Honoring the Need to Age with Dignity: Tutku Care Uses Smart Technology to Personalize and Transform Senior Care

[ACCESSWIRE]

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2022 / For people who are past retirement, aging can be challenging and often lonely. During this phase of life, what matters is having a sense of physical and emotional stability. For many seniors, their sense of pride and dignity means that they did not want to be a burden to their nearest relatives by revealing any difficulties that they have, and thus they cope as best as they can. Rustam, the CEO of Tuktu Care Inc., realized that even a little support and companionship can go a long way towards enhancing the quality of life of seniors like his parents.

Oftentimes, the closest relatives of many seniors feel compelled to put their loved ones in retirement homes as they might be at higher risk of physical injuries and mental isolation if they remain in their own homes without companionship or any support for essential tasks. Care homes, though expensive, appear to be the only alternative in such a scenario. The Tutku app offers a middle path where seniors can retain a measure of independence by staying in their own homes without having to deal with the burden of physically demanding tasks like cleaning and gardening. The app acts as a platform to connect seniors who need assistance with members of their local communities. Rustam Sengupta, the man behind the app, is Indian by origin, Canadian by citizenship, and global in outlook. To add to the trajectory of his experiences, he graduated with an MBA from INSEAD and had a successful solar mini-grid company called Boond. Inspired by his own personal experience as a son who had settled in a country far away from his parents, Rustam found a gap in the senior support system. And so he developed the Tuktu App.

The Tuktu App was developed to help seniors be in charge of how they age, as they can continue to remain in their home and enable families to manage care for their loved ones remotely. The app sources people from the community to assist them with tasks or join them for their hobbies like golf or fishing, and thus enjoy some companionship to boost their mental health. Before members register on the app and offer their services, they undergo background checks and training for the service they offer which in all equip them for the position. The app works to the benefit of both parties: the seniors, who benefit from the services for a reasonable fee, and the community members, who benefit from extra income. With 13,000 kilometers separating Rustam and his parents, it was a matter of great concern to him that he would not be there to assist them if they ever needed his help. Rustam was juggling many roles-that of a serial entrepreneur, father, husband, and son-and even had he been there and willing to help, he knew all too well that he might not necessarily have the time to provide them with the help they need.

"With the global population aging at a rapid rate and birth rates dropping across most of the developed world, we are on the cusp of a crisis. In my opinion, community based care is an alternative that will not only allow seniors access to the services they need but will also help younger members of their local communities to develop a measure of empathy. In an era of inflation and rising costs of living, seniors can use all the help they can get to live within their means. As a serial entrepreneur, this is definitely the venture that is closest to my heart." Rustam Sengupta, the company's founder and CEO, stated Studies have linked social isolation and loneliness in seniors to higher levels of risk for many physical and mental conditions, ranging from high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity to dementia and anxiety. In many cases, the sense of isolation that they experience and the physical difficulties they experience coping with day to day tasks like cleaning and gardening often cause seniors and their loved ones to take the difficult decision to move to care homes or retirement communities. This is not only highly expensive but also means uprooting themselves from familiar surroundings and the people they have known all their lives.

Rustam's multicultural background and stints in many parts of the world for both study and work have shaped his perspective on life. An engineer by training, he has worked in many parts of the world as a banker, business consultant, and serial entrepreneur. There are many like him who have migrated and live far away from their loved ones. According to the United Nations, there are 281 million international migrants. In his role as the CEO of Tutku Care, he has effectively used his technical knowledge and entrepreneurial expertise to help seniors like his parents live a life of dignity and independence.

In the long run, his plan is to take Tutku Care global. Rustam believes that this system can work in any part of the world, provided that there are investors, seniors, and members of the community who are willing to make this model work to provide seniors in every community with the support they need to age with dignity.

Media Contact:

Name: Hannah Teeporten
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Tuktu