Age catches up with the best of us and comes with a lot of changes. The most significant ones are those related to family and ‘life’ circumstances. One such life-changing decision is figuring out where and how to live one’s later years. Yes, senior living comes with its own set of challenges, yet, if planned efficiently, it can be immensely comfortable.

A quick insight into the concept of Senior Living

As we grow older, most of us go through a range of unfamiliar emotions – insecurity, loneliness, mortality, fear, and so on.

Added to these is the apprehension of having the responsibility to run a household. After having slogged for years, taking care of a home, raising kids, managing the staff at home, etc., one no longer has the strength or the inclination to do that.

Frankly, there is no need for it either.

Innovative and progressive Independent senior living facilities address most of these concerns.

Moving houses can be stressful and chaotic, but the idea is to find a senior living space that makes life less challenging and opens exhilarating vistas post-retirement.

Such an option is independent living at its best.

These active living arrangements are designed exclusively for the seniors, generally aged 55 years and above.

The spaces can be apartments or even individual homes, ranging from luxury apartments/ villas to the more modest ones, and the cost of living is in direct proportion to the comforts provided.

The houses or apartments are easily accessible, compact, well-equipped with all modern amenities, and require no maintenance or additional housework.

The residents lead a comfortable lifestyle as these senior living communities offer various facilities, services and add-ons. They also organize recreational activities which add to the fun. Such facilities usually bring like-minded people together, which ensures the elderly don’t feel alienated or alone.

People who opt for luxury facilities can choose from movie nights, art and craft sessions, treks, yoga and many more options to keep themselves fruitfully occupied and energized.

Furthermore, these facilities also offer conveniences like spas and salons, state-of-the-art fitness centres, swimming pool, tennis courts, access to a golf course, and so much more.

Basic household chores, such as cooking, housekeeping and laundry, are also taken care of. Some of these independent senior living facilities might also offer medical care.

Senior living projects like Eden focus on the holistic wellness of its residents and offer integrated treatments and therapies in Ayurveda and other alternate medicines.

In the current landscape, the older generation is far more financially secure, evolved and educated than their predecessors. They are keyed into the ever-changing ways of the world. Therefore, their dependency, post-retirement, on children, is a bare minimum.

In fact, today’s seniors aspire to lead a dignified and fulfilling life without allowing their children to compromise with their career goals.

Key Takeaways

Here are a few reasons why luxury senior living is on the rise in India

• These are holistic living spaces that integrate physical, emotional and spiritual wellness of its residents.
• Such independent living spaces are designed to suit one’s lifestyle and offer many indoor and outdoor activities, swimming pools, yoga centres, fitness hubs and much more.
• A fully loaded, secure environment is another big plus. These spaces have all state-of-the-art security systems like CCTV cameras and security guards, 24X7.
• We all know that medical emergencies come unannounced. Such integrated living spaces have an around-the-clock emergency support system for its residents. So, there is a doctor, nurse, ambulance and other provisions for contingencies.
• Moreover, here, the hassle of living alone and trying to get mundane chores organized is taken care of. A senior living community takes care of all housekeeping and other day-to-day needs of its residents.
• Another fabulous part here is that such independent living communities bring together like-minded people. Therefore, there is no fear of loneliness or being alone.

Points to ponder……

The above points have made you all excited, and you cannot wait to invest in a retirement home of your choice?

Hold on…

Before taking a decision, one must ask oneself, ‘is independent living the right choice for me?’

The answer, often, is a resounding ‘yes’, as apart from other advantages senior living also makes day-to-day life more comfortable and convenient.

Being pragmatic is the way forward. As we get older, the energy levels go down, and one needs to acknowledge this and accept help, without compromising on one’s independence.

Your response to the following questions will help you take a decision, whether independent senior living is the right choice for you, or not.

1.  How comfortably can you maintain your home?

This can be quite a task after a certain age. The chores and maintenance can be quite a pain. Moreover, with the progression of time, even manoeuvring steps can become a problem. What then?

If you have issues here, retirement homes give you a viable solution, as they take care of all your day-to-day requirements.

2. How safe is your current home?

Is the neighbourhood you live in safe for the elderly. If not, then how do you deal with the increasing crime rate?

Suitable senior living spaces take care of all such concerns, allowing you to focus on your physical and mental wellbeing.

3. Are your children/ family with you 24/7?

If yes … GREAT! If not, how do you plan to deal with all the above concerns and many more?

Elderly living spaces are ideal when you want to live in a community with all facilities yet have the independence to live life on your terms.

4. How is your health?

Everyone wants to lead a healthy life. But what if either you or your spouse has a health condition which might worsen with time?

In such a situation, senior living spaces are a Godsend, with medical help available round-the-clock.

5. How often do you interact with friends?

You know you would need to make an effort to reach out to friends. Otherwise, you are at risk of sinking into depression due to isolation. Can you deal with that? Yes, the phone and the internet are powerful mediums of communication. But human interaction (face to face) is what everyone craves for.

In an independent living space, you can meet and live with like-minded people and not feel lonely.

6. Do you want to continue living a fulfilling life?

Are you looking forward to reviving old hobbies and picking up new interests? Are you among those elderly for whom age is just a number, and you feel your best years are still ahead of you?

Well, then a holistic senior living is just the place for you!

Yes, hiring domestic helpers solves some of the physical challenges of old age.  Also, by making the interiors of your house more conducive to the changing circumstances. But, why spend so much time, money and energy when you can live luxuriously without worrying about anything else.

Also, when exciting new possibilities are waiting for you.

Moving to a senior living space might be a tough decision, but is an intelligent one!

One might have mixed emotions in the beginning because of moving into a retirement home. There could be a sense of embarrassment, a feeling of inadequacy; one could feel vulnerable and powerless.

These emotions are natural and must be deal with them with realism and practicality, also with hope and positivity.

One’s happy and healthy future and wellbeing, both physical and mental, should be the most important.

So, step into this brilliant new phase of your life with enthusiasm and let a life of serenity, peace and new adventures take over.

Que sera sera, what will be….will be…the future’s not ours to see…Que sera sera….