Max India's Tara S Vachani on improving infrastructure for elderly women, tips for women leaders

Senior care in the context of India, as I believe it to be, is incredibly nuanced. It might be an oversimplification of the issue to only state that the entirety of India is not well equipped to take care of its senior citizens. With that being said, one needs to acknowledge that India has come a long way in its aim to improve the lives of its older citizens, but it still has a long road ahead to overcome challenges that are both systemic and attitudinal in nature.

India is facing a rapidly ageing population. The number that has been talked about a lot recently is in UNPF's India Ageing Report 2023, which predicts the senior population to double, from 11 percent (15 crores) in 2022 to 21 percent (35 crores) by 2050.

With initiatives such as mobile health clinics specializing in geriatric care for rural areas, policies such as the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, along the rise in investments in senior care homes and assisted living facilities, we are certainly making progress in empowering the senior community.

There are, however, critical gaps between policy and implementation that need to be addressed, along with the compelling need to further help shift the mindset towards senior care in the country.

Ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for seniors is crucial and it still falls short of the existing demand. For example, while current independent senior living infrastructure covers 20,000 senior living homes, the current demand itself would be 10x of 20,000 homes. We need to continue expanding geriatric care facilities, ensuring they are affordable and located close to where seniors live. These facilities should offer specialised services like geriatric medicine, physiotherapy, and mental health support, alongside telehealth options and preventive care initiatives.

Also, there’s a need to actively build age-friendly infrastructure and communities. A 2023 Indian study found nearly half (44 percent) of 80-year-olds experience activity limitations like restrictions in movement. From public spaces and transportation systems to homes, building a space that is inclusive and mobile-friendly for our elders is the need of the hour.

Are there some simple things that could improve infrastructure and access for aged women specifically? If you could share some examples.  

For Antara, as well as for me, there hasn’t been any sort of a difference in which we have established an ecosystem of comfort for senior women versus men. Of course, we do recognise that men and women have innately different needs and requirements from senior care, which is why we always strive to support our residents with personalised care in every aspect of their well-being. Our objective is to elevate their quality of life in every regard, and being cognizant of the differences in their experiences and outlook forms the basis of our knowledge and our ability to do so.

Your top tips for women in positions of leadership, to project themselves as strong leaders...

As women entrepreneurs in leadership positions, one can sometimes feel constrained and type-casted amidst societal expectations and unconscious biases. However, embracing our unique voice is key to inspiring and leading the team.

Early in my career, I felt unsure about a trait that often went unrecognized in the workplace: my empathy and willingness to offer extra support to others. When faced with challenges, I naturally put myself in others' shoes and extended the benefit of the doubt. The prevailing narrative in many workplaces, however, is that success requires toughness. Looking back, I find this perspective flawed. Organizations with a strong sense of purpose cannot thrive without compassion, empathy, trust, and the ability to see the good in people.

Being authentic to oneself in our leadership style and outlook is what fosters trust amongst our teams which has always proved to be vital.

Last, but not the least, as we all recognize sooner or later, mastering communication is the key here. Speaking confidently, and active listening are what help you establish yourself as a leader who holds your own and has a clear vision of your path as well as the company’s.

For me, by embracing these qualities, we should be able to project strength, inspire our teams, and contribute to a more inclusive and successful future, while also leveraging our unique power as women entrepreneurs.

Could you tell us a bit about your journey at Max India - from the time you joined to what you count as key milestones?

I started as an intern working for the corporate development team at Max. For me, this experience proved to be invaluable as it gave me the insights that I have leveraged as I continue to build Antara into the only integrated senior care ecosystem in India.

During my internship, I was inspired by a couple of personal experiences. I stumbled upon the concept of senior living... A conversation I had with a women entrepreneur in Hong Kong made me recognize the need for a redefined approach to senior care in India. That is how I embarked on this journey of launching Antara Senior Care.

Since then, investing in developing a holistic approach to senior care in India had become my singular focus and passion. Now, having transitioned out of my role as the MD and CEO, and having the supremely talented Mr. Rajit Mehta step in for the role, I am glad that I can divide my time with my other roles and responsibilities with Max India as well.

We have positively impacted over 20000 lives by offering various services tailored to the evolving needs of the elderly.

A milestone that has been special for me is the welcoming of our very first residents, a special couple from Dehradun. They were among the first to truly grasp the intricacies of the value proposition we were offering. Subsequently, the sale of 340 units at our second senior living community (the first being our community in Dehradun) in Noida last year was an important milestone for us, along with the launch of our Memory Care Home for Dementia Care in Gurugram in the year 2022, that has also been pivotal to us in this journey.