At 80, Bhaskar Mehta is not slowing down — he is dancing. After a teleconsultation through a senior citizen app, he changed his diet and soon found his energy levels soaring. That’s when he picked up dancing again. Similarly, Mala Mehta found new meaning in life through another app. “I learn something every day, my physical health is taken care of, and I have my circle of people here,” she says. Such stories are becoming increasingly common as technology reshapes ageing in India. From teleconsultations to digital pharmacies, SOS alerts to meditation sessions, today’s seniors are rediscovering vitality and purpose — right from their smartphones. And this shift is no longer just about joining WhatsApp family groups or forwarding good morning messages.
Inclusive Tech Talk
So, how is this digital revolution unfolding for India’s elderly? Take the example of GenS Life, a platform built for seniors by someone who intimately understood the needs of that stage in life. Meenakshi Menon created the app at 66, when she felt society was beginning to see her only through the lens of age. “I remember requesting an iPhone and being told it might be ‘too sophisticated’ for someone my age. That moment underscored a larger societal issue,” she reflects.
Her answer was to create GenS Life — a thoughtfully curated digital ecosystem that promotes safety, independence, and joy for those over 60. The app’s flagship ‘Safety Circle’ allows users to instantly alert five emergency contacts. It also includes medication reminders, wellness content, financial planning tools, concierge services, and even curated travel experiences. With a multi-language, user-friendly interface, GenS Life makes sure no senior is left behind due to tech barriers.
“After turning 60, I realised there were very few inclusive, empowering spaces for people in this age group to thrive,” says Menon. GenS Life was her response — a platform grounded in empathy, built to enable seniors to live, not just exist.
School Of Thoughts
Khyaal, another standout app, was born from Hemanshu Jain’s personal journey. “I used to travel extensively for work, and my father would often call for help with simple tasks like renewing OTT subscriptions. It made me realise how dependent he had become — and how widespread that problem is,” he recalls. Along with co-founder Pritish Nelleri, Jain created Khyaal as a one-stop solution for ageing with dignity and joy.
Khyaal offers daily live sessions like yoga, music and Antakshari, plus on-demand assistance for booking tickets, doctor appointments, and more. It features a prepaid Smart Card for secure financial transactions and a gamified reward system called Khyaal Coins. A particularly heartwarming feature is ‘Memory Lane’, which colorizes old black-and-white photos, serving as reminiscence therapy. From mental wellness to elder employment, Khyaal is all about holistic senior care.
The impact is real. Saraswati Devdas, a GenS Life user, used to rely on her son to book rides to Siddhivinayak Temple. Now, with the concierge service on the app, she not only handles it herself but also shops, attends events, and explores her independence. Navneeta Parmar, once intimidated by finance, now manages her investments confidently with the app’s built-in House of Alpha support.
For users like Mala Mehta, Khyaal is more than an app. “Khyaal is my family. The volunteers treat us respectfully and patiently. I can talk about anything during discussions, and people don’t judge me. I love the Antakshari sessions where I get to sing with others.”
Suman Mahajan, another Khyaal user, says, “Millennials have brought a 360-degree turn to our lives. We sing, play, cook, draw, and talk every day. From food stories on Thursdays to mental health sessions on Fridays, each activity brings knowledge, joy, and spontaneity.” But Khyaal and GenS Life are just the beginning. Other emerging platforms are adding dimension to this digital silver revolution (See Box)
This emotional shift is perhaps the most powerful part of the story. Technology is helping seniors reduce loneliness, regain confidence, and rediscover purpose. Sandhya Iyer, 69, a retired teacher from Bengaluru, once feared she’d be left behind in a fast-moving world. “Earlier, I used to wait for someone to help me. Now I do it all myself—it makes me feel young again,” she says.
Still, challenges remain. Many elderly people struggle with digital literacy, poor accessibility, and a persistent fear of online fraud. Rural access is patchy, and some apps still aren’t fully senior-friendly. But the trajectory is hopeful.
With India’s senior population expected to reach 340 million by 2050, the rise of “silver tech” is a sunrise sector. Startups, caregivers, and families are now reimagining ageing—not as a slow retreat, but as a vibrant, independent, and emotionally fulfilling chapter of life. The future isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better. And for India’s elders, the journey is just getting started.
