India’s changing demographic profile is bringing new attention to the healthcare, social and economic needs of older adults. To support the development of informed and sustainable responses, the Max India Foundation (MIF) and the Indian School of Business (ISB) have established a research initiative focused on ageing and senior care.
The programme, titled SCALE (Senior Care Advancement Through Learning and Evidence), will be housed at ISB’s Max Institute of Healthcare Management (MIHM). It is supported by a multi-year Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grant from MIF, with Antara Senior Care joining as the founding industry partner.
The initiative will examine how senior care services can better respond to changing consumer expectations and operational challenges. Its research agenda covers care delivery and business models, financing, technology adoption, workforce participation, consumer behaviour and social inclusion.
Although India’s senior care ecosystem is developing across healthcare, senior living, AgeTech, insurance and financial services, practical knowledge and research findings are often dispersed across different organisations. SCALE intends to consolidate these learnings into useful evidence for industry leaders and policymakers.
The initiative was formally introduced at the Indian School of Business’s Hyderabad campus during a roundtable attended by researchers, healthcare professionals and senior care industry representatives. Discussions centred on emerging requirements among older adults and the areas where research and industry collaboration could support meaningful improvements.
The platform will also connect research with practical challenges faced by the sector, with the aim of informing service design, investment decisions, technology integration, workforce development and operational strategies.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the collaboration was exchanged by Tara Singh Vachani, Managing Trustee, Max India Foundation and Executive Chairperson, Antara Senior Care, and ISB Dean Madan Pillutla.
The event was attended by Rajit Mehta, MD, Max India Limited and CEO, Antara Senior Care; Ishaan Khanna, CEO, Antara Assisted Care Services; Professor Sarang Deo, Executive Director, Max Institute of Healthcare Management at ISB; Karthik Balakrishnan, Deputy Dean – Faculty and Research, ISB; and DNV Kumara Guru, Senior Director – Advancement, Alumni Engagement and External Relations, ISB.
Tara Singh Vachani said: “India’s demographic transition presents an opportunity to build a deeper understanding of how seniors can lead healthier, more independent and fulfilling lives. As lifespan improves, seniors are seeking greater health, independence, purpose, dignity and choice. Meeting these aspirations requires a deeper understanding of their diverse needs and experiences. The SCALE Initiative brings together research, practitioner insights and stakeholder perspectives to strengthen the evidence base around ageing and care. Our aim is to translate this knowledge into more effective care models, stronger support systems and better outcomes for seniors and their families. Through this initiative, we hope to contribute to the broader national conversation on how India can prepare for and respond to the opportunities and challenges of an ageing society.”
Professor Sarang Deo said: “India is entering a phase where the growing needs and aspirations of a senior population will require us to rethink how we design systems, services and markets for seniors. SCALE brings a management and evidence-based perspective to this challenge, examining how businesses, healthcare organisations and public institutions can respond to these changes across financing, technology, workforce participation, consumer and producer behaviour, and social inclusion. Through SCALE, our objective is to build a stronger evidence base that can inform both private-sector practice and public policy to shape more effective and sustainable responses to India’s growing senior population.”
Beyond its initial research activities, SCALE is intended to become a continuing platform for academic and industry collaboration. Planned activities include joint research, data-sharing partnerships, pilot programmes, evaluations and exchange of knowledge.
The initiative will draw on Antara Senior Care’s experience in providing an integrated range of services, including senior living, care homes, wellness programmes, and products and solutions for chronic disease management. These operational insights will complement MIHM’s healthcare management research capabilities and ISB’s wider efforts to address important societal challenges through knowledge creation and partnerships.
With research, industry participation and policy engagement at its core, SCALE aims to contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable senior care approaches in India, while supporting older adults and their families as care needs continue to evolve.
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