India is experiencing a major demographic change, with a rapidly growing elderly population and a move away from traditional family living arrangements.

印度正經歷一場重大的人口結構變遷，長者人口快速成長，且逐漸脫離傳統的家庭共同生活安排。

The traditional Indian social model, based on the joint family system where multiple generations lived together for security, is changing. This shift is caused by urbanization, longer life expectancy, and young people moving to global technology and education centers. Consequently, 'modified extended families' have appeared, where family members maintain emotional bonds despite living apart. This trend is very strong in southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. In Kerala, for example, it is predicted that 22.8% of the population will be over 60 by 2036, which is much higher than the national average.

傳統的印度社會模式基於聯合家庭制度，即多代同堂以獲取保障，但目前正在改變。這種轉變是由都市化、預期壽命延長，以及年輕人遷往全球科技與教育中心所引起的。因此，出現了「修正後擴展家庭」，即使分開居住，家庭成員之間仍維持情感紐帶。這種趨勢在 Kerala、Tamil Nadu 與 Karnataka 等南部邦非常強烈。例如在 Kerala，預計到 2036 年，60 歲以上人口將達到 22.8%，遠高於全國平均水平。

There is a clear difference in how different groups experience old age. Some urban middle-class seniors have pensions and digital skills, allowing them to live independently and use telemedicine to stay connected with family. However, many poor elderly people, especially widowed women and rural residents, remain very vulnerable. According to UNFPA data, over 40% of the elderly live in the lowest wealth group. Furthermore, there is a serious lack of geriatric healthcare, including a shortage of specialists and low awareness of chronic age-related diseases.

不同群體在面對老齡化時的體驗有顯著差異。部分城市中產長者擁有退休金與數位技能，使其能獨立生活並利用遠距醫療與家人保持聯繫。然而，許多貧困長者，尤其是喪偶女性與鄉村居民，依然非常脆弱。根據 UNFPA 數據，超過 40% 的長者處於最低財富組別。此外，老年醫療護理嚴重不足，包括專科醫生短缺以及對老年慢性病的認知度低。

Governments have started to respond, most notably in Kerala, where the state has created a department for elderly welfare. This department aims to implement 'ageing in place' strategies, which include professional caregiver training and community support. However, critics argue that the current budget of 100 million rupees is too small to make a real difference. Additionally, industry leaders emphasize that there is no regulated market for senior care; while private assisted-living homes are increasing in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, there are no uniform quality standards.

政府已開始採取行動，最顯著的是 Kerala 邦成立了長者福利部門。該部門旨在實施「原處安老」策略，包括專業照顧者培訓與社區支援。然而，批評者認為目前 1 億盧比的預算過低，無法產生實質影響。此外，業界領袖強調，長者護理市場缺乏監管；儘管在 Bengaluru 與 Chennai 等城市，私人輔助生活中心有所增加，但仍缺乏統一的品質標準。

India's transition to an ageing society requires a move from relying only on families to creating a comprehensive, community-based support system.

印度轉型為高齡社會，需要從僅依賴家庭轉向建立一個全面的社區支持體系。