Antara Senior Care Signs MoU with IIT Delhi to Design Innovative Mobility-aid Solutions for Seniors
New Delhi: Antara, an integrated service provider for all lifestyle and lifecare solutions for seniors and a part of the $4 bn Max Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Delhi on Wednesday, announcing a collaboration to design mobility-aid products for seniors.
As per Antara, in recent decades, India has witnessed a notable increase in life expectancy due to improved living conditions and advancements in healthcare. Consequently, the proportion and size of the elderly population have risen steadily. Mobility-associated disabilities are almost inevitable after attaining a certain age, followed by hearing and visual impairments.
Antara, recognising these concerns, has collaborated with the Department of Design at IIT Delhi for research and product development. This partnership will encompass diverse projects, ranging from mobility-assisting physical products to cognitive enhancement games aimed at delaying the onset of dementia.
The collaboration includes knowledge transfer, research consultancy, EDPs, and the sharing of laboratories. It focuses on developing inclusive design solutions to enhance safety, independence, cognition, and communication issues for the geriatric population at large. One such project is designing a walking aid for the elderly.
According to Antara, extensive research, including surveys and interviews with elderly individuals, revealed that seniors prefer mobility aids that offer intermittent rest options. This insight led to the conceptualisation of a new mobility aid that will address the issues faced by seniors through inclusive design solutions.
While signing the MoU, Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations, IIT Delhi, said, “Addressing the needs of our senior citizens is crucial, and through this collaboration, it is aimed to create innovative solutions that enhance their quality of life. Mobility aid products not only provide physical support but also promote independence and confidence, enabling the elderly to maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Ishaan Khanna, CEO, Antara Assisted Care Services, said, “For Antara, this association is the natural progression towards offering comprehensive, quality solutions for seniors as it incorporates our learnings over the past decade. As the only integrated service provider for senior care, we have continuously evolved to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the seniors in India. This collaboration with IIT Delhi will help us leverage technology and R&D to co-create innovative, relevant solutions to address the lifestyle and life care needs of seniors, empowering them to lead a life of dignity and autonomy.”
Prof. Sabyasachi Paldas, Department of Design, IIT Delhi, stated, “There is a need to focus on the design of products and built environments that reduce constraints for seniors to participate in social and productive activities. This association hopes to build on the opportunities an aging population provides to help them lead independent and fulfilling lives.”
Prof. Gourab Kar, Department of Design, IIT Delhi, added, “Our research-informed design approach seeks to develop inclusive design solutions for and with the elderly that not only improve their functional performance but also enhance their quality of life.”