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Career Yatra
Health and Wellness

Elderly Caretaker (Non-clinical)

Assists elderly people with day-to-day activities, hygiene and a comfortable living environment.

After Class 10After Class 12GraduationPostgraduateCertificateDiplomaDegreeVocationalSelf-employmentPrivate Sector

Overview

The primary role of the elderly caretaker is to assist elderly person in day to day activities. It includes tasks such as ambulation, eating, dressing, toileting, grooming and in running errands. They also assist in sanitation and housekeeping duties of elderly person's room and maintain a hygienic and pleasant work environment.

Where they work

  • Elder care agencies
  • Homes
  • Elderly day care centres
  • Nursing homes
  • Hospices

Work environment

You are expected to work for 10/12 hours per day and 6 days a week. Entrepreneurship: after gaining some experience you may work independently by freelancing your services.

Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.

Skills and interests

This career might suit you if…

  • You like helping those around you
  • You are empathetic by nature
  • You have excellent communication skills
  • You are physically fit
Any StreamSciencehelping people

Eligibility and education roadmap

Durations are as printed on the source card for each level; please check the duration of the course during enrolment.

  1. 1Certificate — Certificate in Disability Care, Certificate in Special Needs Care. Eligibility: Minimum 10th or 12th grade. Duration: 3 to 6 months.
  2. 2Diploma — Eligibility: Minimum 10th or 12th grade completion. Duration: 1 year. Examples: Diploma in Caregiving for Persons with Disabilities, Diploma in Special Education for Disability Care.
  3. 3Undergraduate — Eligibility: 10+2 (Senior Secondary Education) with a background in Science or any other relevant field. Duration: 3 years. Examples: Bachelors in Disability Studies, Bachelors in Rehabilitation Science.
  4. 4Postgraduate — Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as nursing, healthcare, or social work. Duration: 2 years. Examples: Master's in Disability Studies, Master's in Special Education.
  5. 5Doctoral — Eligibility: Master's degree in a related field. Duration: 3 to 5 years. Examples: PhD in Disability Studies, PhD in Rehabilitation Science.
  6. 6Short-Term Courses on Disability Care, Online Training in Disability Assistance.

Forms, exams and applications

Not applicable / varies by institution — check directly with your chosen institute.

Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.

Where to apply

Government institutes

  • National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR), Sehore, Madhya Pradesh
  • Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Gurugram, Haryana

These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.

Career outcomes

Growth path

  • 1Trainee Elderly Care Giver
  • 2Elderly Care Giver
  • 3Supervisor/Process Supervisor
Self-employment possible

Expected income

₹11,000 – ₹12,000 per month

These figures are taken from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.

Source

Related careers to explore

Health and Wellness

Caregiver - Persons with Disabilities (Non-clinical)

Supports children, adolescents and adults with disabilities in the smooth functioning of daily life.

After Class 10CertificateDiploma
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Nurse

Trained to care for sick and infirm patients at hospitals or nursing homes.

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Student action plan

What you can do this month

  • Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
  • Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Science.
  • Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
  • Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
  • Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.

Example from the field

Yodda (founded by Tarun Sharma) — Yodda employs 100+ trained elder care professionals. Many senior citizens living in Pune, Mumbai, and Hyderabad are now enjoying the comfort and convenience of employing elder care service. Elder care used to be a segment which was unexplored, uncatered to, and untouched by big brands but this has been recently changed by companies such as Yodda, founded by Tarun Sharma.

Source

This profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.

Sources and update notice

  • Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 341 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
  • Income source: https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/elderly-caretaker-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm
  • Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21

The Educational Pathway panel printed on this card is the same disability-care pathway printed on the "Caregiver - Persons with Disabilities" card, so it describes disability-care qualifications rather than elder-care ones; it is reproduced as printed. The two institutes are printed as one unlabelled list. Verify current elder-care courses and eligibility on the institutes' official websites.

Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.