India Long Term Care Market Overview, 2031

Key Insights

• India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with the elderly population (60 years and above) projected to more than double from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million by 2036, making up about 15% of the total population. India's senior citizen population is projected to surge to around 230 million by 2036, representing a fundamental restructuring of the country's population composition.
• Formal, organised elder-care infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth. According to government data from 2025, the number of registered senior citizen homes nationwide stood at under 700, with only a few dozen more approved during the year. As of August 2025, a total of 696 Senior Citizen Homes are operational across the country, covering 29 States/UTs.
• The Indian government is implementing comprehensive measures to address the needs of the elderly. The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), launched on April 1, 2021, is the umbrella scheme for the welfare of senior citizens, comprising seven components covering shelter, care, grievance redressal, assistive devices, geriatric caregiving and other initiatives. During the last three years (2023-24 to 2025-26), a total of 10,00,456 beneficiaries were covered under AVYAY.
• The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) is now operational in 92% of Indian districts, integrating home, community and facility-based interventions along with structured caregiver training to enable dignified ageing within families and communities.
• In October 2024, the Government expanded Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide free health cover of ₹5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. As of December 31, 2025, over 96.73 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards had been issued across all states and union territories.

Market Outlook

• According to the research report, "India Long Term Care Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the India Long Term Care Market is anticipated to grow at more than 10.00% CAGR from 2026 to 2031. This growth is supported by accelerating demographic aging, rising prevalence of chronic conditions, and significant government investment in elderly care infrastructure and the silver economy.
• India's demographic trajectory is a primary driver of long-term care demand. According to the Technical Group on Population Projections constituted by the National Commission on Population, the proportion of the population of older ages (60 years and above) is projected to increase from 10 crores in 2011 to 23 crores in 2036 – an increase in their share of the total population from 8.4% to 14.9%. By 2050, India will have approximately 347 million older persons, constituting 20.8% of the total population. By 2047, 20% of the country would be senior citizens.
• The silver economy in India is emerging as a significant growth opportunity. The senior care industry, currently valued at $10-15 billion, is projected to reach $30-50 billion in the next decade, fueled by private investment and technological advancements. The Indian senior living market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.55 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 14.14 billion by 2031.
• The senior living demand in India is expected to grow from approximately 1.7 million senior living units in 2025 to 2.3 million units by 2030. According to industry estimates, India will require around 2.4 million senior living units by 2030. The organised supply of senior citizen homes stood at 22,157 units as of June 2025, with occupancy levels in stabilised projects reaching 80-85%.
• The Indian government is actively strengthening the long-term care ecosystem through multiple initiatives. The National Action Plan for the Welfare of Senior Citizens (NAPSrC), effective since April 1, 2020, is an umbrella scheme with four sub-schemes. The Training of Geriatric Care Givers component under AVYAY aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand for trained geriatric caregivers and create a professional cadre in geriatric care.

Market Dynamics

Driver: Accelerated Demographic Ageing and Rising Care Dependency India is undergoing a profound demographic transformation that is fundamentally reshaping the long-term care landscape. The elderly population (60 years and above) is projected to increase from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million by 2036, making up about 15% of the total population. By 2050, India will have approximately 347 million older persons, constituting 20.8% of the total population. The Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) 2021 reveals that 12% of India's population comprises elderly individuals, a proportion projected to rise to 319 million by 2050, growing at an annual rate of approximately 3%. Southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh already have high numbers of elderly people, similar to developed countries, with Kerala expected to see its elderly population surge from 13% in 2011 to 23% by 2036. The most prevalent disability among elderly persons is locomotor disability, followed by hearing disability and visual disability. This demographic shift creates sustained demand for long-term care services across home healthcare, community care, nursing facilities, and assisted living settings. The combination of declining fertility rates, increasing life expectancy, and the ageing of the population creates sustained and intensifying demand for long-term care services across all settings.

Challenge: Severe Workforce Shortages and Caregiver Crisis India's long-term care market faces a critical workforce shortage that threatens the expansion and quality of care services. The country faces a critical shortage of trained geriatric health professionals across all levels of care. India has only 5,000-6,000 trained caregivers despite the scale of its elderly population. India's nurse-to-population ratio is 1:670, which is far below the WHO-recommended 1:300. India currently has 17.48 nurses per 10,000 people, compared to the global average of 39.53. The elder healthcare space is described as fragmented, available in silos and only accessible to those with financial wherewithal. There is a huge demand and limited supply of trained caregivers. The largely unregulated space of home healthcare in India further compounds the challenge. The Government is implementing the PM Special (Training of Geriatric Care Givers) scheme to bridge the gap in supply and increasing demand in the field of geriatric caregivers so as to provide more professional services to the senior citizens and also to create a cadre of professional caregivers in the field of geriatric. Without significant investment in workforce recruitment, training, compensation, and career development, India's long-term care system will face increasing difficulty in meeting growing demand for care, potentially leading to access constraints and service disruptions.

Trend: Emergence of Formal Care Markets and the Silver Economy India is witnessing the emergence of formal long-term care markets driven by demographic pressure, changing family structures, and economic growth. The silver economy, driven by goods and services designed to meet the needs of the elderly, is expected to create significant economic opportunities. The senior care industry is currently valued at $10-15 billion and is projected to reach $30-50 billion in the next decade, fueled by private investment and technological advancements. The Indian senior living market is projected to reach USD 14.14 billion by 2031. The organised supply of senior citizen homes stood at 22,157 units as of June 2025, with occupancy levels reaching 80-85%. The senior living sector is expanding at 17.4% annually. Major developers are entering the senior living space. Antara Senior Care, part of the $7-billion Max Group, operates a network of seven care homes nationally with 500 operational beds. Geri Care launched its first assisted living centre for elders in Bengaluru in 2025. The convergence of demographic pressure, government policy support, private sector investment, and technological innovation is creating the foundation for a more comprehensive long-term care ecosystem in India.

Policies

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the Nodal Ministry for matters relating to Senior Citizens. It develops and implements Acts, Policies and Programmes for the welfare of Senior Citizens. The Ministry is implementing the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) as an umbrella scheme for the welfare of senior citizens across the country, comprising seven components covering areas such as shelter and care, State-level interventions, grievance redressal, assistive devices, innovative solutions, geriatric caregiving and other initiatives for healthy and productive ageing.
• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and the subsequently amended Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Act, 2019, legally obligates children and heirs to provide maintenance to parents. The Act provides for registration of Senior Citizens Care Homes, Multi-Service Day Care Homes and agencies providing Home Care Services to senior citizens. The Central Government is to prescribe Minimum Standards required for the establishment, running and maintenance of Senior Citizens Care Homes.
• The National Action Plan for the Welfare of Senior Citizens (NAPSrC), effective since April 1, 2020, is an umbrella scheme with four sub-schemes, including the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), which provides grant-in-aid up to 100% of project cost for maintenance of senior citizen homes, continuous care homes, mobile medicare units and physiotherapy clinics.
• The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) is now operational in 92% of Indian districts, integrating home, community and facility-based interventions, along with structured caregiver training to enable dignified ageing within families and communities. The programme delivers preventive, curative, and home-based care for bedridden and dependent elderly persons. Telemedicine services under NPHCE provide access to doctors without travel, particularly useful for elderly people living at home or in rural areas.
• In October 2024, the Government expanded Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide free health cover of ₹5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. As of December 31, 2025, over 96.73 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards had been issued across all states and union territories, with 10.33 lakh beneficiaries' hospital admissions approved at a cost of ₹2,154.37 crore.
• The Government is implementing the Training of Geriatric Care Givers component, aimed at bridging the gap between the supply and demand for trained geriatric caregivers and creating a professional cadre in the field of geriatric care. The PM Special (Training of Geriatric Care Givers) scheme aims to provide more professional services to senior citizens and create a cadre of professional caregivers in geriatric care.
• The Government has strengthened grievance redressal and support services through Elderline, the National Helpline for Senior Citizens. The toll-free helpline 14567, launched on October 1, 2021, provides grievance redressal services and generates awareness among senior citizens regarding relevant Acts, schemes and programmes of the Central and State Governments.

Segment Analysis

India Long-Term Care Market By Service Type • Home Healthcare: Home healthcare represents a growing segment in India's long-term care market, driven by the preference for ageing in place and government initiatives expanding home-based care. The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) is operational in 92% of Indian districts, integrating home, community and facility-based interventions. Home-based care is provided for bedridden and dependent elderly persons under NPHCE. The largely unregulated space of home health care in India is characterised by fragmented services available in silos and only accessible to those with financial wherewithal. There is a huge demand and limited supply of trained home healthcare providers. The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per year to senior citizens aged 70 years and above, which can be utilised for home healthcare services. Telemedicine services under NPHCE are expanding access to healthcare for elderly people living at home.
• Nursing Care / Skilled Nursing Facilities: The nursing facility sector in India comprises Senior Citizen Homes (old age homes), Continuous Care Homes, and residential care facilities for the elderly. As of August 2025, a total of 696 Senior Citizen Homes are operational across the country, covering 29 States/UTs, with 84 new Senior Citizen Homes selected during 2025-26. Under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) of AVYAY, Grant-in-aid is provided to Non-Governmental and Voluntary Organisations for running and maintaining Senior Citizen Homes and Continuous Care Homes, where indigent senior citizens are provided facilities including shelter, nutrition, medicare and entertainment free of cost. The Government is supporting over 708 NGOs through IPSrC operating continuous care homes, physiotherapy centres, old age homes, and mobile medicare units. The sector faces significant capacity constraints, with formal, organised elder-care infrastructure not having kept pace with population growth.
• Assisted Living Facilities: Assisted living is an emerging segment in India's long-term care market. The organised supply of senior citizen homes stood at 22,157 units as of June 2025. Antara Senior Care, part of the $7-billion Max Group, operates a network of seven care homes nationally with 500 operational beds. In 2025, Antara opened a second senior living community in Noida with 340 apartments and launched a new facility in Whitefield, Bengaluru. Geri Care launched its first assisted living centre for elders in Bengaluru in 2025. Casagrand launched its first senior living project in Chennai with senior citizen-friendly homes. Monthly costs for assisted living range from approximately Rs 50,000 for a double occupancy room to Rs 1.5 lakh for a personal suite with shared caregiver. Southern India is leading the market, commanding 68% of the nation's senior living projects. The senior living demand is expected to grow from approximately 1.7 million units in 2025 to 2.3 million units by 2030, with India requiring around 2.4 million senior living units by 2030.
• Hospice and Palliative Care: Hospice and palliative care services in India are delivered across multiple settings, including homes, hospitals, and dedicated palliative care units. According to a December 2025 Lok Sabha reply from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, an estimated 7 to 10 million people in India require palliative care every year. Till October 2025, around 12.6 lakh outpatient visits and 19 lakh home visits were recorded. The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response on the implementation of 2017 guidelines on palliative care issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The growing prevalence of chronic conditions and the ageing population are driving demand for end-of-life care services.
• Other Services: This segment includes adult day care, long-term rehabilitation services, and community-based support services. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Act, 2019, provides for registration of Multi-Service Day Care Homes and agencies providing Home Care Services to senior citizens. The National Action Plan for the Welfare of Senior Citizens (NAPSrC) addresses the top four needs of senior citizens: financial security, food, health care and human interaction/life of dignity. The State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC) supports States and Union Territories for activities including awareness generation, sensitisation, cataract surgeries and other State-specific initiatives. The Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) component promotes innovative solutions for problems commonly faced by the elderly, identifying and encouraging innovative start-ups to develop products, processes and services for the welfare of senior citizens.

India Long-Term Care Market By Payer Type • Public: Public sources are the dominant and fastest-growing payer for long-term care services in India. The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per year to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. As of December 31, 2025, over 96.73 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards had been issued, with 10.33 lakh beneficiaries' hospital admissions approved at a cost of ₹2,154.37 crore. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) provides financial assistance to eligible senior citizens. Under NSAP, 2,21,30,687 beneficiaries were covered. The Ministry of Rural Development implements NSAP, providing financial assistance to eligible senior citizens. The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) provides a guaranteed monthly pension after attaining the age of 60 years. The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) covered 28,29,63,879 beneficiaries. The Government spent ₹951.2 billion (13.8% of programmable expenditures) in the health and labour sector in 2025. Public payers represent both the largest and fastest-growing payer segment as the government expands elderly care coverage.
• Private: Private sources account for a growing portion of long-term care spending in India. Private senior living operators are expanding, with the senior living market valued at USD 3.55 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 14.14 billion by 2031. Private equity investment in the sector is increasing, with the senior care industry projected to reach $30-50 billion in the next decade. Private assisted living facilities operate predominantly on a private-pay model, with monthly costs ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. Private health insurance coverage is improving, with a substantial improvement seen in health insurance coverage across India between 2017-18 and 2025.
• Out-of-Pocket: Out-of-pocket payments represent a significant component of long-term care spending in India. The largely unregulated space of home healthcare is accessible only to those with financial wherewithal. Private assisted living facilities require substantial out-of-pocket expenditure. The health expenditure burden on people has reduced from 69% to 39% through Ayushman Bharat, providing financial security to millions of families. However, out-of-pocket costs remain substantial for elderly care services not covered by public insurance. The average monthly cost of assisted living ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. Out-of-pocket costs vary significantly by service type, facility, and region.

India Long-Term Care Market By Gender • Female residents account for a larger share of India's long-term care spending, driven by higher life expectancy and higher rates of disability in advanced age. Women are more likely to reach advanced ages where care dependency is highest. Among the elderly population, women have higher life expectancy than men. The sex ratio among the elderly stands at a level indicating higher female representation. Women are more likely to live alone in old age, increasing their reliance on formal paid care services. The caregiver workforce is predominantly female, with women bearing the majority of caregiving responsibilities. The Government has recognised the caregiving burden on women and is implementing measures to support them through training and professionalisation of geriatric caregiving. The feminisation of ageing is a constant phenomenon, with women outnumbering men in older age cohorts.
• Male residents account for a smaller but growing share of India's long-term care spending. The need for long-term care affects persons of all ages and is generally measured by limitations in an individual's ability to perform daily personal care activities. Men are more likely to need long-term care at younger ages due to disabilities and chronic conditions. As male life expectancy increases, the representation of men in the older adult cohort is slowly growing. The Government's schemes, including AVYAY and Ayushman Bharat, provide benefits to both male and female senior citizens without gender-based discrimination. The gender gap is gradually narrowing as male life expectancy increases.

India Long-Term Care Market Economics

• The cost of long-term care services varies significantly by service type, geographic location, and facility type. Monthly costs for assisted living range from approximately Rs 50,000 for a double occupancy room to Rs 1.5 lakh for a personal suite with shared caregiver. Senior citizen homes under IPSrC provide facilities including shelter, nutrition, medicare and entertainment free of cost to indigent senior citizens. The Government spent ₹951.2 billion (13.8% of programmable expenditures) in the health and labour sector in 2025.
• Public financing of long-term care is substantial and growing. The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides ₹5 lakh health insurance cover to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above. As of December 31, 2025, 10.33 lakh beneficiaries' hospital admissions were approved at a cost of ₹2,154.37 crore. The National Social Assistance Programme provides financial assistance to eligible senior citizens. The National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) covered 28,29,63,879 beneficiaries. The Atal Pension Yojana provides a guaranteed monthly pension after attaining the age of 60 years.
• Staffing costs represent a significant operating expense for all long-term care providers. The sector faces a severe workforce shortage, with India having only 5,000-6,000 trained caregivers despite the scale of its elderly population. India's nurse-to-population ratio is 1:670, far below the WHO-recommended 1:300. India currently has 17.48 nurses per 10,000 people, compared to the global average of 39.53. Low wages and difficult working conditions contribute to high turnover and recruitment challenges. The Government is implementing the Training of Geriatric Care Givers component to address the workforce shortage.
• The economic value of the silver economy is significant and growing. The senior care industry is currently valued at $10-15 billion and is projected to reach $30-50 billion in the next decade. The Indian senior living market is estimated to be valued at USD 3.55 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 14.14 billion by 2031. The senior living sector is expanding at 17.4% annually. The silver economy creates work opportunities that enable the elderly to contribute their experience and expertise across various sectors.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Long-term care Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Service Type
• Home Healthcare
• Nursing Care / Skilled Nursing Facilities: 
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Hospice & Palliative Care:
• Other Services

By Payer Type
• Public
• Private
• Out-of-Pocket

By Gender
• Male
• Female