As India’s senior population grows, so does the demand for innovative and compassionate elder care solutions that address both clinical and emotional well-being. Founded in 2016, KITES Senior Care has emerged as a trailblazer in geriatric care, offering a comprehensive range of services from post-operative rehabilitation to dementia and palliative care. With over 5,300 seniors cared for across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, KITES continues to redefine elder care in India.
In this exclusive interview with TheCSRUniverse, Dr. Reema Nadig, Director & Group COO of Columbia Pacific Communities, Seniorshield, and KITES Senior Care, discusses the organization’s journey, its personalized and technology-driven approach, the challenges of delivering quality care, and their ambitious plans for expansion.
Scroll down to discover how KITES is not just providing care but also empowering seniors to lead dignified, independent, and fulfilling lives:
Q. Could you share the initial vision behind founding KITES Senior Care in 2016? What primary objectives did you set to address the needs of elder care in India?
A. When KITES Senior Care was founded in 2016, our vision was to address a major gap in India’s healthcare landscape: specialized care for the elderly. With a growing senior population facing age-related health challenges, there was a strong need for specialized elder care services that went beyond basic nursing or at-home assistance. Our objective was to create a dependable, high-quality elder care system that emphasizes not only the clinical and rehabilitative needs of seniors but also respects their emotional well-being and dignity.
At KITES, we recognized that families often struggled with the demands of caregiving, especially for seniors with chronic conditions or recovery needs. Our goal was to become a trusted ‘out of hospital’ care continuum partner that families could rely on, offering care that combines clinical expertise with compassion. From addressing post-operative needs and dementia care to offering palliative and respite services, we set out to build a comprehensive and dedicated elder care solution that could truly make a difference in the lives of seniors across India.
Q. Your services cover post-operative, rehabilitative, palliative, dementia, and respite care. How are these services structured across your specialised facilities and home-based care, and what differentiates KITES Senior Care’s approach from other elder care providers?
A. Our services at KITES Senior Care are carefully structured to cater to a wide range of elder care needs through both specialized facilities and home-based care. In our specialized care facilities, we provide dedicated spaces designed to support post-operative recovery, rehabilitation, dementia care, and palliative care. These centres are staffed by experienced healthcare professionals trained specifically in geriatric care, and our rehabilitation units are equipped with equipment and programs tailored to aid in the faster and more holistic recovery of seniors.
For seniors who prefer to receive care at home, we offer structured, reliable home-based care that includes medical and non-medical assistance. This allows us to provide a continuum of care that adapts to the evolving needs of each individual, whether they require intensive support or routine monitoring.
What differentiates KITES Senior Care from other providers is its personalized approach that seamlessly integrates both clinical excellence and compassionate care. Focusing on empowering seniors, KITES strives to preserve their independence while involving families in the care process. Each senior receives an individualized care plan tailored to their specific medical, psychological, and social needs, ensuring a positive and respectful environment.
KITES offers a comprehensive range of services, from post-hospitalization and rehabilitation to dementia, palliative, and respite care. The team’s commitment to elder-centric expertise, along with a focus on continuous, personalized attention, makes KITES a leader in geriatric care. With specialized infrastructure, expert teams, and a patient-centred approach, KITES redefines elder care, offering a safe, dignified, and recovery-focused environment for seniors.
Q. Since 2016, KITES has cared for over 5,300 seniors in Bengaluru and Hyderabad and Chennai Could you share some success stories or examples of how KITES Senior Care has positively impacted the lives of elderly patients and their families?
A. KITES Senior Care has profoundly impacted the lives of seniors like Mr. Hasif ul Haq, a 77-year-old gentleman who experienced a life-changing journey under their care. Having suffered from significant health challenges, including a severe fall resulting in head injuries and a hip fracture, Mr. Haq initially faced immense difficulties in performing basic activities such as walking or using the bathroom.
Through the dedicated efforts of the KITES team and the compassionate support of professionals like Dr. Roovi, Mr. Haq’s health has seen remarkable improvement. He now enjoys a renewed sense of independence, being able to walk, sit, and perform daily activities with confidence. His recovery highlights the effectiveness of KITES Senior Care’s patient-centric approach, combining personalized treatment plans and advanced rehabilitation techniques. This story is a testament to the transformative care KITES provides, helping seniors regain not just their physical abilities but also their confidence and quality of life.
Another success story has made a significant difference in the life of Mr. Sreenivasan, who has been under their care for the past two months. Initially unable to walk, Mr. Sreenivasan’s physical condition has greatly improved thanks to the exceptional service provided by the team, including the support of George, the researchers, and the medical staff. His recovery has enabled him to regain independence, allowing him to walk properly and perform daily tasks without assistance.
The positive and friendly environment at KITES, with its compassionate doctors, nurses, and fellow patients, has further contributed to Mr. Sreenivasan’s well-being. His journey is a testament to KITES Senior Care’s commitment to offering personalized, compassionate care that empowers seniors to regain their independence, confidence, and overall quality of life.
Q. With the recent USD 5.4 million Series A funding, what specific initiatives or improvements will KITES focus on to enhance its services in existing and new locations? How will the technology platform enhance the care experience and support active ageing?
A. With the recent USD 5.4 million Series A funding, KITES Senior Care is poised to significantly enhance and expand our services across existing and new locations. This investment will fuel our growth from 340 beds to 1,000 beds, increasing our presence from 5 centers to 15 centers and expanding our footprint from 3 cities to 6 cities, with a primary focus on South India.
Our technology platform will play a pivotal role in revolutionizing the care experience and supporting active aging. By leveraging advanced digital tools, our platform will enable seamless coordination of care, real-time health monitoring, and personalized wellness programs. It will also include interactive engagement hubs that foster mental well-being and social connection, curated e-commerce solutions for seniors, and job opportunities tailored for older adults seeking purposeful engagement.
This integrated approach will empower seniors to lead fulfilling lives while providing families peace of mind, knowing their loved ones receive top-quality care. Our vision is to redefine senior living and care, combining compassionate, personalized services with innovative technology for a holistic, dignified aging experience.
Q. What challenges does KITES face in delivering specialized geriatric care, both in facility-based and home-based settings? How does KITES address these challenges to maintain quality and accessibility?
A. Delivering high-quality geriatric care in India presents unique challenges, given the country's evolving eldercare landscape. One of the foremost challenges is the shortage of trained geriatric healthcare professionals. As a manpower-intensive industry, eldercare relies heavily on skilled individuals who bring both expertise and compassion to their roles. At KITES Senior Care, we address this by employing innovative recruitment methods to attract the right talent and investing significantly in training. Our in-house programs focus not only on technical upskilling but also on nurturing the empathy and patience critical for caring for seniors.
Another key challenge is the diversity of care needs among the elderly, ranging from intensive rehabilitation and dementia care to lighter, home-based assistance. To ensure quality and consistency across both facility-based and home-based care, we have developed structured protocols, robust quality checks, and continuous monitoring systems. These efforts ensure that every senior receives personalized, high-quality care tailored to their specific needs, regardless of the setting.
Affordability and accessibility are additional considerations for families seeking elder care. Recognizing this, we are exploring innovative pricing models to make our services more accessible without compromising quality. We also believe that insurance has the potential to play a pivotal role in transforming senior care. We are advocating for innovative insurance products tailored to eldercare, and initiatives like the PM-JAY scheme are positive steps toward empowering elder health in India.
Ultimately, geriatric care is a "touch-and-feel" industry, deeply reliant on human connection. At KITES, our unwavering commitment is to provide compassionate care that upholds the dignity of every senior while supporting their families during this crucial phase of life.
Q. What are KITES Senior Care’s future plans for scaling up and potentially reaching more cities across India? Are there specific partnerships, innovations, or new service areas that KITES is exploring?
A. KITES Senior Care has established itself as South India’s premier geriatric care provider, dedicated to delivering compassionate, specialized ‘out of hospital’ care to the elderly. With our deep-rooted commitment to elder well-being and a strong reputation in the region, we are now embarking on an exciting journey of expansion, taking our services to leading cities like Pune.
Our immediate focus is to broaden our network of specialized care facilities across cities while reinforcing our home-based care model. This approach ensures that seniors, whether in our centres or at home, receive the same high level of personalized and quality care that has defined KITES from the start.
Further, as we encompass a wide range of seniors ranging from healthy to sick, we are enhancing our services to include wellness and lifestyle programs, recognizing the integral connection between physical, mental, and emotional well-being for seniors. Our vision is to create a truly holistic elder care ecosystem, positioning KITES Senior Care as a national leader in quality, compassionate, and comprehensive elder support.
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