Articles - Know More About Senior Living retirement communities

Gratitude is a powerful emotion – it not only makes you feel better but also has a positive impact on your overall well-being. There is evidence to suggest that experiencing gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation tends to foster positive feelings. There is a multitude of benefits of practising gratitude every single day and the holiday season is no different. This holiday season, instead of buying materialistic things, practise gratitude to bring positivity and joy in your life.    If you would like to experience the benefits mentioned above, why not try following some of these simple ways:    Keep a gratitude journal: One of the best ways to keep track of the good things in life is to write a gratitude journal. Regularly journaling about the good things in your life can help deal with rough patches more positively. Thank your loved ones: This one seems obvious, but often people are so busy in their daily grind that they forget to thank their loved ones. Make it a habit to thank someone every day. It could be a friend who helped you in tough times or someone who just helped you carry your grocery bags. Notice the beauty in nature each day: Whether you live in an urban jungle or suburbs, there is something in your surroundings to make you feel grateful for the little joys of life. Every day, while you are going for a walk or running errands, just look around and thank one element in nature – it could be the trees, the birds, or even your window garden. Include an act of kindness in your life each day: The best way to feel gratitude every day is to make random acts of kindness a part of your daily life. Tipping the waiter at a local restaurant, complimenting an acquaintance, buying flowers for a friend, leaving letters of encouragement for young adults or cooking a meal for someone are ways you can show kindness to others every day. Partner with someone: Expressing gratitude does not have to be a solo activity. Find like-minded friends and incorporate gratitude in your day-to-day life. Some of the activities that you can do together with your friends can include serving food at a local charity, teaching children or helping at a local library. Send hand-written notes or cards: One great way to make people feel special is to send them holiday greetings or cards. Writing a personal letter of thanks or sending a hand-made card can make the other person feel special. Invite for lunch: Appreciation luncheons are a great way to extend gratitude. Invite your friends and family during the holidays and thank them for adding positivity to your day-to-day life.    Sometimes, it might be challenging to find things to be grateful for. But the mere act of searching for positive things around you can open a door to a new world and a new perspective. At our senior citizen homes in Coimbatore, you will find a myriad opportunities to practice gratitude and be more generous, kind, and helpful.    Searching for retirement homes in Coimbatore?  If you are looking for retirement homes in Coimbatore, call us at +91 8884555554. Our senior living communities offer a welcoming environment where like-minded seniors can meet, engage in a conversation,  relax, and enjoy the little positive things in their day-to-day lives.

Eating well is important for seniors to lead a healthy and active life. Having a balanced diet helps them maintain a healthy weight and boosts their energy levels. However, many seniors often struggle during mealtimes because of loss of appetite. Many think it is a natural part of ageing. However, loss of appetite when not addressed properly can result in malnutrition which can cause weight and muscle loss.     Hence, instead of assuming loss of appetite as a normal part of ageing, it is important to understand the reasons behind it and prevent it.    As one of the leading retirement homes in Chennai, we share with you some useful insights for seniors on loss of appetite:    Let us first try to understand the reasons why seniors lose appetite. From depression and altering taste buds to medication side effects, there can be many reasons for a senior to not want to eat.    Common reasons for seniors to experience loss of appetite?   Slowing metabolism means seniors need lesser calories. But they still need to get enough important nutrients.  Taste bud changes can make seniors lose interest in food items they once savoured.  Dental problems such as toothache and poor-fitting dentures can make mealtimes painful for seniors.  Trouble chewing or swallowing can make mealtime uncomfortable for seniors.  Side effects from medication can alter the taste buds.    If you think you are losing interest in food, here are some simple and effective ways to stimulate your appetite and improve your nutrient intake:    1. Create a routine:    One of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your appetite is to have meals at the same time every day. Setting a consistent routine trains the body and mind to look forward to a meal.    2. Have small but frequent meals:   As you age, having a large meal for lunch or dinner can be overwhelming. Instead, tweak your daily routine to have five to six small meals with equal intervals. Your meals should be packed with vitamins, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates.    3. Make mealtime a social activity   Eating alone and depression are closely linked. It has been found that people eat more with friends and family than when eating by themselves. To make your mealtime interesting and entertaining, invite your friends and family members. When you dine with friends and family, eating becomes less of a chore and more of a social activity. If you are living alone, try eating with your friends and relatives online. Use video chatting to have virtual dinners to make mealtimes enjoyable.    4. Keep easy-to-eat snacks handy   Have different types of healthy and nutritious easy-to-eat healthy snacks such as steamed vegetables, boiled eggs, avocado sandwiches, nuts, fruits, and smoothies.    5. Stay physically active   Often lack of physical activity could be a reason behind your loss of appetite. Low- impact workouts such as walking, running, yoga and swimming can increase your appetite.   At our retirement homes in Chennai, residents enjoy delicious and nutritious meals daily. The menu is prepared by nutritionists, keeping in mind the nutritional needs of seniors. There are regular review meetings with the F&B team so that our residents can give their suggestions and feedback. The kitchen and food service area are well-designed and hygienic. Our retirement homes have spacious dining halls so that the mealtimes are relaxed and comfortable. To know about our facilities and the monthly cost of the retirement home, call us at +91 8884555554.

Whether it is starting a community garden or using reusable items, there is a lot that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle has numerous personal and social benefits. As a leading senior living community operator, we share with you some ideas that will help you get started: Eat food that is produced locally: Eating local food is good for your health as well as the environment. Seasonal fruits and vegetables do not require artificial ripening, making them a better option for your health and environment. Also, eating locally produced fruits and vegetables reduces food miles. The term ‘food miles’ refers to the distance between the place where the food is produced and the place where it is consumed. The more the food miles, the greater the carbon emissions due to storage, refrigeration, and transportation. Walk to run errands: When running short-distance errands, do not drive your car. Instead, walk your errands. It is good for the environment as well as your physical health. However, make sure that you do not overexert yourself. Reduce wastage: When buying fruits and vegetables, carry your own shopping bag to reduce the consumption of plastic. Buy sustainable products: Instead of buying products made of plastic, buy products in reusable steel bottles, bamboo straws, glass storage containers. Use reusable dishcloths instead of paper towels. Up your recycling game: Before throwing away things, ask yourself if they can be reused or recycled. Instead of throwing away old clothes and shoes, donate them to local charities. Send old electronic items to electronic shops that have recycling facilities. Adopt a paper-free lifestyle: Take printouts only when needed. Try paying bills online. Access bills and bank statements online. In case you need to file, either download it on your phone or take a screenshot of it. Switch off electrical appliances when not in use: Though it seems like the most basic advice, leaving your electrical appliances on standby can increase your electricity consumption. Unplug electrical devices when not in use. Also, insulate your home so that you can reduce your energy consumption on heating and cooling. Encourage composting: Composting is an easy process that takes plant and kitchen waste and turns them into food for plants. This reduces the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill. Start a small garden: Start with a small garden, this way you can have home-grown vegetables and flowers. You can also make compost for them at home. Use eco-friendly personal care products: Cleansers, conditioners, soaps, and other personal care products contain various chemicals that are washed down the drain and end up in groundwater. Use eco-friendly products that do not contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Use water efficiently: Use highly efficient taps in the bathrooms and kitchens to reduce water waste. You can also use flow restrictors. Also, be mindful of turning off the tap water while shaving or brushing your teeth.    Seniors are paying more attention to green practices. This includes searching for senior living communities promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle. For example, they prefer moving to retirement homes that have battery-operated cars for residents to travel easily within the community. Are you considering moving to a senior living community?  As India’s leading senior living community operator, we offer premium community living spaces for independent seniors. Our retirement homes have senior-friendly villas, apartments, and row houses across south India. To know more about our senior citizen homes and the services that we offer, call us at +91 8884555554.

There are different reasons why colouring has become a popular hobby with seniors. Many are turning towards colouring for the benefits it offers. From being a great creative outlet and encouraging mindfulness to relieving stress – there is a pile of evidence showing the psychological and physiological benefits of colouring for seniors.     If you are toying with the idea of taking up colouring as a hobby after retirement, here are some of the benefits of colouring.  1. Improve motor skills:    Using coloured pens and pencils is not just fun for seniors but it also improves their hand-eye coordination. Motor performance often declines with ageing. When seniors colour, they exercise their ageing hands and fingers which in turn improves their grip strength and dexterity.  2. Good workout for the brain    It has been found that creative art can slow down cognitive decline. Colouring activates different areas of our two cerebral hemispheres responsible for creativity and logic. The creative part of the brain selects the colours, patterns while the other part of the brain controls the hand-eye movement.  3. Reduces stress and anxiety   Colouring helps in reducing the thoughts of a restless mind, thus relaxing the brain. By allowing the mind to focus on colours and patterns, colouring induces the same state as meditating. Also, colouring is a great activity to indulge in before you go to sleep as it can lower stress and improve sleep.  4. It is a great social activity    Some seniors enjoy organising a colouring party with their friends while others join online groups. Also, colouring can be done with friends, grandchildren, and other family members. Colouring with likeminded people would help seniors socialise and build connections.  5. Encourages self-expression :    Most seniors have the potential to be creative. However, sometimes their imaginations are held back by social expectations. For seniors who want to experiment with their own ideas and expressions, colouring gives them a creative outlet.    Pursuing hobbies such as colouring, sketching, and dancing after retirement is good for the overall well-being of seniors. At our senior living communities, we organise art workshops and classes where seniors can discover their creative selves.    Looking for retirement communities in Bangalore? If you are searching for a vibrant and welcoming community, explore our retirement homes in Bangalore. Our great selection of senior-friendly apartments come with services such as laundry, housekeeping, and 24X7 preventive maintenance so that our residents have time to pursue engaging activities. To know more about the services offered and the cost of living, call us at +91 8884555554.

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”  ― Mark Twain   If there is any true universal language, it has to be laughter. It does not matter what your ethnicity is, where you are from, or what language you speak, laughter is a basic emotional response that comes as naturally to people as breathing.    It is often said that laughter is the best medicine. It has been found that laughter has powerful and positive effects on physical and mental well-being. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good hormones.  Endorphins act as a pain reliever and happiness booster.     As one of the leading retirement homes in India, we have curated a list of benefits that stem from laughter:  Promotes cardiovascular health: Laughter plays an important role in  improving the flow of blood throughout the body. Arteries respond to laughter in a healthy way, improving the blood flow which is good for your cardiovascular health. It has also been found that a good, hearty laugh can improve blood circulation. This causes the body to take deep breaths that help you calm down, reducing stress and tension.  Helps fight depression: Depression can stem at any point in life. It might be especially hard on someone transitioning into a different phase of life. Getting together with friends or family and sharing a good laugh once in a while can help shift the focus from unpleasant feelings to positive things in life. Many seniors attend laughter sessions as it has been found that  laughter therapy has a positive effect on mental health and helps people cope with stress.  Boosts the immune system: It may sound too good to be true right? But there is a link between your health and your sense of humour.  It has been found that when you laugh more, your immune system releases more disease-fighting cells.  Helps in improving memory: A dangerous side effect of chronic stress is cognitive decline. When the cortisol production increases in the body, it damages the cells responsible for optimal functioning of the brain. When the brain is stressed, laughter works as a healing agent and helps improve short-term memory.   It is always fun to share a good laugh with friends and family. Children laugh multiple times a day, but as life gets serious adults find few opportunities to laugh. As laughter is related to togetherness, seniors who live alone find it difficult to share a good, hearty laugh with others.  If you think your loved ones are feeling isolated and are showing signs of depression, it may be a good idea to talk with them about senior living. At our retirement homes in India, seniors get to live in a community and enjoy spending time with other like minded residents. To know more about our services and the average cost of living in one of our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554.

Arthritis is an inflammation in joints and surrounding tissues that causes pain and swelling. Often arthritis is referred to as a single disease. But it is an umbrella term for more than 100 medical conditions that affect the joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which affects older adults. Despite being a common problem, there are many myths that surround arthritis and its treatment. As one of the leading retirement homes in India, we debunk a few myths around arthritis: Myth 1: Joint pain means arthritis: Fact: All joint pain is not necessarily arthritis. Other conditions, such as tendonitis or soft-tissue injuries can also cause joint pain. These conditions mimic arthritis pain. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which affects patients over 50 years old. It causes swelling, pain, and difficulty in moving joints. Myth 2: People with arthritis should not exercise: Fact: Exercise is beneficial in managing arthritis pain. Exercise can help you maintain strength and improve the range of motion in the joints. In fact, modern treatments of arthritis suggest exercise programs that need to be followed by patients regularly. Myth 3: Once arthritis is diagnosed, nothing can be done about it Fact: Arthritis can be managed with proper medication and an arthritis-appropriate exercise program. Also, adopting a healthy lifestyle is important to manage arthritis pain. Eating a wholesome diet, maintaining sleeping hours, and shedding excess weight can help you manage the condition. Myth 4: Diet has nothing to do with arthritis Fact: A wholesome diet plays an important role in managing the symptoms of arthritis. A diet rich may help to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis. It can be either taken in supplement form or from food sources high in omega-3 such as salmon, chia seeds, flax seeds, and nut oils. The key here is to maintain a healthy weight to support the joints. Myth 5: There’s only one kind of arthritis There is a perception that there is only one type of arthritis. However, there are over 100 types of arthritis. Some of them are: Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Childhood arthritis Spondyloarthropathies Lupus erythematosus Gout Infectious and reactive arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis. The right treatment and making healthy lifestyle changes can greatly reduce arthritis pain. At Columbia Pacific Communities, we ensure that our residents enjoy a healthy lifestyle. From open areas to exercise to healthy and nutritious meals served at our dining halls, community facilities and services are planned keeping in mind the requirements of our residents. To know more about our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554. 

Many seniors aspire to age positively. They wish to actively take part in the lives of their grandchildren, meet old friends, pursue new passions, and volunteer for a cause. Moving into an independent senior living community can make this possible. Senior living communities in India offer more than aesthetically designed apartments, they provide a vibrant community life that helps senior citizens make the most of their golden years.    Here we share with you some of the benefits of moving into a senior living community and how can you make the transition easy:     Some of the benefits of moving into a senior living community: No worry of property upkeep: Once you move into a senior living community, you don’t have to worry about home upkeep, garden maintenance, and laundry. For instance, in our senior living communities, the maintenance team takes care of individual living spaces and common areas. We also offer periodical housekeeping and 24×7 electrical and plumbing maintenance work.  New friends: Another great benefit of moving into a senior living community is finding new neighbours who can become good friends. Our senior living communities have an active social calendar. From yoga classes and music lessons to art workshops – you are sure to find a group of like-minded residents with whom you can enjoy these activities.    Check this useful read to understand the benefits of moving into a senior living community.                Making transitioning to senior living homes easier:  A senior living home is a great option for retirees looking for opportunities to socialise, make new friends, and explore new interests in a safe and protected environment. However, for some people the transition from their homes to a senior living community is not an easy one. They take time to get used to the new way of life. If you are planning to move into a senior living home in Bangalore, here are some tips to make your transition a little easier.   Create a routine: In new surroundings, sticking to a routine will give you a sense of normalcy. Senior living homes in India run a range of wellness activities for their residents. You can participate in these activities to socialise with like-minded residents.  Invite friends and family:  Ask family members and friends to visit your ‘new home’. At our retirement homes in India, you can host dinner parties for friends and family and invite them over for movie screenings.  Focus on health: Get enough sleep, drink plenty of water, and schedule regular meals and snack times. To make the transition phase easy, you need to make healthy choices and stick to them.  Decorate your room: Your new home should be a reflection of who you are. Select a colour theme of your choice and then express it through painted walls, cushions, bed throws, and curtains. You can also keep photos of inspiring activities that you wish to do during your retirement years. Place personal items such as your favourite photos or artworks that evoke cherished memories.   If you are looking for a senior living community in Bangalore, call us at +91 8884555554.

Creating a tidy and clutter-free living space gives seniors the confidence to move around easily. By making a few tweaks to the layout and making some sensible architectural choices, seniors can easily modify the decor to incorporate safety and accessibility features.    If you are planning to make your home senior-friendly, either for yourself or for your loved ones, here are some practical tips that you may find helpful:    Mind the traffic flow: Rearrange the furniture in the living room as well as the rest of the house in such a way that there is enough space to walk around. To reduce the risk of seniors knocking over or bumping into objects, decorative items should not be placed on the pathways.  Buy suitable furniture: Many seniors find it difficult to get up from low height furniture. Hence, avoid low floor seating. Buy furniture according to the body structure. For instance, furniture with deeper seats is an ideal option for seniors who are tall.   Make sure the house is well-lit: All the rooms should have proper visibility. The entryways and pathways should be well-lit. All the dark corners should have lights. You can also install easily accessible bedside lamps that can come in handy at night.   Choose the floor carefully: While selecting the floor for the house, make sure it is not slippery, is easy to walk on, and is easy to maintain. Select an option that provides the most cushioning if you or your loved one falls. For instance, cork flooring offers a cushioning effect and reduces the severity of an injury in case of a fall. Install grab bars in bathrooms: Install a grab bar near the toilet seat, in the shower, and near the washbasin. Grab bar offers additional support to seniors while sitting down or getting up.  A word of caution: only use grab bars. Do not use towel rails as they are not meant to take the weight of a person. Avoid loose rugs and carpets: While rugs and carpets add texture and colour to the room, they can be a tripping hazard. If you want to place rugs in your home, secure them to the floor or go for the ones with anti-slip rug underlays.   . Senior living in India: searching for a retirement home?  Our senior living communities in India have been designed to accommodate the changing needs of seniors. The apartments have anti-skid tiles in the bathrooms and grab rails are strategically placed. There is a panic button in each dwelling to provide immediate assistance in case of an emergency. To know more about our retirement homes, call us at +91 8884555554.

Healthy joints are important for better mobility. But with ageing, the lubricating fluid inside the joints decreases, thus leading to joint stiffness. Here we discuss some useful tips that can help you keep your joints healthy.  Be active regularly  Being active has been proven to be beneficial in improving the functioning of joints in seniors. Multiple studies have shown that people who do moderate exercise on a regular basis have a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Low-intensity workouts such as walking, light jogging, swimming, yoga, and cycling can help seniors increase their range of motion. Also, regular exercise improves mobility and bone density.  Listen to your body There will be days when you feel sore and worn out. Do not overexert yourself – pay attention to your body’s warning signs and take a break for a few days.  Maintain right body posture Always maintain the right body posture while sitting. Always sit and stand upright. While working out, do not repeat the same movements every day. It may hurt the joints and make the pain worse.  Maintain a healthy weight Excess weight can put extra pressure on the weight-bearing joints, particularly, the hips, knees, and spine. Those who are overweight are more likely to develop arthritis compared to those who maintain a healthy weight.  Add anti-inflammatory foods to your diet  Having a well-balanced diet that contains fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, can be good for your joints as well as health. Adding anti-inflammatory spices and herbs such as turmeric, basil, cumin, rosemary and ginger, can be beneficial. Choose plant protein sources such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and avocado to provide essential nutrients to your joints. Here is a useful read on food items that support joint health.  Note: The arthritis-affected joints are weak and prone to injuries. Therefore, it is important to take a few extra measures to protect them. Before starting a new exercise regimen, talk to your doctor and physiotherapist.  To increase your fitness in a welcoming and supportive environment, join a senior-friendly gym or a health club. At our retirement homes in Chennai –  Serene Pushkar and Serene Adinath– we have senior-friendly gyms, daily yoga classes, and a calendar filled with engaging activities that will help you stay socially and physically active.  For the average monthly cost of a retirement home, call us at +91 8884555554.

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” ― Mason Cooley With people travelling less for different reasons, many are seeking different ways to experience faraway places. And reading travel books is a great way to scratch the travel itch while remaining indoors. As one of the leading  senior citizen homes in India, we share with you 5 armchair travel books that will set you around the world:    1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: The book has a shepherd as a protagonist who travels from Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure. The book befittingly shows that the journey is more important than the destination.  It beautifully captures the journey of the protagonist and his realisation that the real treasure is all about pursuing one’s dreams. Filled with inspirational quotes such as “When you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” and “One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving” – the book is ideal for those who love travelling, adventure, and courage.    2. Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story by Tony Wheeler and Maureen Wheeler: Whether you are planning to travel to London or a faraway exotic location, if there is one travel guide that helps you with useful information, it is a Lonely Planet Guide. This book tells you the story behind how Lonely Planet Publications became the world’s largest independent guidebook publisher. Authors share amusing and funny anecdotes from their travelling experience. Though it is not a conventional travel book, it is engaging and has a few interesting lessons on building a bootstrapped business.    3. Less  by Andrew Sean Greer: The Pulitzer Prize winning book, Less is a quirky and funny novel. The book’s eponymous protagonist, Arthur Less, goes on a madcap global adventure in a bid to avoid attending a wedding. This hilarious novel is not just a travelogue where you follow the character around the globe, but it is also an exploration of a myriad emotions.    4. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: The book will take you on a journey that you will never forget. Written in a delightfully witty manner, this book touches many emotions without going overboard. Though it is a memoir of travel and personal discovery in Italy, Indonesia, and India, the book has inspired many to travel and rediscover themselves. An enjoyable read, the travel memoir has some interesting quotes on life and spirituality.  Regarding spirituality, Gilbert writes, “We do not realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” On life, she says, “You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.”    5. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts: A tad different from other travel books, this amazing book delves into long-term travel.  The author, who spent 10 years on the road, shares valuable insights and practical information on how to discover and experience the world. It has practical tips on planning life on the road and saving money while achieving the dream of travelling around the world.    For more book recommendations for seniors, watch this space.  People who read every day are constantly learning new things. As a leading senior living community operator, we understand the importance of reading for seniors. All our communities have a well-stocked library and our residents cherish the time they spend amidst books. To know more about our senior citizen homes and services, call us at +91 8884555554.