Senior Living Projects in Demand in Covid

The covid-19 outbreak is opening up new business opportunities for companies providing care for senior citizens, as families seek to shield elders who are easy targets for the novel coronavirus. Antara, a subsidiary of Max India Ltd, is among companies planning to expand their presence in senior citizen care. Antara, started by Max Group expects the covid-19 pandemic to boost demand for such services as people seek to isolate and protect their elderly. Such facilities have traditionally catered to senior citizens with assisted living needs. Antara this week launched new projects: Care Home—a rental housing-cum-service—and Care at Home—a housing service—this week, as part of a business revamp called ‘Antara 2.0’. The firm said it will spend ?300 crore over the next 3-4 years to expand its business. Real estate developer Ozone Group, which operates a retirement community, Covai Urbana Irene, in Bengaluru, has seen a 25-30% increase in enquiries for its senior living facilities over the last one month as compared to before the lockdown. Industry body Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) said that the government should remove goods and services tax (GST) on the services, and also come out with regulations and a code of practice for the sector. “Senior living and care is an idea whose time has come for India. We need government support and handholding but that is not happening," ASLI founder and chairman-emeritus Mansoor Dalal said.   Photo Credit- Ashiana Senior-Living-Project Bhiwadi