Enhancing Elderly Care in India

India is undergoing a significant demographic shift, with the India Ageing Report 2023 by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) predicting that by 2046, the elderly population will outnumber children aged 0–15 years. This transition presents urgent challenges, including increased prevalence of chronic illnesses, cognitive decline, psychological distress, financial vulnerability, and inadequate social support for older adults. The strain on existing healthcare systems, coupled with limited accessibility and affordability, has led to a decline in healthy life expectancy among seniors. In this context, wearable technology (WT) emerges as a transformative tool to support healthy aging. Devices such as smartwatches, fall detectors, GPS trackers, and smart health monitors enable real-time, continuous health monitoring and early detection of medical issues, helping older adults manage their health proactively while maintaining independence. However, several barriers hinder the widespread adoption of these technologies, including cost, low digital literacy among the elderly, and concerns over data privacy and security. Government initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) provide an opportunity to integrate wearable technologies into India’s broader digital health ecosystem, fostering more inclusive and efficient elder care. To fully realize the benefits of wearables, a collaborative approach is essential, involving policymakers, healthcare providers, technology developers, and civil society organizations. This chapter explores how WT can improve the quality of life for India’s aging population, highlights the key adoption challenges, and proposes strategies for integrating these tools into public health infrastructure to ensure equitable and effective elderly care in the coming decades.