Is retirement home a fancier version of an old age home?
The decision was sudden. The senior Venkateshwarans wanted to move out of Goa, where they lived with their son, to hometown Coimbatore. The son was taken aback and wondered if he had not cared enough for his parents. He was worried. The seniors were also not so sure how to go about setting up home at this stage in life, but, they would manage. What prompted them to take this decision? The couple had saved wisely for post retirement and planned to live life their way, doing all they had wanted to, being with like-minded people, without being dependent on any one. Does all this sound familiar?
Here is the good news! A new concept of senior living communities has arrived in many cities in the country, giving you different options of housing. Though still nascent, it is nevertheless, showing great promise.
What are senior living communities?
Broadly, we are speaking of a new way of living for seniors, where comfort, safety, security and minimum dependence on others are some of the key features. These are customised for elders and are user friendly. So typically, retirement homes would have features like 24/7 emergency support, panic switches, wheelchair friendly premises and grab rails, to name a few. There is also an emphasis on the social well-being of the seniors, with regular group activities and events and celebrations organised to make people feel at home. Senior living communities or retirement communities, are open to seniors only, usually above the age of 55.
The above features are indicative and may vary with the type of senior living accommodation. At present, the choices available in the market for senior living include independent apartments, independent retirement homes, assistive care homes and nursing care homes. All About Seniors has compiled some details on the subject to help you make a more informed decision.
“Antara Senior Living aims to provide a hassle-free, stress-free living. The community has 50,000 sq ft clubhouse which has dining spaces, a bar, library, theatre, indoor games room, indoor heated pool, spa, gym, and yoga pavilion. The community has anti-skid flooring, cove lighting and 1000 standard written procedures elaborating emergency evacuation processes or even how a hot cup of coffee will remain steaming hot when it reaches you.”- Kenneth Sannoo, Marketing and Sales head, Antara Senior Living.
Independent apartments
Unlike regular apartments where seniors have to adjust to what is available, here the apartments are designed with the convenience of the seniors in mind. These apartments are a part of a society which comprises of senior citizens, so like-minded company should not be a problem. The society also organises social activities, though on a limited scale. Since these apartments don’t offer any additional support, they are good for seniors who are healthy, physically fit and would like to/are able to lead completely independent lives.
Independent retirement communities
These communities offer all the advantages of an apartment system and more. They build upon those facilities, to include specialised services like group travels and weekly recreational activities, among others. Ranging from 1-BHK homes to duplexes, there is good choice of housing in this option. Certainly a good option for those looking for a variety of activities to keep themselves engaged.
Assistive care homes
Most facilities remaining similar to those above, the distinguishing feature in an assistive care home is the facility of a full time caretaker for the residents. Older adults, who maybe suffering from minor health disorders and need help with routine chores, could explore this option.
Nursing care homes
The concept of nursing and palliative care homes is also taking shapein India. This option is for the people who are suffering from serious illnesses. Presently, very few builders are offering this facility, but once demand picks up this segment should see a gradual expansion soon.
Both independent apartment system and retirement communities do not offer a caretaker. Though there are hospital tie-ups, in-house ambulances, first aid support and emergency procedures in both.
Is retirement home a fancier version of an old age home?
The concept of retirement home and old age home may seem overlapping at first. But there are features that set them apart. Old age homes are mostly charitable in nature. The occupants may have to pay a nominal monthly rent, but the major source of funding is through donations. On the other hand, retirement homes is a business model which has been a way of life for seniors in the West . Retirement homes can be purchased or leased. Seniors can also occupy the property on rental basis. The costs that need to be incurred on retirement home living are not nominal.
Most old age homes come with basic amenities like a room, a common dining area and some basic recreational facilities. However, retirement homes provide a comfortable lifestyle with a plethora of services and activities, giving greater freedom and choice of lifestyle. The Venkateshwarans, who moved to Serene Properties, a creation of Covai Properties in Coimbatore, are very happy with their decision. “This place is nothing less than a 5-star hotel. We are a society of cheerful and warm people. Everything is taken care of…from arranging railway bookings to regular health check-ups,” Mr Venkateshwaran said.
Is the Indian market ready for retirement homes?
There has been a big change in the way urban India lives. There is a social transformation taking place in different segments. Gone are the days when seniors resigned themselves to a boring, post-retirement life. Instead, today they want to live it up and make the most of their golden phase. Increased longevity, better medical facilities, handsome retirement benefits, loneliness following migration of children to faraway lands, back-to-roots emotions are some of the reasons for the change in attitude towards life. This change has, in turn, created a demand for such senior living community properties.
Ms.Shantha Swaminathan has been living in a senior living community for a long time now and is quite an ‘expert’ on the subject. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and guiding others. She believes that it will soon became a way of life for seniors.
“Some people have shown confidence in the senior living property. The property is already 50% sold out. There is enough positivity for us to feel happy and believe that the concept is well accepted by the people,” says Mr Kenneth Sannoo, of Antara Senior Living.
The concept of retirement homes was first introduced in South India and Bangalore alone had seven such projects running by 2013. The initial phase saw expansion in Kochi, Chennai, Pune and Coimbatore. Recently, the projects have expanded to the northern parts of the country in Jaipur, Dehradun, Bhiwadi and Delhi-NCR. “The response to our upcoming property in Gurgaon has been very welcoming. We decided to expand in this sector seeing the gap in demand and supply of senior living. The seniors today are socially independent and have social and security needs that need to be taken care of. They recognize the need for such kind of property,” said Mr Anubhav Jain, the Director of Silver Glades, a real estate company which has been in the market since two decades.
Who are the leading names to look out for in the retirement home sector? (models: Freehold, lease, rental)
Both small and big players have entered the Indian market. Below is a ready-reckoner of some of the builders who provide these homes:
| 1. | Aamoksh One-Eighty | Kodaikanal | Independent Villas and apartments | Price on request |
| 2. | Adani Shantigram- The Evergreen | Shantigram, Gujarat | Independent apartments | Starting-Rs. 35 Lakhs |
| 3. | Ashiana Housing | Bhiwadi, Jaipur, Lavasa | Care homes and independent homes | Starting: Rs 23.45 lakh |
| 4. | Antara Senior Living | Dehradun | Integrated township with independent and assistive homes | Rs. 1.7 crore- Rs. 7.14 crore |
| 5. | Covai Properties | Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pune, Nashik | Independent and assistive homes | Price on request |
| 6. | Epoch Senior Care | Gurgaon, Pune | Assistive living | Rs 60,000-Rs1,20,000 plus taxes per month |
| 7. | Serene Senior Living | Pondicherry, Coimbatore, Chennai, Bangalore, Kanchipuram | Independent living and personal care services | Price on request |
| 8. | Silverglades – Melia First Citizen | Gurgaon | Independent apartment | Price on request |
| 9. | Tata Senior housing | Bangalore | Integrated township | Starting: Rs. 35 lakh |
| 10. | Vedaanta Senior Living | Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai and Kumbakonam | Independent, assistive, palliative, post-operative care and short stays | Price on request |
Source: Company websites
Note: Prices may vary
Who should look out for retirement homes?
Senior living communities are suited to:
- People whose families are settled outside the country or city. Retirement communities ward off the loneliness by providing them the much needed social interaction with like-minded people, in the same age group.
- People who would like to have an independent lifestyle and engage in recreational activities.
- Healthy and physically fit people can avail greater benefit, especially in an independent housing system.
- Older adults who stay alone and desire greater security.
What are the costs associated with senior living housing? Can property be rented or resold?
The initial steps:
In the initial investment stage, you can choose from the following options:
- Direct purchase: You can buy the complete apartment for a lifetime
- Lease: The lease can be purchased for a set number of years at a cost lesser than that of outright purchase.
- Rent: You can move in the property on rental basis
Maintenance charges: These are monthly charges which residents have to pay. They cover all the additional services like home cleaning, society maintenance, water, maid/ care taker, clubhouse and library use. The charges maybe on square feet basis or on the types of services availed.
Resale and rent: These homes are for senior citizens only and sale or rental to a person who is not a senior citizen, is not permitted This restriction makes the properties relatively less liquid. However, in some companies the builder takes upon the responsibility of resale and finding a tenant.
What should you be looking at before the final decision?
The choices are plenty and attractive but the bottom line is value for money. We suggest you consider the following points before taking a final call:
1. The builder and the construction:
These days, many companies are re-marketing their non-selling properties as retirement homes. Do a background check of the builder, his history, the experience of the company in this sector and the past experience of people with them. Also, you should see if the building has elder friendly design like wheelchair friendly premises, anti-skid tiles, grab rails. Check distance to railway station, airport, market and hospitals. It is better to purchase the property directly from the builder.
2. Service Check:
Several services are offered by builders and they are certainly good. But make sure you do a quick check on the management which is usually given on contract to a third party, like conditions of contract, tenure, renewal, etc. Security services like CCTV cameras and 24 * 7 security force should be in place. How well equipped is the society in terms of emergencies? Do they have first aid, tie-ups with nearby hospitals, any benefits that you may get from hospitals as part of the deal? How qualified and reliable are staff and caretakers? Does the caterer on site have proper food licences and is good quality food served?
3. Investment cost and other expenses:
Seniors not quite sure of investing into the property can initially stay on rent as a trial before taking a final call. Discuss how maintenance charges will be billed and what all it includes. In case you want to exit, find out what the policy is and what are the resultant expenses.
We hope you are now armed with enough information about senior living communities to give you a heads up on the subject. If you need more information or have any questions about senior living communities, drop us a mail at
