From global care models to Indian care: personalised dementia care explained

There are several global models, particularly across Nordic and European countries, that have shaped the way long-term care is delivered, especially for neurodegenerative conditions like dementia. Built over decades, these systems bring together public policy, healthcare infrastructure, and evolving cultural attitudes toward ageing.

This blog explores these international approaches and examines how their underlying principles can be thoughtfully adapted to the Indian context. It considers the physical, social, cultural, and psychological nuances that define care in India, recognising that a country of this scale and diversity requires solutions that are both structured and deeply localised.

But first, to better understand the structures that need to be incorporated to build a truly sustainable model in India, we need to clear the distinction between a personalised care model and a person-centred care model.

How is a personalised care model different from a person-centred care model? 

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not identical.

Personalised care focuses on the condition and overall holistic wellbeing. It draws on clinical data, behavioural patterns, and evolving needs to create tailored care plans, covering therapies, nutrition, daily routines, and environmental adjustments, ensuring that care remains responsive and effective.

Person-centred care goes a step further. It builds on personalised care by deeply integrating the individual’s lived experiences, identity, preferences, and sense of familiarity. It ensures that care is not only clinically sound, but also emotionally meaningful, recognising the person beyond their condition.

• Personalised care: condition-led, holistic, and adaptive to clinical and behavioural needs
• Person-centred care extends further to include lived experiences, identity, and individual preferences

In dementia care, the most effective approach brings both together, where clinical precision is balanced with empathy, dignity, and a deep understanding of the individual. Many international models have refined this balance and have created truly sustainable and efficient models of elder care. Let’s take a closer look at them. 

What are some international models of elder care? 

Globally, dementia care has moved far beyond institutional, hospital-like environments into more humane, community-driven ecosystems. Countries in Northern and Western Europe, particularly the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark, have led this shift by building long-term care models that prioritise dignity, autonomy, and quality of life. These systems recognise that dementia care is not just about managing symptoms, but about enabling individuals to continue living meaningful, familiar lives within supportive environments.

• The Netherlands’ “dementia village” model (e.g., Hogeweyk) recreates real-life settings with homes, cafés, and outdoor spaces, where care is embedded into daily routines
• Nordic countries emphasise state-supported ageing in place, with strong public systems providing medical, therapeutic, and social support at home and in community settings
• The UK focuses on structured care pathways through the NHS, combining early diagnosis, community-based support, and specialised residential care
• Japan has developed an efficient long-term care insurance model that blends public funding with private service delivery to meet large-scale ageing needs

Despite differences in approach, these models share a common thread: dementia care is treated as a continuum, not a one-time intervention, centred on preserving dignity, autonomy, and quality of life at every stage.

What can Indian elder care learn from international care models? 

One of the most important lessons from international dementia care models is the shift from reactive to proactive care. Early diagnosis, structured routines, and consistent cognitive engagement are prioritised, as they significantly improve quality of life and help slow functional decline. These systems recognise that timely intervention can meaningfully change the trajectory of care.

• A strong focus on early diagnosis and proactive intervention rather than late-stage response
• Thoughtful environmental design, clear signage, familiar layouts, and sensory cues to reduce confusion and anxiety
• Well-trained caregivers are equipped not just with clinical skills, but also empathy, communication, and behavioural management techniques
• Active integration of families into the care process, enabling them to remain emotional anchors rather than primary caregivers

Together, these approaches reinforce that effective dementia care is not just clinical, but deeply human, where environment, people, and timely intervention work together to support dignity and overall well-being.

How to modify international care models to fit the current Indian elder care landscape? 

Directly transplanting global dementia care models into India would be impractical, given the differences in infrastructure, cultural expectations, and economic realities. While these models offer valuable direction, they need to be adapted thoughtfully to suit India’s scale and context.

• Affordability and scalability remain key challenges, as many Western systems rely on high public healthcare spending; India needs cost-effective models that can scale across urban and semi-urban settings
• Cultural expectations around family-led caregiving are deeply ingrained, so care models must include and support families rather than replace them
• Workforce gaps are significant, with a shortage of trained geriatric and dementia care professionals, making structured training and standardisation essential
• Infrastructure needs to be locally relevant, while large-scale dementia villages may not be feasible everywhere, smaller, community-based care hubs and assisted living models can deliver similar benefits

The way forward lies in adapting global principles, dignity, continuity of care, and community integration into models that are accessible, culturally aligned, and scalable within the Indian context, but these changes will come with their own unique set of challenges. 

What are some of the challenges that we face in the elder care landscape? 

India presents a unique mix of challenges and opportunities in dementia care. Strong family structures continue to offer a built-in support system, but stigma, low awareness, and limited access to specialised care often delay diagnosis and timely intervention. At the same time, urbanisation and the shift toward nuclear families are changing traditional caregiving dynamics, with many families no longer equipped, either in time or expertise, to provide sustained, full-time care at home.

• Family-led care remains a strength, but is increasingly under pressure due to changing lifestyles
• Stigma and low awareness continue to delay recognition and intervention
• Limited access to specialised dementia care restricts timely and appropriate support
• Urbanisation and nuclear families are reducing the feasibility of full-time home caregiving
• Linguistic and cultural diversity require highly adaptable, individualised care approaches

This makes a strong case for hybrid care models, where professional expertise supports and augments family involvement, ensuring that care is both clinically sound and culturally aligned, but with a diverse country like India, bringing together all these principles into a working, breathing model, we must adapt further. 

What kind of care works best for the Indian elder care landscape?

India does not need a single, standardised model for dementia care; it needs a spectrum of care options that can respond to different stages of the condition, varying family dynamics, and diverse socio-economic contexts. A flexible, layered approach allows care to evolve with the individual’s needs rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.

• Home-based care with professional support is effective in the early stages, enabling individuals to remain in familiar environments while receiving structured interventions
• Day care centres offer cognitive stimulation, routine, and social interaction, while also providing respite for family caregivers
• Assisted living and specialised memory care homes become critical in mid to advanced stages, where safety, supervision, and clinical oversight are essential
• Community-based clusters, smaller, localised care ecosystems, can bridge the gap between home and institutional care in a more scalable and culturally adaptable way
• Technology, including remote monitoring and cognitive tools, can extend care beyond physical settings and support continuity

Together, these models create a continuum of care: one that is adaptable, accessible, and better aligned with India’s realities and evolving needs. This, however, is not a simple project; it will require years of sustained effort through both private and government initiatives. Let us take a deeper look at what these initiatives will look like in practice. 

What is the role of the Indian government in shaping our elder care models? 

The government has a critical role in shaping the future of dementia care in India, particularly as the scale of ageing begins to place sustained pressure on families and healthcare systems. Dementia must be recognised not just as a private or family concern, but as a public health priority that requires long-term, systemic planning and investment.

• Policy frameworks need to explicitly prioritise geriatric and dementia care, with dedicated funding for infrastructure, workforce training, and research to build capacity across the care continuum
• Insurance coverage for long-term care remains limited and fragmented; expanding this, along with introducing supportive financing mechanisms, is essential to make quality care accessible beyond a small segment of the population
• Public awareness and destigmatisation campaigns are crucial to enable early diagnosis and timely intervention, shifting the narrative from denial to proactive care
• Standardisation and regulation of care services can help ensure consistent quality, safety, and accountability across both home-based and residential care providers
• Public-private partnerships can accelerate the development of scalable care models, combining innovation with wider reach and accessibility

A stronger, more coordinated policy approach can not only improve access and affordability, but also set the foundation for a more dignified and structured ageing experience across the country.

How is the private sector driving early elder care models in India, and how is it helping us? 

In the absence of extensive public infrastructure, the private sector has emerged as a key driver of innovation in dementia care in India. It is actively shaping new care models that respond to both clinical complexity and the evolving expectations of families, often filling critical gaps in access, quality, and awareness.

• Specialised elder care providers are building integrated models that combine clinical expertise with hospitality, emotional support, and everyday engagement
• Significant investments are being made in workforce development, including structured training programs to address the shortage of skilled dementia care professionals
• Technology-led solutions, such as remote health monitoring, safety systems, and cognitive engagement tools, are largely being developed and scaled by private players
• Private initiatives are also playing a role in shifting perceptions, positioning professional elder care as a supportive extension of family care rather than a replacement
• There is a growing focus on creating scalable, replicable care formats that can expand across cities while maintaining quality and consistency

While challenges around affordability and reach remain, the private sector continues to push the ecosystem forward, driving innovation, improving standards, and gradually reshaping how dementia care is understood and delivered in India. But, for this progress to be truly sustainable, care must become more inclusive and accessible, with an impact that extends beyond the economy to shape social life, lifestyles, and the broader fabric of society. 

What key changes are needed to make elder care more accessible and inclusive across India?

Several systemic changes are needed to make dementia care more accessible, effective, and sustainable in India. The current gaps are not just in infrastructure, but in awareness, workforce readiness, and how care is designed and delivered across diverse contexts.

• Awareness must improve significantly, as dementia is still widely misunderstood as a normal part of ageing, leading to delayed diagnosis and intervention
• Training and education need to scale rapidly, with caregiving recognised as a skilled profession supported by structured programs and clear career pathways
• Collaboration between the public and private sectors must be strengthened, enabling hybrid models that can bridge gaps in infrastructure, affordability, and reach
• Financing mechanisms, including insurance and subsidies, need to evolve to support long-term care needs
• Care models must remain flexible and adaptive, as India’s cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic diversity makes a one-size-fits-all approach ineffective

Addressing these areas together can help build a more responsive ecosystem, one that not only expands access to care but also improves its quality and relevance across population segments.

Conclusion

Global dementia care models offer valuable guidance, but their real impact in India will come from thoughtful adaptation rather than direct adoption. India has a unique opportunity to build a care ecosystem that blends global best practices with its own cultural strengths, particularly the role of families and community. By combining personalised and person-centred approaches, strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors, and designing care models that are both scalable and contextually relevant, the country can move toward a system that is not only efficient but deeply humane. The path forward is not about replicating what works elsewhere; it is about redefining what works here.