This article has been contributed by Meenakshi Menon, Founder, Gen S Life
India is home to over 180 million 60+, projected from the 150 million in 2022, a number expected to almost double by 2050. This change in demographics is going to be a big economic burden for a society like ours, which is given to supporting an ageist narrative. The demographic change will have long-term effects on the nation’s economy, culture and society, given that the average age is increasing almost every year. With millions of seniors feeling undervalued, underutilised and underestimated, we are fertile ground for emotional and economic strife.
That is why we need a fresh lens to look at this situation. Social mores are cyclical. Traditionally, seniors were considered to be wise and wanted. Their contributions to the family and society were always recognised. Then, post-Industrialisation, they became unpaid labor primarily to support child rearing, and the social stigma of “leaving” your parents ensured they always had a roof over their heads, if nothing else. Today, with increasing migration among the younger generation, we are left with a society where the value of the Senior population is shrinking both in the eyes of the next generation as well as in their own eyes. Living longer, considering you are a burden, makes for some very unhappy people, whose numbers are growing.
Which is where Technology comes into the picture. Can we look at a solution that is specially crafted for our seniors, Indian Seniors who have a very unique view of the World, where Family is relevant, but having freedom of choice and Independence is equally relevant. For a long time, growing older has been seen only as a stage of dependence and decline. Seniors are considered a vulnerable and weak category of society. But technology can help us change this view and shift the focus to supporting independence, active living, and dignity for Indian Seniors across the Nation.
The Promise of Technology, now seen as AgeTech
The standard take on Technology for seniors has been Health Tech. Health monitoring devices, sensors to track vitals, devices to detect falls, safety devices, etc. All of these are for seniors who are frail, sickly, vulnerable and fearful. What about the healthy 65-year-old who is more interested in socializing than sharing weekly uric acid scores? What about the 70-year-old who wants to learn to sing act, or Dance? What about the 75-year-old who has a second home and wants to retain it? The Senior cohort is not a homogeneous lot; that’s a common mistake. The senior cohort is as heterogeneous as any other age group. Unfortunately, unlike other age groups, seniors tend to be lumped together as frail, sickly individuals who are just waiting to exit. Technology can change this narrative by providing access to services that are required by new-age seniors. Social networks, financial options, Entertainment, engagement, community, Safety, Security, Concierge and Assistance, Group Insurance and Travel. These are but a set of issues that Tech needs to address. The true promise of AgeTech lies in going beyond the norm, putting the World of new experiences within the reach of the Seniors, giving them their life back. Giving them the option of choice. Tech becomes the enabler, creating ecosystems of support that address social, emotional, financial, and lifestyle needs.
Other than the health sector, think of any senior person who can seamlessly join a virtual event (music, dance, painting workshops and so many other opportunities), manage finances with just one click, or engage with peers through online communities. It is achievable with the thoughtful integration of technology.
Sanvi Barjatya
Tackling Loneliness Through Connection
One of the pressing challenges for seniors in India is social isolation. With children often migrating to other cities or abroad, many seniors experience loneliness, which can be as harmful to health as chronic disease. AgeTech has its solutions, such as intuitive video-calling platforms, community apps, or virtual hobby groups that can bridge this gap. The key lies in designing tools that are simple, language-friendly, and accessible, ensuring that no senior feels left behind in the digital age.
Purpose Beyond Survival
Ageing is not just about survival; it is about living with purpose. Technology can open new avenues for seniors to contribute their wisdom and skills. Platforms for mentorship, storytelling, or even micro-entrepreneurship can help seniors remain active participants in society. For India’s 60+ population, AgeTech must be seen not as charity, but as a means of harnessing a reservoir of experience that benefits communities at large. While India is rapidly urbanising, nearly 70% of its elderly population still lives in rural areas.
Access to quality healthcare, mobility aids, and digital literacy remains limited outside major cities. Elderly women, who often have lower financial independence, face an additional layer of vulnerability. At the same time, there is a shift in family structures. With smaller nuclear families and children migrating for work, seniors increasingly find themselves navigating daily life independently. This reality makes AgeTech not just an option but a necessity to ensure safety, connection, and care.
Trust is another barrier; seniors are wary of fraud, misuse of data, or being overwhelmed by complex interfaces. Finally, cultural attitudes towards ageing sometimes discourage seniors from embracing new tools, reinforcing the belief that “technology is for the young”, whereas it has been shown in research of 2021 that 61% of seniors aged 65+ are using technologies. Look at the near universal adoption of WhatsApp and YouTube. Two incredibly sophisticated tech platforms but given their intrinsic value and ease of use, adopted by almost the entire universe of seniors. That Seniors are technophobic is a popular trope. As far from the truth as can be. Our research clearly demonstrates that tech adoption is high when Language barriers are erased and when costs are low to Zero.
For India, the challenge and opportunity lie in localising these innovations and making them affordable, culturally relevant, and accessible in multiple languages. Our app is an example that fills the gap between seniors and tech.
Subham Kumar
Ageing With Dignity and Independence
At the heart of AgeTech, our main motto lies a simple idea: ageing should be about living with dignity, purpose, and independence. Technology is not a replacement for human connection, but a tool to strengthen it. By ensuring seniors remain connected, financially secure, healthy, and purposeful, AgeTech has the power to transform India’s demographic challenge into an opportunity. Reimagining ageing is not just about adding years to life, but about adding life to years.
And here comes our lifestyle app- Gen S life that brings together services and resources that promote health, wellness, safety, financial independence, travel, and meaningful engagement, helping seniors lead active, connected, and fulfilling lives. By creating opportunities for support and participation, Gen S Life aims to make ageing a journey of dignity, confidence, and purpose.
Reimagining Ageing for India
As India steps into the future, it is time to see ageing not as a challenge to be managed, but as an opportunity to be reimagined, one where seniors are not left behind, but carried forward with the dignity they deserve.
Sanvi Barjatya
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