Governor of Tamil Nadu Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, on Sunday, inaugurated Athulya Geriatric Care Hospital dedicated to geriatric care at Valasaravakkam, Chennai.

Mr. Arlekar said geriatric care should go beyond medical infrastructure and technology, and place equal emphasis on compassion and human connection. While the neglect of older persons by younger generations was a broader societal issue, he said healthcare facilities catering to the elderly should be equipped with modern medical equipment while ensuring that patients receive dignified, humane care.

Karthik Narayan, founder and managing director of Athulya Senior Care, said India’s rapidly ageing population underscored the urgent need for specialised geriatric healthcare. He noted that the country has nearly 116 million senior citizens, a figure projected to rise to around 340 million by 2050.

Dr. Narayan pointed out that India has only around 20,000 dedicated senior care beds, compared with nearly eight million in China and close to three million in the U.S. He said Athulya Hospital was established to bridge this gap and deliver integrated care tailored to the physical, emotional, and functional needs of older adults.

The facility was launched in the presence of G. Srinivasan, founder and CEO, Athulya Senior Care, Krishna Kavya, founder and director and Prasanna Natarajan, director. The hospital offers comprehensive and multidisciplinary medical services across medical specialties, including cardiology, nephrology, and rehabilitation medicine.