Visakhapatnam has about 36 old age homes, based on geocoded business listings updated on 1 April 2026. That is the highest count in Andhra Pradesh, ahead of Vijayawada with 22 and Guntur with 19, out of roughly 247 listed statewide. Andhra Pradesh also has one of India's largest networks of government-funded senior citizen homes, which changes the picture considerably.
How many old age homes are in Visakhapatnam right now?
No state body publishes a live count for the city. Here is what the available sources show.
| Source | What it counts | Vizag figure | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rentech Digital (Smartscrapers) mapped listings | Geocoded facilities tagged as old age homes, assisted living or retirement homes | 36 | 1 April 2026 |
| Same dataset, Andhra Pradesh statewide | All such facilities in the state | 247 | 1 April 2026 |
| Same dataset, other AP cities | Vijayawada 22, Guntur 19, Kurnool 7, Tirupati 6 | For scale | 1 April 2026 |
Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur together account for 77 of Andhra Pradesh's 247 listed facilities. The rest are scattered thinly across smaller towns, often one or two per town.
What the count includes, and what it misses
- Documentation in the AP file is unusually sparse. Only 8 of the state's 247 entries have a website and just 13 carry a phone number in the dataset. Several Visakhapatnam records are little more than a name and coordinates, and some carry residential-sounding names, which suggests small home-based operations rather than institutional facilities.
- Category mixing. The old age home tag also captures assisted living centres, retirement homes and geriatric care units.
- Unregistered homes are absent. Andhra Pradesh has a substantial number of small trust-run and temple-linked homes that appear in no directory, so the real total is higher than 36.
- Government homes are counted separately. The grant-aided homes described below are not necessarily in the commercial listings dataset, which is another reason the directory figure understates real capacity.
Read 36 as a floor for Visakhapatnam city.
Andhra Pradesh has one of India's strongest government home networks
This is the most important fact for a family in Vizag, and it is often missed.
Under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens, part of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment gives grant-in-aid to NGOs running senior citizen homes, where shelter, food and medical care are provided free of cost to indigent seniors. In a written Rajya Sabha reply on 10 December 2025, the ministry reported that Andhra Pradesh had 74 grant-aided senior citizen homes, the second highest of any state, behind Odisha with 82 and ahead of Tamil Nadu with 70. Nationally, 639 projects receive grants under this component.
For comparison, Andhra Pradesh has 247 listed facilities in total and 74 grant-aided homes at state level. That is a far higher proportion of subsidised capacity than in most states, and it means a low-income family in Visakhapatnam has genuinely better odds of finding a free or heavily subsidised place than one in Mumbai or Ahmedabad would.
Why demand is growing in Visakhapatnam
- Andhra Pradesh is ageing faster than the national average. Sample Registration System 2021 data puts 10 percent of the state's population at age 60 or above, against a national figure of about 9 percent, and higher than Karnataka at 9.2 percent or Telangana at 8.8 percent.
- The Ministry of Statistics report Elderly in India 2021 projects Andhra Pradesh's elderly share reaching 16.4 percent by 2031, the fourth highest in India.
- Visakhapatnam has drawn retirees for decades because of its coastline, milder climate and relatively low cost of living, and it is now the administrative and medical hub of coastal Andhra.
- The UNFPA India Ageing Report 2023 projects that one in five people in the southern states will be aged 60 or above by 2036.
Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, a senior citizen in India is anyone aged 60 or above.
Types of old age homes in Visakhapatnam
| Type | Typically run by | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Grant-aided senior citizen homes | NGOs funded under IPSrC and AVYAY | Indigent seniors, free of cost, limited seats |
| Charitable homes | Trusts, temples, religious institutions | Low income seniors, means-tested |
| Paid residential old age homes | Small private operators | Independent seniors wanting meals, safety and company |
| Assisted living | Senior care operators | Seniors needing help with bathing, dressing, mobility, medication |
| Retirement residences | Private operators and developers | Active seniors seeking a managed coastal base |
Specialist dementia and high dependency care is thin in Vizag compared with Hyderabad or Chennai. Families needing it should start early and be prepared to consider Hyderabad. If your parent is independent and wants community and maintenance handled rather than care, compare independent living in Visakhapatnam.
Where old age homes are concentrated in Visakhapatnam
| Zone | Localities with facilities |
|---|---|
| North and beach corridor | Madhurawada, Rushikonda |
| Central | Dwaraka Nagar, Akkayyapalem, Shivaji Palem |
| Outer city | Anandapuram and Bheemili road belt |
| Nearby | Vizianagaram, Elamanchili |
The Madhurawada and Rushikonda corridor holds most of the newer purpose-built facilities, helped by available land and proximity to the beach road. Older charitable homes sit closer to the central Dwaraka Nagar and Akkayyapalem belt.
What old age homes in Visakhapatnam cost
Visakhapatnam is a tier-2 market and prices well below the metros for comparable care.
| Care level | Indicative monthly fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Grant-aided and charitable homes | Free to about ₹10,000 |
| Basic paid residential home | ₹8,000 to ₹25,000 |
| Assisted living | ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 |
| Memory and high dependency care | ₹75,000 and above |
Tier-2 cities typically fall in the ₹8,000 to ₹40,000 band for comparable quality of care, against ₹25,000 to ₹1,50,000 in Mumbai. Expect a one-time admission fee, often ₹10,000 to ₹50,000, plus a refundable security deposit, and get the annual escalation clause in writing. These are indicative ranges rather than official figures, so confirm with each home. For the full breakdown, see our guide to old age home costs in India.
How to check a Visakhapatnam old age home before you commit
- Ask whether the home receives grant-in-aid under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens. Given Andhra Pradesh's 74 grant-aided homes, this is a real possibility and it changes both cost and oversight.
- Ask for the trust, society or company registration, and for charitable homes soliciting donations, the 12A and 80G certificates.
- Confirm the medical setup. Visiting doctor schedule, overnight nursing cover, emergency protocol and the tie-up hospital.
- Be careful with very small listings. Several Vizag entries in public datasets carry residential names and no contact details. Visit before you take any listing seriously.
- Check staff ratios. Around one caregiver per ten residents is normal for independent seniors, closer to one to three for dementia or bedridden care.
- Visit unannounced, twice, and get an itemised quote covering medicines, physiotherapy, attendant charges, laundry and special diets.
You can compare verified senior living communities in Visakhapatnam by care type, locality and budget. If you are still deciding what level of care your parent needs, start with our explainer on the types of old age homes, and for the national context see how many old age homes there are in India.
Frequently asked questions
How many old age homes are there in Visakhapatnam? Visakhapatnam has about 36 old age homes as of April 2026, based on geocoded business listings, out of roughly 247 across Andhra Pradesh. That is the highest count in the state. Small trust-run homes and some government-funded homes are not in the listings, so the real total is higher.
Which city in Andhra Pradesh has the most old age homes? Visakhapatnam, with about 36, followed by Vijayawada with 22 and Guntur with 19. Those three cities hold roughly a third of the state's listed facilities, with the rest spread thinly across smaller towns.
Are there free old age homes in Visakhapatnam? Yes, and the odds are better than in most Indian cities. Andhra Pradesh has 74 senior citizen homes receiving central grant-in-aid under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, the second highest of any state, where shelter, food and medical care are free for indigent seniors. Charitable and temple-run homes add to this.
How much does an old age home in Visakhapatnam cost per month? Grant-aided and charitable homes are free or nominal. Basic paid homes typically run ₹8,000 to ₹25,000 a month, assisted living ₹30,000 to ₹70,000, and memory care ₹75,000 and above. Tier-2 cities generally fall in the ₹8,000 to ₹40,000 band for comparable care.
Which areas of Visakhapatnam have old age homes? The Madhurawada and Rushikonda corridor in the north holds most newer facilities, while older charitable homes sit around Dwaraka Nagar, Akkayyapalem and Shivaji Palem in the centre. Vizianagaram is within a practical search radius.
Is Visakhapatnam a good place to retire? It has long attracted retirees for its coastline, milder climate and low cost of living, and it is now coastal Andhra's medical and administrative hub. The main limitation is specialist care: dedicated dementia and high dependency facilities remain thin compared with Hyderabad or Chennai.
Sources
- Rentech Digital Smartscrapers, mapped listings of old age homes in Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh, updated 1 April 2026
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, written Rajya Sabha reply, 10 December 2025, on state-wise senior citizen homes funded under IPSrC and AVYAY
- Press Information Bureau, Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, on projects receiving IPSrC grants
- Sample Registration System 2021, Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner
- Elderly in India 2021, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
- India Ageing Report 2023, UNFPA India with the International Institute for Population Sciences
- Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
