Dr Reema Nadig On What It Takes To Enhance Senior Well-Being In India

India is experiencing a demographic shift with a rapidly ageing population. The number of senior citizens in the country is expected to reach over 300 million by 2050, according to a 2023 study by the United Nations Population Fund and the International Institute for Population Sciences. Therefore, there is a burgeoning need for specialised care and focused healthcare solutions tailored to the elderly.

Dr Reema Nadig is a healthcare professional and entrepreneur dedicating her career to improving senior care in India. She is the Director & Group COO of Columbia Pacific Communities, seniorshield, and KITES Senior Care, which focuses on post-hospitalisation recovery, palliative care, and support for patients with conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Dr Nadig shared her journey in the healthcare industry and what drove her to prioritise senior care in India. She also detailed the stigmas and challenges faced by elderly people in India and how she strives to not only provide medical care but also foster comfort and dignity.

SheThePeople in conversation with Dr Reema Nadig

STP: Can you briefly introduce yourself—where you're from, your educational background, and how you got into this field?

Dr Nadig: I am Dr. Reema Nadig, a medical professional turned healthcare entrepreneur, deeply committed to redefining senior care in India. A Punjabi by birth, born and brought up in Nagaland (the eastmost state of India), studied in Maharashtra, and now settled in south India. I have completed my MBBS and an MBA in Hospital Management, I recently completed the Advanced Management Program in Healthcare at the Indian School of Business to strengthen my leadership and business acumen.

My career spans over 25 years, covering clinical practice, health insurance, medical devices, and hospital operations before we founded KITES Senior Care in 2016. The journey into senior care was driven by a deep recognition of the unmet needs of India’s elderly population, particularly in post-hospitalization recovery, palliative care, and dementia care.

STP: What is the story behind KITES? What inspired you to establish a senior living center focused on people with Alzheimer's and dementia?

Dr Nadig: KITES Senior Care was born from a realization that India’s healthcare system focuses largely on curative care, often overlooking the needs of the elderly who require long-term support. My exposure to healthcare systems made me recognize the stark gap in geriatric care in India. One pivotal moment was seeing families struggle to care for their aging loved ones, particularly those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The emotional and physical toll on caregivers was immense, yet there were limited specialized care options.

I knew we needed a compassionate, structured approach to ensure dignity, quality of life, and support for both seniors and their families. That’s what inspired KITES—to provide not just medical care but also an ecosystem where aging is embraced with empathy and purpose.

STP: What kind of activities, therapies, and treatments do you offer to enhance the residents’ quality of life?

Dr Nadig: At KITES, we take a holistic approach, integrating medical expertise with emotional and cognitive well-being. Our programs include:

• We have a care plan driven clinical approach, which is mile stone driven
• Music, art, and pet therapy to stimulate emotional connections and reduce anxiety.
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy to maintain mobility and independence.
• Engagement programs tailored to individual interests, from storytelling sessions to gardening.
• Nutritional and wellness plans designed for optimal health.
• Cognitive and reminiscence therapies to engage memory and slow progression in dementia patients.
• Family counselling and support groups to help caregivers navigate the challenges of senior care.

We believe in person-centred care, where every individual receives a customized plan that enhances their comfort and joy.

STP: In India, are there any stigmas faced by people with Alzheimer's or dementia? How are you trying to shatter misconceptions and raise more awareness about dealing with people with such conditions?

Yes, stigma and misinformation around Alzheimer’s and dementia remain significant challenges in India. Many still believe that memory loss is just “a normal part of aging” rather than a medical condition requiring specialized care. Families often hesitate to seek professional help, either due to societal judgment or a lack of awareness about available support.

We are actively working to change this narrative through awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and caregiver support programs. One of our initiatives has been using creative mediums like art exhibitions and storytelling to humanize dementia and bring its realities into public conversations. Our goal is to replace fear and stigma with understanding and empathy so that people with dementia and their families feel supported rather than isolated.

STP: Caring for the elderly is not very easy. How do you ensure your team is feeling enthusiastic and emotionally strong to deal with the patients?

Dr Nadig: Elder care is deeply fulfilling but also emotionally demanding. We focus on care for the caregivers—ensuring our team feels valued, supported, and motivated. We provide:

• Regular training to equip them with the latest skills in senior care.
• Mental health support, including stress management sessions.
• Rotational breaks and wellness programs to prevent burnout.
• Recognition programs to celebrate their contributions.

Most importantly, we instill a sense of purpose—helping them see the impact of their work on the lives of seniors and their families. This intrinsic motivation is what keeps our team going every day.

STP: As a woman in healthcare and entrepreneurship, what are gender dynamics like in your profession? Have you faced any challenges or biases?

Dr Nadig: Healthcare has a strong representation of women in clinical roles, but leadership and entrepreneurship remain largely male-dominated. As a woman in a manpower-intensive, operations-heavy business, I’ve faced my share of biases—being second-guessed, having to work harder to prove credibility, and sometimes being measured against different standards than my male counterparts.

However, my journey has reinforced that it’s not gender but intelligence, vision, and leadership that truly matter. My business partner Raj and I have built KITES Senior Care into an organization where women are not just part of the workforce but are also actively leading and shaping its future. From clinical leadership to strategic decision-making, we have empowered women to take charge, proving that competence and capability are what drive success, not gender. Today, our organization is recognized not just for the care we provide but also for the strong, diverse leadership team that is redefining senior care in India.

STP: When you are feeling unmotivated, is there any particular memory from your career that you like to recall that can instantly uplift your spirits? What has been the best part about being in your profession?

Dr Nadig: One of the most profound moments was when a resident’s daughter, who had been struggling to care for her father with advanced dementia, broke down in tears and told me, "For the first time in years, I feel like his daughter again, not just his caregiver." That reaffirmed why we do what we do—giving families the ability to love and cherish their elders without being consumed by the burden of care.

The best part of my profession is knowing that our work is transforming lives—not just for seniors but for entire families. Watching someone regain their strength after rehabilitation, seeing an Alzheimer’s patient smile because a song triggered a long-lost memory—these are the moments that make everything worthwhile.