Senior Saathi Program

Background

In India, families are evolving and migration patterns are rapidly shifting. The average senior citizen today has less opportunities for social interaction despite their rich life experiences and wisdom. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 13.4% of older adults (aged 60+) reported frequent feelings of loneliness and depression associated with illnesses like Alzheimer’s, dementia and cognitive decline. In addition, conditions such as widowhood and living alone have also led to these experiences of distress in old age. There is also another more disturbing aspect of issues faced by elders that includes senior citizen abandonment, which leads to emotional distress in addition to the physical difficulties of growing old.


Senior Saathi is a senior citizen program built on the belief that both generations have something important to offer each other. This program, therefore, is not a one-way model of support, but a shared companionship rooted in mutual respect and learning. While young people can offer their time and energy, older adults can bring valuable wisdom and experience. This inter-generational exchange promotes two-way emotional and social well-being and actively challenges the notion that older people are only recipients of help. Through Senior Saathi, elders are invited to share their skills, mentor youth, participate in community activities and continue to play an active role in the world around them.

This aligns with the broader global  movement around “aging well”, which emphasizes self-worth, contribution and emotional resilience in later life.

Our Senior Saathi Program

The Senior Saathi program matches a young volunteer with a senior citizen. Once matched, the senior citizen and the Youngistaan Foundation volunteer will engage in regular weekend meetups at community spaces such as the Senior Saathi Club. During their 1-2 hours together, activities of shared interests will include:

  • Spending time talking, reading newspapers, playing indoor games or taking walks.
  • Exploring smartphones and other digital tools to set reminders, learn how to use WhatsApp and its features such as video calls.
  • Connecting older adults to relevant services, such as counselling, digital assistance, legal support or local civic resources through partner organizations.
  • Attending community events or apartment-level gatherings together to offer companionship and encouragement.
  • Sharing meals, discussing films or simply sitting together in reflective silence, creating space for presence.
  • Listening attentively to stories while sharing their own perspectives to foster emotional connection.
  • Engaging in simple hobbies like gardening, knitting, singing or organizing photo albums.
  • Organizing small celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries or festivals to build shared happiness.
  • Collaborating on creative activities like journaling or art, guided by the interests of senior citizens.
  • Encouraging inter-generational exchanges where elders mentor, teach or share skills to inspire young people.

The Senior Saathi program is a multi-stakeholder initiative driven by community participation following this basic structure and process:

  • The The Hyderabad District collector’s office will provide coordination, administrative support, legal support and ensure the programme is aligned with local governance systems.
  • The Senior Citizens Welfare Department will guide the programme to ensure it meets the emotional, social, and practical needs of the elderly.
  • Youngistaan Foundation, a non-governmental organization, will onboard and train youth volunteers to act as ‘Saathis’ or companions. As part of the process, psychometric assessments and background verification will be conducted to ensure that only emotionally stable and reliable individuals are on-boarded.
  • The RWAs will help identify elderly residents who may be interested or in need of support, and they will also host regular intergenerational gatherings.

It is important to note that the activities that are mentioned above are conducted after a thorough discussion between the young volunteer and the senior citizen to ensure the comfort of both involved. The focus of Senior Saathi is not care giving but companionship that is grounded in dignity, empathy and shared humanity. Senior Saathis are not expected to provide medical care, physical assistance or manage personal errands for elders. Their role does not include entering private homes without prior consent, administering medications, or handling financial or legal matters.

Instead, the initiative encourages meaningful social interaction through regular conversations, shared activities in public or community spaces, and emotional presence. The young volunteers are trained to uphold clear boundaries, maintain confidentiality and ensure the comfort and consent of both themselves and the senior citizens they engage with. At its heart, Senior Saathi promotes respectful relationships that value connection over service, and presence over obligation.

Our Impact

  • Our volunteers became companions to multiple senior citizens to create mutually transformative experiences

Get Involved

  • You can sign up here to become a companion to senior citizens

Key Facts

Further Reading

Comments are closed.