition, including memory, reasoning, thinking, and communication. Have you heard of Alzheimer’s disease? It is a form of dementia. People with dementia tend to forget things, including past memories, familiar faces, surroundings, and even performing routine activities.

In India, dementia is often mistaken for a natural part of ageing, but in reality, it is a medical condition that needs timely diagnosis and specialised care. While dementia is irreversible, its symptoms can be managed to help people live a quality life with dementia.

The Need for Dementia Care in India

Recently, during the launch of Epoch Monet House, Neha Sinha, Dementia Specialist, CEO & Co-founder of Epoch Elder Care, expressed her views on why specialised dementia care is the need of the hour in India. She quotes, “Senior care, especially dementia care, is not just about clinical expertise or professional support, but empathy and engagement are equally essential.”

Also Read: Why Senior Care Is Crucial For Alzheimer's Patients

For the uninitiated, India currently has over 5 million people living with dementia, and this number is expected to see a sharp rise in the coming years. Traditionally, our Indian culture is about taking care of elders at home. But with changing times, migration, nuclear families and different lifestyles, it has become difficult for families to offer round-the-clock care for elders with dementia. Dementia care requires:

• Safe environments that prevent falls and accidents.
• Specialised medical attention for managing symptoms.
• Emotional support and companionship to reduce anxiety and ease confusion.
• Fixed daily routine that helps improve quality of life.

These are crucial for a person living with dementia to lead a comfortable life. If the family members are unable to fulfill these, they must get help from assisted living facilities that are stepping up to provide these essential services.

The Role of Assisted Living in Dementia Care

Assisted living facilities designed for dementia care provide a holistic environment for seniors. Most of them must offer:

• Specialised caregivers who are trained in dementia support
• 24/7 monitoring to prevent falls and accidents
• A team to provide immediate medical help, whenever needed
• Nutritional support tailored to seniors’ needs and food preferences
• Therapeutic activities such as music therapy, memory games, and light physical exercise to keep their mind and body active
• Social engagement to prevent isolation and depression.

Also Read: Reduce Your Risk of Dementia: Expert Shares CDC-Identified Factors to Watch Out For

The main objective of these facilities is not to make seniors feel miserable, which is quite common with their health condition. These elder care homes aim to improve the quality of life of seniors and provide peace of mind to their family members who might otherwise be struggling with caregiving.

Building a Future of Compassionate Care

India is still in the early stages of developing dementia-specific assisted living models, but progress is being made. There are several NGOs, healthcare providers, and private organisations that are setting up dementia care homes across the country. With increasing awareness and acceptance, assisted living could become a lifeline for countless families.