Experts push for senior living to be treated as a distinct asset class in India

Stakeholders are urging Indian policymakers to recognise senior living as a specialised asset class, separate from conventional housing, as the nation’s 60-plus population is projected to rise from 149 million in 2022 to 347 million by 2050. They call for minimum operating and disclosure standards, greater flexibility in land-use conversion and targeted financial incentives, including links to life-insurance frameworks.

Developers should select micro-markets based on access to tertiary healthcare, workforce availability, social infrastructure and catchment depth, embedding services such as wellness, nutrition, recreation and care from the outset. Digbijay Das of Colliers India notes that value will be driven by occupancy stabilisation and trust in service quality, requiring longer gestation periods and higher operating intensity. Executives from DLF, Ashiana Housing, Amaya Senior Living and Stonecraft Group echo the need for integrated urban communities that prioritise independence, wellness and seamless living experiences rather than retrofitting care onto traditional real-estate projects.