Max Group’s Antara launches COVID Care at Home Services for seniors

New Delhi: Antara, a part of the $3 bln Max Group, today announced remote COVID care packages customized for seniors. The comprehensive and contactless COVID Care at Home packages are designed for seniors with mild symptoms to avoid the hassle of hospitalization. This announcement follows Antara’s recent foray into the ‘Assisted Care Services’ space with the launch of two new lines of business – ‘Care Homes’ and ‘Care at Home’.

In the wake of the current virus outbreak and the resultant lockdown, the elderly population, especially those living alone, have been forced to remain indoors without adequate support for their daily medical needs. As COVID cases witness a steady increase across the country, it is being advised to treat patients with mild symptoms at home to avoid exposures to infections at hospitals and to save hospital capacity for severe cases. The sudden increase in positive cases has also put immense pressure on the healthcare system leading to an acute shortage of space for patients with critical ailments.

Antara’s 15-day Home Isolation Care Package therefore aims to help patients with mild symptoms recover at home and offers:

· Comprehensive remote assessment for holistic care; Essential medical kit for health tracking and self-isolation; Daily vital monitoring by nurses, Regular telephonic doctor consults to track progress; Respiratory rehabilitation by experts to aid recovery; Physiological counselling to manage anxiety; a Nutrition plan to boost immunity as well as

· Preventive counselling for non-affected family members

Seniors are the most vulnerable and high-risk demographic segment due to pre-existing conditions and comorbidities, requiring active intervention especially in the midst of a major healthcare crisis. The senior population in India is fast growing with over 20 Mn elders who stay alone, and the number is slated to rise in the next two decades. The Indian consensus suggests the share of elders as a percentage of the total population in the country will have increased from around 7.5% in 2001 to almost 12.5% by 2026 and surpass 19.5% by 2050. Of the current 120 million senior population, 40 million have vision related problems, 3.7 million have diabetes and 1.7 million have cardiovascular ailments.

The Covid-19 outbreak has accelerated the demand for dependable and professional services and solutions for seniors. The potential market size of Assisted Care Services in India is valued at about $1 billion.

Commenting on the launch, Rajit Mehta, CEO and MD, Antara said, “The COVID Care at Home service is a thoughtful step by Antara to minimize the direct impact of the pandemic on seniors. The rapid increase in positive cases across the country and the resulting strain on the available healthcare infrastructure have made it difficult for seniors with mild symptoms to seek treatment or to be admitted to hospitals. Majority of the positive cases today are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms and may not require hospitalization.

Antara’s 15-day home isolation care packages are therefore carefully designed to assist those with minor symptoms and help them recover at home. With the launch of our new Care at Home service and given Max Group’s proven track record in the healthcare and hospitality space, we are well positioned to excel in this venture. The customer needs a trustworthy provider for such service offerings, and our rich legacy will help us stand in good stead.”

The COVID Care at Home offering from Antara is designed exclusively for seniors throughout Delhi NCR. A basic package can be availed at INR 6,000 and a comprehensive package at INR 15,000.