Friends to Founders: The Challenging Journey of Nurturing Aamra

Aamra is an initiative by Senior Surgeon Dr Akanksha Saxena and an IIT-IIM alumna, Ms Sripriya Yegneswaran, who are determined to redefine the way India cares for its seniors.

As I walked into this one-of-a-kind senior club at one of the upscale commercial complexes in Gurugram, there is a warm yet cool, happy ambience which instantly soothes the nerves amid the grueling hustle-bustle of this fast-paced city. This is an initiative to support the valuable members of society, from 60 years to the oldest at 92 years! While the urban centers are now buzzing with whirlwind routines, it is the senior members of our society, who find themselves alone, not finding enough mental stimulation, at times facing mental and physical deterioration.

What was born out of a personal turmoil, when Sripriya lost her mother and found her father, a retired scientist losing his cognitive ability and remaining quiet, Aamra is now steadily establishing itself as a holistic day club for seniors. While Sripriya’s father was in US with her brother, he would go daily to a community centre and spend his time constructively. Back in Gurugram, there was no such option. Sripriya spoke to her very close friend, Dr Akanksha, a doctor by profession, and soon both decided to establish Aamra, a seniors club located in the heart of Gurgaon. 

Aamra is not just a club for the valued senior members of our society, rather it is conceptualized as a place where preventive therapies and measures are practiced on daily basis to support their health. When a senior member walks in, after a comfortable period of settling down, the vitals are measured on a daily basis.

Sripriya shares with a visible passion, “There is a calendar that we follow.  After the vitals checkup, we focus on gentle exercise. After this, there is a session on cognitive care – talks on simple technological tasks, art classes, meditative practices, health talks, etc.” Adds Dr Akanksha, “Getting out of the house and getting dressed up itself is stimulating.” Both of them share that majority of the parents are brought to Aamra by daughters, who are always concerned for their emotional well-being apart from their physical health.    

Eliminating isolation, preventing fall and reducing hospitalization

“Everyday monitoring of the vital parameters of the elders helps in identifying any unwarranted fluctuations. This is a great preventive measure for a sudden hospitalization arising.” Quips Dr Akanksha, “Fall is one of the major causes of prolonged morbidity and even mortality. With this kind of monitoring, sudden spikes in blood pressure or blood sugar can be alarmed, thus preventing falls to an extent.”

Adds Sripriya, “Another aspect of fall prevention is building up strength which we foster through daily exercising.” When I was there, a group exercising session was being conducted. It was apparent that the elders were thoroughly enjoying the activity together. Sripriya and Dr Akanksha add with a smile, “We can see that the postures have become upright and the exercises are not strenuous.” The idea behind making seniors do regular exercising is to help them maintain balance and gain muscle strength. God forbid, if there is a fall, these exercise benefits will certainly help. 

Preventive physiotherapy

Mostly, physiotherapy is used as a healing therapy after a fall or an injury. However, at Aamra, the idea is to provide daily physiotherapy as a preventive measure and ensure a healthier life for seniors who are functional and trying to engage themselves in a better way. 

Explains Dr Akanksha, “We don’t wait for things to go wrong, we ensure life stays right. We co-founded Aamra to reimagine senior care—not just as medical support, but as daily connection, purpose, and dignity for people aged 60 and above. As a practicing doctor and community builder, I lead the development of programs, health protocols, and staff training to ensure every member feels seen, supported, and engaged. Aamra is a preventive, non-clinical space where older adults start their day with a health check, move together, learn together, and connect over conversation. Both Sripriya and I, are on a mission to make ageing joyful, active, and community-driven.

Being women founders

Haryana alone boasts of 45% of its 8,800+ DPIIT-recognized startups being founded or co-founded by women. Sripriya adds, “Generally women are considered softer. Yes, people do not take you seriously initially. However, if you are passionate about whatever problem you are solving, people do   understand the intent, Also, at this stage of our careers, we have become much more stable and ready to face the challenges.”

Whether you are a woman founder or not, a building a venture requires unimaginable amount of grit, determination and even capital, depending upon the startup idea. Sripriya explains, “It’s all about taking the plunge. If you feel very strongly about a problem, you will be able to figure it out. But remember, not to do it for the sake of vanity.” Sane advice, specially as both Sripriya and Dr Akanksha are building Aamra with utmost passion, empathy, care and nurturing. The future plans include major expansion to other metropolitan cities.   

Our very valued senior citizens need all the love, compassion, and care after spending their lives working hard and caring for others. At this juncture of their life, they are like a tree, still imparting care and wisdom. Aamra is trying to help the seniors live mentally and physically active and healthy. Kudos to the brilliant initiative!