They help seniors age actively and meaningfully | Bengaluru News
BENGALURU: 93-year-old Dr Sumitra Gajapathi is a busy bee. She lives in Manasum Avighna, a senior living home near Jigani, and is right now looking forward to a marathon that the community actively participates in every year. All residents join the run.
“Activity managers ensure everyone stays actively involved, making participation fun and stress-free,” she says. Dr Sumitra also takes pleasure in attending fashion shows and cultural programmes including the music, dance performances and theatrical skits arranged at the retirement facility. “We are even taken to exhibitions and excursions.
We were taken to the flower show at Lalbagh recently,” she says. Retirement homes have evolved into vibrant spaces that promote active ageing, meaningful social interactions, and lifelong learning. Older adults actively participate in life and find joy and purpose while living amongst peers who share similar interests and experiences. “A lot of our residents, nowadays, are actively living people. Some of them moved into the retirement home as they didn’t want to stay with their children.
They opt to have their own space. You don’t really have to worry about them.
All you need to do is provide them with a meal on time and create a space for some group activities and engage them. It is not stressful or time consuming,” says Dr Thriveni B S, founder of Feel At Home Elderly Care Centre, which has two facilities in Bengaluru catering to 48 senior citizens. The centre also caters to people who need some assistance for day-to-day activities, and those who need help for everything from brushing to bathing.
Dr Thriveni says simple outings such as visits to parks or temples, or involving them in basic activities helps them maintain their energy levels. Having peers from a similar age group also makes a significant impact, she says, adding that these interactions contribute to keeping their minds alert and assist in maintaining hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
At The Virtuoso by Columbia Pacific, Bengaluru, resident Soli Pochkanwalla actively takes part in physiotherapy-guided flexibility exercises as well as cognitive activities. She says both activities have improved her sense of well-being.
Columbia Pacific is a developer of senior living communities. Rajagopal G, director & CEO of Serene Communities by Columbia Pacific, says they provide opportunities for seniors to maintain their independence through fitness programs and wellness talks to enriching outdoor trips. “Our aim is to create an environment where ageing is seen as a journey of continued growth and enjoyment,” he says.
The city also has non-profits dedicated to ensuring that seniors do not feel lonely or left out.
Dr Sumitra says residing in retirement communities enhances happiness, lowers anxiety levels and strengthens self-assurance. “We have a study circle tailored to residents’ interests and abilities,” she says, adding that sharing meals and participating in daily activities have allowed her to build lasting friendships.
Rediscovering lost hobbies
Within Vedaanta’s residential spaces, residents have formed various interest-based groups. These collectives are in music, dance, theatre. They gather daily to pursue their interests. These gatherings occur organically, independent of any directives or formal organisation, says Shreya Anand, director of Vedaanta Senior Living in Bengaluru. “All our communities have daily movement activities including chair exercise/ Zumba/ yoga. These daily exercises ensure that fitness levels slowly improve.
Recently, we organised the Vedaanta Olympics where we challenged all residents in various physical and mental games. This helps to engage as well as maintain the fitness of residents,” she says.
Dr Alexander Thomas, founder and governing body member at Vayah Vikas, however, has a word of caution. “As these spaces grow in popularity, it is equally important to ensure that they adhere to basic safety and quality standards. Clear regulations, regular monitoring, and a commitment to senior well-being are essential to maintaining dignity, independence, and joy in later years,” he says.
A well-regulated environment, he says, not only provides peace of mind to families but also ensures that older adults can truly thrive in a safe and supportive space.
RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES KEEP MOTIVATION LEVELS UP
As people get older, their social interactions tend to reduce due to families becoming more nuclear. Very few people have motivation levels to go out and pursue hobbies. Logistics also becomes increasingly difficult. This is where the retirement community helps.
Shreya Anand
Shreya Anand, DIRECTOR, VEDAANTA SENIOR LIVING
Outdoor trips are an essential part of our community life. Our resident outreach wing frequently organises one-day outings to temples, cultural events, and scenic destinations. Recently, we explored Bannerghatta National Park and Isha Foundation Chikkaballapura. These trips were well planned with our safety and comfort in mind. Many residents also travel frequently with groups of fellow residents within or outside India.
Barathy Balakrishna, RESIDENT, SERENE URBANA BY COLUMBIA PACIFIC
We focus on improving senior citizens’ lives through comprehensive support services, resources and community activities. The organisation strives to empower elderly individuals and enhance their daily experiences. At present, we have more than 1 lakh members enrolled without any membership charges.
Dr Alexander Thomas, FOUNDER AND GOVERNING BODY MEMBER AT VAYAH VIKAS, A NON-PROFIT
We require dedicated specialists – geriatricians – to take care of the elderly. Sadly, retirement homes in the city face shortage of geriatricians. The treatment and care protocols for elderly individuals differ significantly from those applied to patients under 60 years of age.
<p>Dr Thriveni B S<br></p>
Our community follows the six pillars of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and nutrition. All our activities are based on these. Our events manager prepares the calendar a month in advance and shares it with us. We enjoy a stress-free life, the operations team takes care of everything. I like spending time with like-minded people, participating in daily activities, following my hobbies, and eating nutritious food. We go on a lot of outings – picnics, temple visits, movies.
A Bhaskar, 72, RESIDENT, PRIMUS SENIOR LIVING, SRINIVAS COLONY, SUDHAMA NAGAR
We have no individual ownership. We are spread across 30 acres, and one can explore the larger environment together or alone, without boundaries of physical division. All residents live in cottages where the difference is only the location and the internal spaces that reflect their living personality, still retaining the identity of one’s heritage and culture.
K Jaisim
K Jaisim, RESIDENT AND ARCHITECT, SUVIDHA RETIREMENT VILLAGE, NICE RING ROAD
