Applicants for this license increasing; soon to become the fastest-growing business in Kerala 

KOTTAYAM: Those who have no one to take care of them, parents who stay alone because their children are abroad, those who have been abandoned by their loved ones... With the increase in their number, old age homes are also increasing in the state. 98 new old age homes have been opened in the last three years. There is a total of 745 (16 of which belong to the government) establishments in the state with the highest number in Ernakulam district, 144.

Most of the establishments are run by voluntary organizations and private individuals registered with the Orphanage Control Board. There are 32 fee-based old age homes and most of them were opened after covid.

With the increased migration to foreign countries, the number of people sending their parents to old age homes has also gone up. According to NORCA, an average of half a million people go to study and work in European countries. When foreign immigration increased after the lockdown, so did the number of old age homes.

Ones with 'star' facilities

There are old age homes with star facilities as well. The elderly who have their children staying abroad are the ones who depend on them mostly. The number of people applying for licenses to start these is also increasing.

Old age homes: 745

Residents: 15,669

Mothers: 9726

"In future, the number of old age homes with modern facilities will increase"

-Dr Sandhya RS,

Head of Department of Sociology, Kariavattom Campus