Articles - Know More About Senior Living retirement communities

You can’t prevent the passage of time, but when you’re proactive about your health, your senior years can be wonderful and comfortable. It’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your body. The sooner you start taking care of your health, to the more likely are you to adopt positive ageing. Here we discuss a few healthy choices that you can make to enjoy a healthier, longer, and happier life. Tips for mindful self-care and better health from one of the leading senior living communities in India Tip 1: Do mind-body training exercises: There are several ways to use your thoughts to positively influence your body’s response to stress-inducing situations. You can try different breathing techniques and mind relaxation exercises to manage and reduce stress. At our communities, the day starts with stretching exercises and there are dedicated yoga classes in the mornings and evenings. Tip 2: Engage in mentally stimulating activities: Senior adults benefit from starting a new hobby or playing crossword puzzles or other challenging board games. Such activities not only boost their cognitive abilities but also have a positive effect on their emotional health.  At our communities, there are several workshops and lectures conducted from time to time to engage our residents. In our monthly journal, we feature writings, artwork and photography submitted by our residents. There are several intra-community competitions where our residents get to showcase their creative side. Tip 3: Pause your mind: During meditation, you clear your mind of all the distractions. It lets you detach from all kinds of stressors, thus restoring your body to a state of calm. Meditating every day even for a few minutes can help you gain a sense of calm and balance in your life. Tip 4: Pen down your thoughts: Writing is a great way to express your emotions and thoughts. It helps you clear away negative thoughts that builds up over time. Whether it’s bullet-journaling or a letter to self, writing helps you get clarity on your thoughts and offers you a fresh perspective on issues that need to be addressed. Interesting Read – Happiness Tips for Seniors Living in Community Living Facility

Retirement presents you with an excellent opportunity to lead a life of endless possibilities – from trying your hand at something new to going on impromptu trips. However, to enjoy your retirement years to the fullest, you need to create a plan that will help you meet your retirement goals. As one of the best rated senior living communities, we share with you some of the best tips for a healthy and fulfilling retirement: Start planning your finances early: You need to be careful about your investment planning so that you can enjoy the sunset years without having to worry too much about your finances. Your investment strategy for retirement will depend on how far away retirement is for you. Many people often make investment mistakes like not having a diverse portfolio, saving without any goals, and not considering the effect of inflation on their investment returns. To avoid such mistakes, you can take professional help. Also, it is important to keep monitoring your current investment plan. Focus on your health: By focusing on your health from early on you can avoid some of the age-related illnesses. Healthy eating habits and physical activity can help you maintain ideal body weight and feel more energetic. Go for regular health checkups to keep a tab on your physical and cognitive health. By spotting risk factors for certain diseases, you can take early precautions Make a wish list of activities: After retirement, with so much time at hand, you may struggle to find ways to spend your time in meaningful ways. One of the best ways to get the most out of your golden years is to create a wish list of things you always wanted to do. Learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, or travelling – there is a lot you can do to make your retirement years fun and fulfilling. Think positively about ageing: Ageing is inevitable whether you like it or not. However, how you perceive it will define the quality of your life. A positive attitude about ageing can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health. Start searching for a retirement home early on: Many people choose to live in senior living communities as the move gives them reassurance and peace of mind and helps them enjoy an independent, happy, and fulfilling retirement. Some of the best senior living communities such as ours offer a worry-free lifestyle. When you decide to move to a senior living community, you leave your worries about housekeeping and property maintenance behind. Choosing a retirement home is a long-term commitment, it is best to start your search early so that you can weigh all available options. Read More – Retirement Planning 6 tips For A Successful Retirement

Bangalore – the hub of traditional culture, good food and captivating architecture – is an ideal place to enjoy a comfortable retired life. The cosmopolitan nature and the vibrant city life make it attractive for seniors looking for a fun and active retired life. But there’s more to Bangalore than being just a city with glitzy and glamorous lifestyle. Let’s take a brief look at what the city has to offer to its senior residents: Good infrastructure: Bangalore is among the best Indian cities in terms of infrastructure. The poster child of India’s urbanisation, Bangalore continues to witness growth in the retail, hospitality and residential sectors. The city boasts of having good public transport, roads, flyovers and public spaces. Excellent places to spend good times with your friends and family: There are good cafes, restaurants and malls for people seeking to spend a perfect evening. The city has a lot to offer to those who like to visit art galleries or museums,. One can also plan day trip to Nandi Hills or Bannerghatta Biological Park. When it comes to eating out, it is a city where people of all ages will be spoilt for choice. From al-fresco cafes to rooftop restaurants, there is no dearth of restaurants on MG Road, Lavelle Road and other areas in Bangalore. Pleasant weather: One of the reasons why seniors love Bangalore is because of its climate. The mornings are bright and sunny and the evenings are cooler. One thing that cannot be missed about Bangalore is the huge open spaces likeCubbon Park Lalbagh and Botanical Park. The weather makes it perfect for seniors to enjoy the beautiful open spaces. World-class medical facilities: Bangalore is one of the fastest-growing medical destinations in India with hospitals offering leading health care facilities and state-of-the-art technology. There are several retirement communities in Bangalore such as ours which have partnered with leading hospitals to give their residents round-the-clock medical care. Columbia Asia Hospitals is the healthcare partner of Columbia Pacific Communities and helps us provide our residents with world-class healthcare. If you are looking for premium senior community living facilities in Bangalore, explore The Virtuoso Club and Serviced Residences, located in Budigere. The lush green surroundings offer tranquility while seniors have easy access to what the city has to offer, making it an ideal investment for them. Read More – Why is Moving to a Retirement Home in Bangalore a Healthy Choice

As people age their body and lifestyle change, they are more likely to suffer from various health conditions and the risk of cardiovascular diseases increase as one ages. However, there is a lot that can be done to keep your heart young and healthy. Right diet and regular physical activity are keys to good heart health at any age. As one of the best rated senior living communities in India, we have curated some useful tips on heart-healthy ageing: Following an active lifestyle: Regular moderate-intensity physical activity improves a senior’s health in many ways – it reduces their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, helps them maintain a healthy weight and improves their strength, flexibility, and balance. To encourage senior residents to follow an active lifestyle, some of the best rated senior living communities such as ours have gyms, jogging tracks, swimming pools and facilities for indoor and outdoor games. At our senior living community facilities, we have fully equipped gyms with cardiovascular and strength training equipment. In all our communities, there are open spaces for residents to walk and jog. Residents can participate in stretching exercises, yoga sessions and aerobic classes. Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight: When it comes to cardiovascular health, what you eat matters the most. At our senior living communities, we make sure that the menu is designed under the supervision of a dietician and it incorporates a variety of plant foods. As per a study conducted by the American Gut Project, respondents who ate at least 30 different types of plant foods in a week – from vegetables and fruits to nuts and legumes—had the most diverse gut microbiome which is often associated with good health. Keeping an eye on the important health markers: To keep your heart healthy, you should measure and track important health markers like your blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Some of the best rated senior living communities ensure that their residents undergo regular health screening for early detection and treatment. At Columbia Pacific Communities, we are proactive about preventive healthcare – we offer comprehensive geriatric assessment and supportive care. There are regular health checkups, and the medical records of residents are well-maintained and properly updated so that the right care can be provided should the need arise. Getting rid of negative thoughts: Depression, anxiety and other emotional issues can take a toll on your heart health. For many elderly residents, socialising with like-minded people is the ultimate stress reliever. It helps seniors get rid of any kind of negative thoughts and anxiety. At our senior living communities, we follow an active social calendar where residents can take part in yoga classes, workshops, and different types of indoor and outdoor activities. There are clubs and groups for just about everything, from book clubs to music clubs and walking groups. Make an appointment to visit one of our community living facilities and speak to our team – they will be able to tell you more about living in Columbia Pacific Communities. Give us a call on +91 8884555554 to schedule a visit. Read More – Happiness Tips for Seniors Living in Community Living Facility

The best retirement homes in India help seniors lead a purposeful and satisfying life after retirement. With an active social calendar, excellent fitness facilities, housekeeping and maintenance staff and tie-ups with leading hospitals and healthcare centres, they strive to take care of their residents’ mental and physical well-being. Our senior living communities are driven by a firm belief that retirement is not the end of the road but a new beginning. Here we discuss how the best senior living communities in India such as ours are helping elderly residents lead an enriching life: Learning doesn’t have to stop: Learning at any age is beneficial. However, as people age, the significance of learning new skills grows. Research studies have shown that as seniors learn new skills it affects their mental wellbeing positively. To encourage our residents to stay mentally stimulated, we offer a host of facilities like libraries, game rooms and art workshops. Our senior living communities have interest-based clubs for community members like reading clubs and art clubs where members meet, discuss and debate. Also, we regularly host informative seminars and workshops on a wide variety of topics. Setting your fitness goals: Retirement gives seniors plenty of time to work on their fitness regime. The group fitness activities conducted in our senior living communities are not only engaging but also help our residents with their health and wellness journeys. When people exercise in groups, it encourages them to meet their fitness goals. From yoga classes and senior-friendly gyms to swimming pools and aerobics classes – there is always an opportunity for our seniors to stay physically active. Worry-free lifestyle: Life after retirement is all about rewarding yourself for years of hard work and the last thing you want is to worry about household chores. Our senior living communities offer residents an independent lifestyle where instead of fretting about property maintenance and cooking, they can pursue their hobbies or even develop new ones, widen their social circle, go out on trips, and feel a part of the community. Housekeeping, laundry, concierge services and wholesome dining options are some of the facilities that we offer our senior residents. Want to know more about our senior living communities? We can give you a guided tour of our communities to provide you with a better feel of the lifestyle our residents enjoy. To book a tour, call us on +91 8884555554. Interesting Read How Retirement Homes in India are Helping Seniors Embrace Positive Lifestyle Changes Retirement Homes in India: Helping Seniors Begin a New Chapter How Retirement Communities in India are Helping Seniors Let Go of Unnecessary Stressors

To logically predict the outlook for the senior living sector in 2021, one must examine the various factors that have been impacting society over the last couple of decades and how the once in a lifetime event of 2020 will lift the senior living sector to a completely changed paradigm. Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) are increasingly finding themselves living on their own. This is a function of two distinct sociological changes that have been taking place in the country over the past couple of decades. In the first place, this generation has given their children the advantage of improved access to quality education. This combined with greater employment opportunities across India and other parts of the world have allowed the children to pursue better and more rewarding careers while taking them away from the home city of their parents. At the same time, better medical facilities, a healthier lifestyle, improved savings, and an aspirational approach to living means more and more “seniors” prefer to live independently, pursue their interests and passions with great vigour after their formal retirement and have the means, the time and the energy to do so. However, with time, these seniors increasingly need to depend on external service providers to support and fulfil their daily needs. This applies as much to security, housekeeping and maintenance requirements as it does to travel for socialising and their medical needs. What the seniors need is an enabler. A service provider who fulfils their day-to-day needs; and a living space that provides them with the necessary infrastructure to enjoy a socially engaging lifestyle. The same space and service provider should also be able to address their current and emergent medical needs. Given that physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual needs change over time, the community and services provider should also be able to adapt and enhance support over time. Well designed and serviced senior living communities are the solution to this requirement. Even before 2020, it was estimated that there was a demand for 200,000 homes in senior living communities in urban India. At that time, less than 20,000 homes – half ready-to-move-in and the other half in various stages of development were available in the country. COVID – 19 and the lockdowns in 2020 exposed how ill-prepared we are as a society to look after the needs of our seniors – especially as they become dependent on others for their daily living. Seniors residing alone in their homes – individual villas or in apartments in mixed-family condominiums found themselves completely at the mercy of others. Their children, unable to travel themselves or provide any assistance from afar were equally distraught at their helplessness. When compared against the experience of seniors living on communities designed to fulfil their needs, the contrast was palpable. Good senior living communities were able to ringfence their residents from the external environment. Continued social interaction with like-minded neighbours and friends while maintaining physical distancing ensured there was no loneliness. Round-the-clock availability of medical support provided peace of mind to residents and their children. It is this experience that is now driving the 4x increase in demand and interest as seen by the velocity in sales in new projects, waiting lists for rental or re-purchase at ready to move in communities, organic traffic to website and support of both friends and family of seniors seeking such a solution. Since senior living communities are a complex combination of real estate, hospitality services and healthcare, with their unique and core specializations, one expects to see more collaborative efforts between developers and service providers as they synergise their competencies to develop solutions for residents. Senior living communities, until recently have been confined to areas outside the heart of the cities or in smaller towns / suburbs. These will change with developers seeing them as an important part of the integrated townships that they develop. I am convinced that given the size of the demand, the real need for this solution, and the growing acceptance of the concept, 2021 will see senior living communities shedding their wholly undeserved perception of being a solution for people who have “no option” to being the “preferred solution” for seniors wanting to enjoy life to the fullest. This article is contributed by Mohit Nirula, CEO, Columbia Pacific Communities. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of RoofandFloor.

Writing is wonderful for the mind and soul. When done in a focused way, it has mood-enhancing powers and lets the writer explore his/her creative side. It is also a powerful form of communication. People write to express their emotions, ideas, and opinions. However, writing does more than just helping people record their emotions or find self-expression. Writing about a stressful situation can be cathartic for some – it helps people come to grips with their own feelings. Here is a quick look into the emotional benefits of writing: Writing reduces stress: Writing is a great way to relieve stress. It helps you process your thoughts and emotions. If you are facing a difficult situation, writing about it will help you think critically and review the situation differently. According to this research, when people who have experienced trauma write about the event for at least 15 minutes a day, it positively affects their health. Acts as a mood booster: Writing provides you with an outlet for your creative skills which not only reduces stress, but also acts as a mood booster. It can also be an outlet for anxiety as you can put down your feelings, worries and doubts on paper. Sharpens your mind: When you structure your thoughts and look for appropriate words, sentences, and phrases to express them, it boosts your cognitive functions. Fosters better social connections: Writing about your everyday life can help you build better social relationships. When you write about a problem or a misunderstanding with other people, it gives you time to think about different perspectives. It gives you an opportunity to understand things from others’ points of view. The more you write, the better are your chances of empathising with others. How to get started with writing? Often people have many thoughts to express but getting the first sentence on paper can be at times difficult. One of the best ways to get started is to write about your day, your surroundings, or an experience you have had. Pick a suitable time of the day to write in your diary as when you are writing you don’t want to be disturbed by phone calls or messages. In our senior homes in Coimbatore, we have libraries and Wi-Fi-enabled clubhouses where you can put your thoughts into words in a quiet setting. As one of the best senior citizen homes in Coimbatore, we encourage our residents to write. We feature poems and write-ups written by our residents on our website as well as in our monthly journals. To know more about how we encourage positive ageing at our senior living facilities in India, visit here. Read More – 6 Steps to Healthy, Happy Ageing

As people grow old, they look forward to retirement as a time to finally slow down and relax. However, old age comes with its own set of problems and family members remain concerned about the safety and security of their aged, loved ones. Here are a few concerns that families have and how some of the leading senior citizen homes in Coimbatore are addressing them: Age-related physical changes: Many elderly people have low physical activity which can lead to various health problems like high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and high cholesterol levels. In addition to physical benefits, exercising regularly helps seniors maintain their independence and improve their self-confidence. At our senior living communities in Coimbatore, we help our residents maintain adequate fitness levels with help of well-designed activities. From well-equipped gyms and swimming pools to a dedicated physiotherapist working on improving the fitness levels of residents – the best-rated retirement homes have all the facilities that encourage residents to remain fit and healthy. Loneliness: Families of senior citizens are often worried about their loved one’s lack of social life. Socialising and spending time with family and friends is good for the physical and cognitive health of seniors. At our senior living communities in Coimbatore, seniors enjoy a vibrant community atmosphere. From language classes and music lessons to weekend excursions, there are various activities that keep our residents busy and entertained. Transportation: Families are often concerned about their elderly members driving. At our senior living communities in Coimbatore, our concierge team helps residents hire vehicles from reliable places. They also assist with booking tickets and organising trips. Healthcare: As people get older, their family gets concerned about their health. It is important to get health screening done regularly to spot a problem at an early stage. At our senior living communities in Coimbatore, we provide comprehensive geriatric assessment and supportive care. There are regular health screenings done and medical records of residents are always up to date with us. We also have tie-ups with nearby hospitals for immediate medical assistance. Interesting Article – How Does the Right Attitude Help You Live Independently? Tips from a Senior Citizen Retirement Home in Coimbatore

If your parents are planning to settle down in Chennai after retirement, it’s a great decision. As the city is a cultural powerhouse – your parents can enjoy their time visiting art museums, theatres and galleries. The cultural centres host interesting events and festivals throughout the year. The commercial capital of the state also offers an escape into nature – you can visit nearby hill stations such as Ooty, Yercaud and Yelagiri. If you are wondering if moving into senior citizen homes is the right decision, then keep on reading: A sense of belongingness: Loneliness is a big problem at any age, but it is particularly serious for seniors. When people retire, they lose their existing circle of friends. After retirement many find it difficult to create a social network outside work. At senior citizen homes, people find structured activities that help them pursue their interests and make new social contacts, thus giving them a sense of belongingness. Life after retirement can be lonely: With children being busy with their hectic lives, an increasing number of seniors find it difficult to cope with loneliness. The sense of loneliness worsens with losing spouse. Senior citizen homes such as ours — Serene Adinath and Serene Pushkar — present a good opportunity for seniors to spend time with people of their own age and make meaningful connections. Loneliness can adversely affect eating habits: Loneliness can lead to either overeating or undereating. Often some seniors use food to soothe uncomfortable feelings by overeating while others refrain from eating. At senior citizen homes, residents often eat together which in a way helps them combat the feeling of social isolation. Feeling of social isolation can lead to health-related issues: With age comes isolation and loneliness. Not many people realise that loneliness can cause a number of health issues in seniors, including depression, cognitive decline, dementia, high blood pressure etc. People who feel lonely are less likely to take good care of their health. They are likely to stay physically inactive and have eating disorders. Read More – How Retirement Homes in Chennai are Turning Aging into a Happy Experience

Music has a powerful impact on how we feel. Have you ever wondered why certain peppy numbers make you feel happy? Or why certain songs and tunes evoke happy memories and provide comfort in stressful times? For years, people have benefitted from the healing powers of music and elderly people are no exception. Music can help seniors cope with age-related problems like stress, anxiety, and depression. As one of the best retirement homes in India, we discuss how music can benefit seniors: Reduces stress: Listening to music can help seniors deal with stress and anxiety in a better way. Soothing music can have a calming effect on people as it takes one’s mind off things. Music helps people stay calm and focused. Upbeat music gives the day an energetic start. Various studies suggest that music has major effects on health, ranging from cognitive function to cardiovascular health. Being one of the best rated senior living communities in India, we organise music concerts from time to time. Improves memory: Music often evokes memories; this keeps the brain sharp and active. Learning vocal music or learning to play a musical instrument is good for the brain as they can ward off age-related cognitive decline. Increases social activity: There is no doubt that music brings people together. At our senior living communities in India, we host music classes for our resident. During these sessions, seniors learn about the nuances of music and also get to connect with others. Besides learning something new, music helps in alleviating feelings of loneliness and isolation. Encourages exercise: Listening to music while exercising not only kills boredom, but it also makes seniors exercise more efficiently. Music can be highly motivating when seniors are walking, dancing, and working out in the gym. Interesting Read – Take a Look at These Interesting Entertainment Ideas for Seniors