Inequality in Informal Care Receipt by Socio-Economic Status in India – Evidence from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India

The Indian population is rapidly aging, leading to an increasing demand for long-term care. Dependent individuals predominantly rely on care provided by family members; however, especially poorer individuals may face difficulties in receiving such support. This study investigates wealth-related inequality and inequity of informal care receipt among older Indian citizens. Using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017–2019), our sample consists of 12,913 individuals aged 60 years and older with functional limitations. Concentration indices and horizontal inequity indices are calculated to identify inequalities in informal care receipt by household wealth. In addition, regression analyses are used to examine the relationship between various individual characteristics and informal care receipt. Results show that individuals from wealthier households more often receive informal care, also when standardizing for differences in care needs. Furthermore, in addition to care needs, several non-need-related variables such as having co-residing children and higher educational attainment are associated with the probability of receiving informal care. The findings highlight the need for policies aimed at increasing access to (informal) long-term care, particularly for individuals from poorer households. This could be achieved, for example, by targeting formal long-term care services or by providing support to informal caregivers in poorer households.