Articles - Know More About Senior Living retirement communities

Filling the day with meaningful activities is a great way to engage the brain, spend time constructively and connect with like-minded people.  Here is a list of indoor activities for seniors curated by one of the leading senior living homes in Bangalore:  Get creative: Art is a fantastic way to express oneself and enjoy time indoors. Painting, art and craft, sketching, colouring, knitting, woodworking and pottery are artistic activities that will help seniors embrace their inner artists. Learning a new craft not only helps seniors help their passions but can be an excellent stress reliever. Grab a book: Picking up a book is a pleasant pastime. A good book takes people into the world of the author without leaving the comforts of their homes. Reading is more than just a hobby. It helps seniors keep their mind occupied with positive thoughts. It also teaches the mind to focus. Reading before bedtime is a great way to ensure a good night’s sleep. At our senior living homes in Bangalore, we have a library where seniors can access to newspapers, journals, magazines and novels. Watch a movie with friends: While watching TV all day long isn’t healthy, catching up on movies and favourite shows with friends can be a great opportunity to relax. At our senior homes, we host movie screenings so that our residents can build memories and enjoy quality time with their friends. Our residents can also host movie screenings for their family and friends. Join a hobby class: There are many reasons for seniors to make room for hobbies in their daily lives and one of them is to make new friends. Hobby classes don’t just give them an opportunity to explore their hidden talents but also help socialise with like-minded people. At our senior homes in Bangalore, we encourage healthy and active ageing. The vibrant days at our senior homes are filled with activities. We organise workshops and classes so that residents have something to look forward to each day. At The Virtuoso Club and Serviced Residences, our premium senior living community in Bangalore, we have designed several indoor community spaces such as a clubhouse, bistro and restaurant where our residents can unwind.

Over the years, Coimbatore has emerged as a perfect retirement destination. As operators of one of the leading senior living homes in Coimbatore, we bring together a community of like-minded seniors, spending their retirement in the pleasant company of each other. Our senior citizen homes in Coimbatore are carefully designed keeping in mind the comfort and social needs of seniors so that they can enjoy the best years of their lives to the fullest. Here is a list of senior citizen homes in Coimbatore that promote positive ageing:  Serene Rose by Columbia Pacific Communities: Spread over 5.76 acres of land, Serene Rose by Columbia Pacific Communities is a senior living community for those who want endless opportunities to socialise and stay active in their leisure years. Releasing residents from the burdens of doing daily household chores, Serene Rose offers serviced living spaces with a life of independence. At our serviced units, residents get complete housekeeping and maintenance services. The social calendar at our senior living community is filled with recreational opportunities so that our residents can spend doing things they love, be it learning a new skill, getting fit or making new friends. The senior community has 2,636 sq m of open space that lets our residents walk, jog and do yoga while enjoying the breathtaking view of the Western Ghats. Serene Idigarai by Columbia Pacific Communities: Life is a celebration at Serene Idigarai by Columbia Pacific Communities. This wonderful senior living community is ideal for those looking for a thriving community life that’s full of enjoyable activities. From celebrating birthdays to organising cultural activities, the senior living community offers seniors a platform to learn new things, socialise and live a physically active lifestyle. Nestled amidst  acres of peaceful grounds with well-maintained gardens, the senior living community gives residents a beautiful feeling each day.  Residents at Serene Idigarai enjoy an unparalleled style of living in a worry free environment. Serene Shenbagam by Columbia Pacific Communities: If you are looking forward to spending your retirement years in the lap of greenery, Serene Shenbagam is the place for you. Spread over 6.5 acres of land, there are 71 independent villas. Our residents have all the modern amenities at their disposal. From housekeeping to 24×7 maintenance, our residents do not have to fret over small things. The community gym is packed with the latest equipments. The senior-friendly complex has over 71,500 sq. ft of open area so that our residents can enjoy outdoor activities in a tranquil atmosphere. The social calendar is designed in such a way that everyone will find something interesting to take part in. Serene Indus Valley by Columbia Pacific Communities: This senior living community in Coimbatore offers idyllic gardens and a variety of wellness-based activities for our residents to enjoy. A worry free lifestyle allows our residents to focus on the things that they love. There are 1, 2, and 3 BHK villas to choose from. The senior living community has a Wi-Fi enabled clubhouse, library and banquet hall.

The absence of a routine after retirement can make it hard to pay attention to the moment. It may seem that you are just whiling away hours. If you practise mindfulness, your day may seem more purpose-driven.   As one of the best senior citizen homes in Chennai, we share with you a few useful tips on mindfulness that can transform your day and give you a fresh perspective on your daily routine: Practise conscious breathing: One of the easiest ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine is to spend 2 to 3 minutes every day practising deep breathing. Deep breathing helps you calm down and disengage yourself from negative and distracting thoughts. Also, conscious breathing keeps your energy levels high, helps you combat stress and improves mental focus and  clarity. Plan daily digital detox: Do not use your phone for the first two hours of your day. When your phone is the first thing you pick up in the morning, you drag yourself into the world of too many distractions and information. Start your day by focussing on yourself and the same goes for how you end your day. Stop using your phone two hours before you hit the bed. These simple tricks can help you live in the moment. Create the day you want: Sit quietly and plan your day ahead. Preparing yourself for the day ahead offers a host of benefits including a sense of calm and the ability to cope with challenges with positive energy and vigour. Use your senses to live more mindfully: When stepping outside the house, don’t rush. Instead, take a few seconds to focus on what you can see, hear, smell or touch. Watch the birds, say hello to your neighbours or smell the rain. Engage in random acts of kindness: By giving others without any expectation of return, you feel good from inside.  Be it holding the door open for a stranger or leaving a big tip – every small interaction with someone is an opportunity to create positive memories. 

Ageing causes changes in the blood vessels. Thus, seniors are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. As you age, you must become more proactive towards maintaining a healthy heart. Regular checkup, preventive tests, an active lifestyle and a good diet plan are important for heart health. Here is a list of nutrients that can help strengthen and protect your heart:  Coenzyme Q10: In order to function properly, the heart needs a lot of energy. Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, helps to generate energy in your cells. Though the body produces the compound naturally, with age the production reduces. Vegetables such as spinach, cauliflower and broccoli are good sources of CoQ10. Also, include sesame seeds and pistachios in your daily diet. Organ meats such as heart, liver and kidney and fatty fish such as trout, sardine and herring are also rich in CoQ10.  Omega-3 fatty acids: Certain unsaturated fats such as omega-3 fatty acids are healthy for the heart. They have anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids are primarily found in tuna, salmon, trout and cod. Olive, soybean, canola, walnut and flaxseeds are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. As the body cannot make omega-3 fatty acids on its own, you must get them from your diet.  Magnesium: Magnesium is essential for maintaining a healthy heartbeat. It relaxes the arteries, which lowers blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood. To increase your magnesium intake, include pumpkin seeds, spinach, black beans, flaxseeds, almonds and cashews in your daily diet.  Niacin: Also known as vitamin B3, Niacin is an important nutrient. Niacin deficiency can lead to memory loss, fatigue, depression, diarrhoea and skin problems. It lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, thus making it ideal for cardiovascular health. Niacin is found in a variety of food including poultry, fish, nuts and legumes. Giving your body the right nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight can help you stay active and independent. As one of the best senior citizen homes in Bangalore, we ensure that we serve our residents with fresh and healthy meals. Our team of nutritionists develop dietary plans to meet the individual needs of our residents.

Not having sufficient sleep can put your body under stress, thus affecting your energy levels and your mental health. Seniors need 7-8 hours of sleep each night to feel rested and refreshed. Also, undisturbed night time sleep helps your body repair itself. However, as you age, you may experience changes in sleep patterns, such as trouble in sleeping, waking up earlier or experiencing less deep sleep. As a leading senior citizen home in Kanchipuram, we share with you a few tips to improve sleep hygiene and reset your internal clock: Do not take electronics to bed:  Electronic devices emit blue light that affects the production and regulation of melatonin (the sleep regulation hormone produced by the body). Do not drink caffeinated drinks 4 hours before bedtime: Products containing caffeine such as tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate and soft drinks should be avoided at least 4 hours before bedtime. Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake for hours. Avoid nicotine products: Just like caffeine, nicotine is also a stimulant and should be avoided before bedtime. Having a smoke before bed can wreak havoc on your sleep pattern. Heavy meals harm your sleep: While a light snack can be sleep-inducing, a heavy meal can interfere with your sleep patterns. Stay away from heavy meals before bedtime as it will tax your digestive system, thus making it difficult for your body to sleep. Do not exercise at night: Contrary to the popular belief that exercising before bedtime can help one feel asleep, late exercises impact the sleep cycle adversely. Exercising in the afternoon is good as it will give your body some time to get adjusted to its normal biological rhythm. Keep your bedroom ready for sleep: Ensure that your bedroom’s ambience supports a quiet night’s sleep.  It should be neither too hot, nor too cold. Too much light and noise in your bedroom can disturb your sleep patterns. Before hitting the bed, it’s good to engage in activities such as meditation, yoga, reading, or listening to music – it will calm your mind and help you unwind.

When you trust yourself, you feel confident. Trusting yourself makes it easier for you to make decisions. However, when you are in doubt about yourself, it causes anxiety and increases your stress levels. It is therefore important to build a healthy relationship with yourself. As one of the leading senior citizen homes in Pondicherry, we share a few useful tips on building self-trust:  Spend time with yourself: Take out at least 10 minutes a day for yourself. Spend the time to process thoughts and feelings that would otherwise go ignored. Overcome victimhood mentality: Every person has choices about how they can move forward in their life. Always remember that you can choose to take responsibility for your life whenever you want. Instead of waiting for others to make you happy, make yourself happy. Do not indulge in negative self-talk. Whenever you are surrounded by negative thoughts, take charge of the situation and do things that make you happy. Set realistic goals: Self-doubt and negative thoughts arise when you set yourself up for unrealistic goals and constantly see yourself from others’ perspectives. Setting realistic goals in your life will help you feel confident and remain motivated. When you set attainable goals and achieve them, you will be confident, and your self-esteem will get a boost. Also, when you are clear about your goals, you feel less overwhelmed. Be gentle to yourself: When you are constantly comparing yourself to others, pressuring yourself to be perfect, and doubting your capabilities, you end up with negative thoughts. Be kind to yourself and challenge negative thoughts with positive ones. Get moving: Whether it’s yoga, walking or aerobics, adding regular exercise to your schedule boosts your emotional well- being. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good hormones called endorphins that boost mood and promote positive feelings.  At our community living facilities, we host regular workshops on mental and physical well-being. The aim of these workshops is to help our residents gain a wider understanding of the issues surrounding mental and physical health.

Healthy ageing means more than just eating well-balanced meals and exercising regularly— it also means spending quality time with like-minded people, nurturing one’s emotional self and stimulating the mind through various creative activities. We all know that participating in creative activities helps seniors tackle stress, face new challenges and feel good about themselves. Particularly, when they learn new hobbies or skills, it can help them find their purpose and liberate the mind from negative thoughts. As one of the leading senior living facilities in India, we believe that when seniors engage in creative activities, they benefit in many ways. That’s why you’ll find a host of events, amenities and cultural opportunities and programs held regularly at our communities. Here is a list of common activities that boost a senior’s creative side: Art classes and workshops: From learning pottery to painting, you have countless possibilities to pursue creative activities. At the same time, you get to enjoy the camaraderie and companionship of other like-minded residents who are of the same age as you. Also, when you show your work of art to others, it gives you a sense of accomplishment which can affect your sense of wellbeing. Senior living communities like ours understand the importance of this, hence we highlight artwork, poetry and short stories by our residents and encourage them. Field trips to historical places, art museums and galleries: Many senior living communities arrange for trips to local museums, music concerts, sports events, movie theatres, plays and musicals and galleries to help their residents discover their creative side. Regular exercise: Studies show running enhances one’s creative inspiration. Haruki Murakami, a renowned Japanese writer, in one of his interviews said “I try not to think about anything special while running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometime. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.” Activities like dancing, yoga and deep breathing let you connect with your creative side and help you express your thoughts through different forms of art. No matter what your level of skill, don’t hesitate to pursue creative activities that interest you. So, if you’ve been thinking about attending an evening workshop at your community, or giving a new hobby a try, go for it!

Bangalore is pleasant nearly throughout the year. If you’re looking for fun things to do with grandkids, you are on the right page. As a leading senior citizen home in Bangalore, we have curated a list of activities that will warm your and your grandkids’ hearts: Go for a wildlife safari: Create lifelong memories on a safari through Bangalore’s Bannerghatta Biological Park. Observing wild animals in their natural habitat is something that you and your grandchildren will love. Hire a private safari vehicle and a guide for a knowledgeable and fun experience. Explore historical places: Rich in heritage and culture, Bangalore is not just about IT parks, the city is home to several palaces and forts. Plan a day trip with your grandchildren to explore iconic historical monuments like the Tipu Sultan Fort, Bangalore Fort, Mayo Hall, Lal Bagh and St Mark’s Cathedral. The majesty of these buildings and their architecture will leave you in awe. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Bangalore Race Course and the Brigade Grounds from Mayo Hall. Go for street shopping: If your grandchildren love shopping, the city offers some great markets in Commercial Street and Brigade Road where they can buy budget apparel and funky jewellery. When it comes to shopping in Bangalore, you and your grandkids will be spoilt for choice. Not just that, the markets are dotted with quick eating places. From idlis to pizzas, you will find a lot of places where you can satiate your hankering for something delicious. Spend an evening at the parks and lakes: There is no dearth of sprawling and lush green areas in Bangalore. The city of gardens and lakes offers you plenty of open spaces where you can play with your grandchildren without any worry. Boat rides, photography, strolling around the lakes and bird watching – there’s no dull moment in Bangalore. Join art classes together: Most children love to get crafty! There are several art classes that you can join with your grandkids and discover the inner artists in you. While your grandchildren will get to learn something new, you will enjoy health benefits like -improved cognitive function, keeping stress at bay and an opportunity to socialise with others.

With age, it’s normal to worry about health. However, when one constantly worries about becoming seriously ill, it’s a form of anxiety called health anxiety. It is a serious condition, whereby people develop an obsessional preoccupation with the idea that they are currently, or will eventually be, seriously ill. Though health anxiety is a common condition, it can be difficult for seniors to find the right support to cope with it. The medical condition is often not taken seriously and is joked around as hypochondria. As one of the leading independent senior living communities, we debunk some common health anxiety myths: Myth 1 – It’s not an illness: People often wrongly believe that health anxiety is just someone overreacting about their health. But this is not the case. Health anxiety is an anxiety disorder that needs medical treatment. People with health anxiety obsess over their health to the extent that every little symptom seems dangerous to them. Myth 2 – It’s all in the head: A person with health anxiety may experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, excessive sweating and blurred vision. These symptoms are caused by anxiety. Healthy anxiety can also trigger panic attacks that may trigger several severe physical reactions such as shortness of breath, racing heart and weakness. It can be difficult to calm down a person who is having a panic attack. Myth 3 – It affects just the mind: Health anxiety can affect the overall quality of life. The condition may prevent people from enjoying things that they once used to love. A person with health anxiety may find it difficult to read a book or watch a film that has a reference to physical illness. News about health issues can cause anxiety. Myth 4 – Health anxiety cannot be treated: Just like other anxiety disorders, health anxiety can also be brought under control with effective treatment that includes medications and therapy. Myth 5 – The condition affects just the sufferer: Often people think that those with health anxiety only worry about themselves. Well, this isn’t the case. Some people have anxiety over other people especially family members like children and spouse. People with health anxiety may find yoga helpful. Yoga and breathing exercises help in reducing stress and increasing mindfulness. We urge people to not dismiss the fears of those who are suffering from health anxiety and encourage them to seek medical help.

“What is hell? Hell is oneself. Hell is alone, the other figures in it. Merely projections. There is nothing to escape from. And nothing to escape to. One is always alone.” – TS Eliot, renowned American poet. The above quote by TS Eliot captures the sad truth about loneliness. Loneliness is indeed an unpleasant experience. But besides the feeling of being alone, are there any long-term harmful effects associated with loneliness? Well, loneliness is more than just a terrible feeling. There are several long-term health effects of loneliness. As one of the leading senior living communities, we share with you the impact loneliness can have on your parents’ health: Psychological disorders: Loneliness can often contribute to a range of psychological disorders like depression and anxiety and older adults seem to be at a slightly higher risk. It can be difficult to recognise the signs of psychological disorders as seniors are less likely to talk about their feelings or physical problems like fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeping troubles and fatigue. This means family and friends may find it difficult to recognise whether older people are feeling lonely or not. Unhealthy habits: Loneliness makes it harder for senior adults to stick to a healthy lifestyle. Overeating or drinking too much alcohol are some of the bad habits that senior adults may get addicted to when they feel lonely. Moreover, lonely people are more likely to withdraw from socialising and seek emotional support – all this makes them even more isolated. Sleep deprivation: Loneliness can wreak havoc with sleeping patterns. It has been found that sleep deprivation can have negative effects on metabolism and hormonal regulation, affecting the immune system of senior adults. How independent senior living apartments are helping their residents beat loneliness? “The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.” – These words by American physician, and New York Times best-selling author Mark Hyman, capture the importance of living in a community with like-minded people. We believe that the best way to beat loneliness is to have a sense of belongingness and something to look forward to each day. Many independent senior living apartments like ours provide residents with opportunities to meet like-minded people. We have different groups for different activities that your parents can join should they choose to live in our senior living homes. Joining these groups offer them a platform that has a shared purpose and eventually, they will make a friend. Though initially, it may be difficult for people who are lonely, research shows group activities and being part of a community help fend off loneliness.