India, Sept. 20 -- In a not-so-distant past, families across many cultures followed an unspoken rhythm: parents reared children, who then looked after their parents as they aged. The idea of "parental care" was an extension of everyday life rather than a set arrangement. Every celebration, meal, and bedtime tale included the grandparents, who were an integral part of the family.

This rhythm is stuttering today. Elderly parents are more likely than ever to live alone in cities and towns across the world, particularly in urban areas. The way society interacts with its elders has changed as a result of the rise in nuclear families, the lure of careers in far-off cities or nations, and the mounting demands of contemporary life. For many, int...