Caring for the elderly and those with special needs may soon be outsourced from Britain to India.
A report in the Hindustan Times said a businessman who owns five nursing homes in the posh Surrey area in Britain is eyeing the possibility of expanding to the subcontinent as the cost of looking after some of Britain's elderly or disabled is much lower in India.
"I'm looking for a suitable site to set up a home for the elderly in Delhi or Noida," said Ajit Prasad. He said it would cost people around £700 (Dh5,169) per month. Staying in a home of a similar quality in Britain would cost around £1,600 (Dh11,814).
The financial aspect is crucial for the elderly since incomes invariably fall after retirement, while living costs keep rising.
"More and more Indians in Britain, after their retirement, are opting to return to their roots," said Dr Shiv Pande, formerly treasurer of the General Medical Council.
"They are living on their own and will need more care as they grow older. They wish British-owned old age homes of a decent standard would come up in India," said Dr Pande.
The issue is not exclusive to Indians. A local daily recently narrated the story of Steve Herzfeld, an American, who has decided to relocate his parents, whom he has been supporting, to an old age home in India to cut costs.
Ageing Society
- Elderly care is the fulfilment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and Alzheimer's care.
- Traditionally care of the elderly has been the responsibility of family members and was provided within the extended family home. Increasingly, such care is now being provided by state or charitable institutions.
- The reasons for this change include decreasing family size, the greater life expectancy of elderly people, the geographical dispersion of families and the tendency for women to be educated and to work outside the home. Although these changes have affected Western countries, it is now increasingly affecting Asian countries as well.
