The Fractured Safety Net: A Sociological Introduction to Paid Care Communities for India’s Elderly with Migrant Children

Abstract

India is on the brink of a demographic transformation with significant sociological consequences. By 2050, the population aged 60 and beyond is anticipated to surpass 300 million, tripling from 2011 statistics and representing about 20% of the entire population (United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA], 2023). This demographic increase coincides with another significant phenomenon: the widespread internal and international movement of adult offspring in pursuit of economic prospects. Recent estimates indicate that more than 50 million elderly Indians are "abandoned" by their migratory offspring (Rajan & Balagopal, 2022), undermining traditional multigenerational co-residence that has historically ensured familial care. The simultaneous occurrence of population aging and familial fragmentation results in a structural care deficit, which is most prominently evident in the increase of paid care communities. These institutions, encompassing luxury assisted living and subsidized residences, signify a major transformation of care from familial duty to commercial service, placing older folks at the nexus of financial security and emotional vulnerability.