Many non-resident Indians have lived abroad for many years, and they have every intention of continuing with their stay abroad. While the NRI goes about his business overseas, the parents continue to age, eventually reaching a point where they either leave India to live with the child or require care at home. Many elderly have no desire to leave their home, and this is where a wire transfer to India allows the expat child to care for his aging parents.
Although the elderly would dearly love to have their children and grandchildren around them in their old age, many times this is simply not a practical option. There are, however, some necessary needs that the child can cater to from abroad. These needs can be paid for by remitting money via a wire transfer to India. These needs include:
- Health care: Health care for the elderly generally consists of general check-ups, house calls and in-house nursing. Specialized care is also often a necessity.
- Financial security: The monthly pensions that most elderly in India receive are insufficient for their needs. To live a decent life in old age, adequate money is forwarded home by wire transfer to India.
- Companionship: There must be sufficient money to allow for entertainment and human engagement to combat loneliness.
To cater to the needs of aging parents and relatives, above and beyond sending money home, the non-resident Indian has other options, which can be opted for. It takes very little of the NRIs foreign income to provide the parents with a reasonably comfortable and satisfying life. This can be done by engaging the services of professionals in India. There are a number of institutions and other recognized organizations that provide care for the elderly in their own homes. They offer a host of services, including:
- Assessment by a physician on a scheduled basis
- On-demand medical care by a doctor and free regular visits by nurses
- Organizing parties and day trips for people of similar background
- Ensuring regular communication with the overseas child via telephone or video chat
- Payment of bills and rent collections
These services are not expensive for the NRI, they average about $1,000 to $1,500 annually, but this excludes any required medical expenses.
Arranging for a full-time care giver:
An option that many NRIs are taking is to hire the full time services of a nurse who provides 24-hour care in the home. This is an excellent option as there is a sense of security knowing that the parents are being looked after at all times, and being looked after by someone who can deliver medical care that may be required.
