Types of Elder Care
Home elder care in India generally comes in three tiers — companion caretakers (for company + light routines), certified GDAs (for bedside routines like feeding, hygiene, mobility), and qualified nurses (for medication, wound care, injections, monitoring). The right choice depends on the elder's clinical condition and daily routine.
Caretaker vs GDA vs Nurse
A companion caretaker is best when the elder is mostly independent and needs company + light help. A GDA is right when the elder is semi-dependent — needs feeding, hygiene, positioning. A nurse is required when there are ongoing clinical tasks — medication, wound care, catheter care, or complex monitoring.
How to Verify Staff
Always ask for police verification, ID proof, medical certification (for nurses), and hospital experience. Reputable providers do all this by default. Also ask about the supervisor structure — who checks on the caregiver, and how often?
Red Flags to Watch For
Avoid providers who: can't produce verification documents, promise same-day placement without any assessment, quote significantly below market rates, don't offer supervisor visits, or refuse to sign a written agreement. Elder care is a long-term relationship; quality matters more than price.
Cost Comparison (Delhi NCR, 2026)
Companion caretakers: ₹15–25k/month. GDAs: ₹18–30k/month. Nurses: ₹35–65k/month. 24×7 live-in vs shift-based pricing differs. Always ask about replacement policy and cancellation terms.