Kerala: The Indian state trying to ensure no one grows old alone

In Kerala, India’s fastest-ageing state, officials and families are confronting a growing wave of elderly people living alone. TO Dominic, 70, spends much of his day making phone calls to sons in Karnataka and the Middle East, but when help is needed at home, neighbors fill part of the gap. Kerala’s government last month announced a dedicated department for elderly welfare, described as the first of its kind in India, with a strategy focused on “ageing in place.” The plan aims to expand community and home-based care, introduce “social prescribing,” and launch caregiver training and a broader professional care workforce. Kerala expects demographic pressure to rise sharply, with 22.8% of residents projected to be over 60 by 2036, up from national figures of 14.9%, according to a Reserve Bank of India report. The department’s approach also targets housing, transport, and local governance alongside care services.