Can’t do with them, can’t do without them.

For many ailing senior citizens whose children are settled elsewhere, ayahs are the staff of their old age. Likewise for young parents who need help to manage their infants. But as much as they can’t do without these ayahs, they often can’t do with them either.

Most ayah centres also provide domestic helps, cooks and nurses. Since nurses are more expensive, patients prefer to switch to ayahs once their health improves. Ayahs are expected to do all the work of patients including cleaning, feeding, walking, washing their clothes, utensils and cooking for them. But mention the word ayah to residents and most faces cloud.