This Indian state is trying to ensure no one grows old alone

"My patients ask me - if they become dependent, who will take care of them?" says Dr Prasun Chatterjee, who leads the geriatrics unit at Apollo Hospital in Delhi. Others worry about something more immediate - who would take them to hospital if they fell ill in the middle of the night. Many of his patients live alone after losing a spouse or seeing their children move away. Dr Chatterjee also points to a wider gap in India's healthcare system: too few geriatric specialists, with many older people still relying on services not designed for their needs. He says what is needed is a broader support network, from day-care centres and community spaces to accessible primary healthcare and opportunities for older people to stay socially connected. "No single department can do all of that," he says. Alongside these plans, questions remain over whether Kerala's new department has the resources to match its ambitions. The state has allocated 100 million rupees ($1.05m; £7.97m) for elderly welfare this year, a figure some have described as largely symbolic. Kelkar says the funding is meant to build coordination capacity, support pilot projects and develop the data systems needed for a longer-term response. "The government views ageing not as a short-term project but as a long-term development priority," he adds. Some experts also argue these policy steps alone are not enough. They point at a need for private facilities and adoption. …