The Trinity of Support: Negotiating Space and Care for Older Adults in a Transitioning Society

Debasis Barik Neerad Deshmukh Sharan Sharma Sonalde Desai

Drawing on nationally representative data from two waves of the India Human Development Survey, this paper examines how family structures, functional health, work participation, and state support interact to shape the well-being of Indians aged 60 and above. We document a gradual decline in intergenerational co-residence, alongside rising proportions of older adults

living alone or only with a spouse. While family remains the primary source of care and income support, the role of the state has significantly expanded through pensions and health insurance schemes. We argue that the emerging landscape of ageing in India rests on a shifting “trinity” of support—family, self, and the state—each of which must adapt to demographic and gender transformations to ensure secure and dignified ageing.