Odisha: From Hormuz to Homes for Elders, War Phobia Impacts All

From the Strait of Hormuz to a home for older people located in a non-descript suburban pocket in Odisha, the impact of the ongoing war in West Asia has virtually constricted the free air that was once blowing freely. The air has turned melancholic.

Shortage of something, in one or the other, impacts the health and safety of a nation and its citizens. The curse is worse for the old and infirm looking for some solace in shelter homes at the fag-end of their lives.

As of March 2026, Odisha has approximately 142 old age homes, with the state government actively expanding services, but after the conflict between Israel, Iran and the US, the problems somehow keep trickling down, severely affecting the financial, hygienic aspects and health of the elderly, as caretakers of these homes are struggling to maintain the facilities.

The escalation of the West Asian conflict, particularly, during intensified periods in June 2025 and early 2026, has placed a severe strain on healthcare systems and has posed significant dangers for the elderly, particularly those in residential care, due to damaged health infrastructure, supply shortages, and "blatant violation of international humanitarian law". News reports of attacks on health facilities have been disturbing many inmates in Odisha’s old age homes and elsewhere.

The elderly are dreading the impact, driven primarily by economic disruptions, rising costs of medical supplies, as well as the psychological fallout on families with members working in the Gulf region.

The surge in crude oil prices and disrupted supply chains, causing the cost of pharmaceutical packaging materials (like aluminium and plastics) to rise by over 30, is leading to increased prices for essential medicines used by the elderly, such as those battling diabetes and chronic conditions.

Worries at Homes

Various skilled and semi-skilled people, mainly hailing from the rural districts of Odisha, are working in the Gulf. The ongoing war has created extreme anxiety among their families, especially affecting the mental health of elderly residents in care homes.

The Odisha State Policy for Senior Citizens 2016 works to improve the quality of life for the elderly, with the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities observing Senior Citizen Week to support this initiative and that is customary in nature. 

While the primary effects are financial (inflation) and psychological, the conflict places stress on the supply chain, increasing the operational challenges for healthcare providers operating within nursing homes and for-profit elderly care facilities in Odisha.

For the charitable old age homes in cities like Bhubaneswar, the service providers have been depending on remittances from outside, and the Gulf in particular. But the ongoing war has made many such homes look for local alternatives, but at very high cost. 

The writer is a freelancer based in Odisha with over 40 years’ experience in the profession.