Eldercare-as-a-service: A panacea for remote caregivers

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Also read | This 86-year-old retired professor shows it's never too late to benefit from mutual funds US resident Niharika understands this too well. She uses the end-to-end services of PHE Healthcare in Mumbai for her mother, who has Parkinson’s disease, and says they are the “quarterback" for all her mother’s healthcare and wellness needs.

“It was important for me to have a single point of contact who could coordinate locally since it is hard for me to do that being so far away. For instance, when my mother needs a blood test or has to visit a specialist, the PHE team coordinates all the arrangements," explained Niharika, who preferred to go by a single name.

“In addition, since the doctor, nurse, caretakers, my brother and I, all receive daily updates and have a view into all the back-and-forth communications, no time is lost in catching people up. We are able to move at speed and alignment when decisions are to be made." In terms of healthcare services only, geriatric care providers offer two models: one that lets you use their in-house team of doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, and specialists to provide primary care and at-home services, and another that typically has an in-house general physician but also ties up with local hospitals and clinics.

The second option may be more viable for the elderly who have a long-standing history with a particular doctor, as they are not bound to use the company’s medical professionals. Also read | How to create a foolproof will to ensure a smooth inheritance As part of eldercare services, many platforms also conduct socialising events and online learning classes as part of community building to combat loneliness in seniors.