Articles - Know More About Senior Living retirement communities

With empathy-centered services that contribute to greater independence and foster a sense of community, senior citizen homes in Columbia Pacific Communities encourage residents to live the retirement life they have always dreamt of. Check out our senior citizen homes in India here. We are committed to helping our residents pursue enriching and fulfilling lives surrounded by respect, dignity, happiness and an exceptional standard of care. Let’s take a sneak peek into how we leverage the power of empathy to stay true to our commitment- Age-friendly communities: Empathy has played a crucial role in the design and development of Columbia Pacific Communities. At our retirement homes in India, attention to the smallest detail has been paid to ensure that our residents live in a safe and comfortable environment. With senior-friendly features like non-slip vitrified tiles and handrails in bathrooms and common areas like swimming pools and jogging tracks – our senior citizen homes provide a setting where residents feel comfortable and safe. The rooms are designed to allow wheelchair access. There is a panic button in each independent apartment. Our premium retirement home in Bangalore is compliant with the NBC (National Building Code) standards for accessible housing as well as ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act 1990) guidelines for structure and facilities. Maintenance-free lifestyle: We understand that household chores like mopping, cooking and property maintenance can stop seniors from enjoying their golden years of retirement. Moving into our senior citizen homes, can help them enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle. They don’t have to worry about home repairs – be it a leaky faucet or a broken switch, our 24X7 maintenance team will take care of it. Cleaning of apartments is done daily, and residents can also ask for customised housekeeping help for specific tasks. From housekeeping to the care and support team, all our team members are trained to the highest standard. Your suggestions in dining options: We make sure that the food served in our dining halls is not just nutritious but also delicious. Our food and beverage team and dieticians work with the residents to ensure that their nutritional needs are met. We change our menus regularly so that our residents enjoy tasty and balanced meals created with their preferences in mind.

Retirement is an exciting phase of life that many look forward to. As you age, you may plan to move into a senior citizen living community. With children and grandchildren busy with their own schedule, spending time in open spaces among people your own age and doing things you love the most are some of the perks of staying in senior living communities. While there are so many choices, it’s important to do your homework and choose one that is among the best rated senior living communities in India. Here is a checklist that will help you select the senior living community that meets your needs: The right level of health care: When it comes to selecting a senior living community, perhaps the most important factor is the kind of health care that is provided. Many best rated senior living communities like ours provide screening, assessment, and consultation from visiting doctors. There is a dedicated 24×7 ambulance service on the premises. There is round-the-clock care from qualified nurses. Medical records are maintained and kept in-house to help with your diet and wellness plans. For us, your health is top priority which is why we have partnered with the nearest hospitals for all your health needs. 24×7 security: The very idea of buying a retirement cottage in the mountains sounds good but not practical. With age, the need for security increases. Look for secure senior living communities. The best rated senior living communities encourage keeping security as unobtrusive as possible to offer a home-like atmosphere and yet maintaining a secure environment for the residents. At our senior living communities, we use cutting-edge technology to keep safety, security and privacy of our residents uncompromised. Amenities: Though amenities vary from one community to another, it is important to ensure that the ones you need the most are available. Housekeeping, laundry and concierge are some of the basic facilities that the best rated senior living communities provide. At our senior living communities, we offer spacious outdoor areas, gym equipped with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, aerobics, and a calm yoga deck, libraries, games and movie theatres. You can host a private screening of your favourite movie, host parties and more in our banquet halls. There are business centres where you can hold meetings. Recreational activities: From activities focussing on physical fitness to organising daily activities, most senior living communities have a busy activity calendar. Educational lectures and workshops, physical activities such as yoga and fitness classes, music concerts and movie screenings are some of the regular activities that we conduct.

Investing time in searching for the best rated senior living communities with good amenities and trained professionals is important for your long-term happiness. Here are a few things that will help you choose one where you can live your golden years in bliss: Make safety a priority: Safety should be your top priority. The best senior living communities provide a safe, secure, and a calming atmosphere. They ensure 24×7 security without being intrusive. Our senior living communities use the latest technology to ensure that the premises are well-guarded. Gates are manned by security personnel 24×7 with CCTV surveillance for the premises. Do check the location: The location should have easy accessibility and yet have a calming environment. Our communities are conveniently located and are well – connected to other parts of the city. Residents get to enjoy open spaces and there is greenery in and around the complex. The tranquil atmosphere of our communities makes it a great place to relax and enjoy yourself. Check out the amenities: Amenities at senior living communities should be comprehensive so that residents do not have to venture out for basic things. Laundry facilities, housekeeping and concierge are some basic facilities that should be there. Make sure that senior living communities have a swimming pool, fitness center, movie theatres and spacious outdoor areas. At our retirement homes, we provide all-round services to our residents that include emergency medical facilities, recreational activities and amenities such as clubhouse, business centre, restaurant and more. Tour the facility: Once you have zeroed in on a few senior living communities, visit them personally. All you need to do is book an appointment and the team will walk you through the whole community.

Mr. and Mrs. Nair were planning to move to a senior citizen community in Chennai. They had a big house in the city, but it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to manage it. With age, they were finding it difficult to maintain the house. They had a trustworthy maid who helped them with the household chores, but when she left for her village the couple was left scrambling to find a new maid. Their only son stayed in Delhi and wanted them to come and stay with him. But they didn’t want to leave the city and also lose their sense of freedom. After a lot of consideration, they planned to move to a senior citizen community in Chennai. But they were apprehensive about making new friends there. We understand that striking up friendships when you are moving to a new place can be tricky. But senior citizen housing communities like ours help you with an environment that fosters friendships. Be it our community spaces or barbeque area and lounge seating – our senior citizen housing communities are designed in a way to help people converse and get acquainted with like-minded people. If you are above 60 and are planning to move to a senior citizen housing community – but like the Nairs you are worried about making new friends at a new place, then read on. Meet your new neighbours – Start connecting with your neighbours. Smile at them whenever you see them, and you’ll soon find an opportunity to chat with them. Once you start getting to know them, meet them over a cup of tea or coffee. Our restaurant and bistro is very popular amongst our residents, as it offers the right ambience to strike up conversations over a cup of tea and delicious, freshly-baked confections. Follow passion – Whether it’s art, books or music, regularly participating in an activity that you enjoy allows you to be in contact with other like-minded people over and over. Meeting them regularly can be a great first step to connect with them. Our reading lounge and library is a great place to meet other book lovers. Our indoor games room is the ideal place to strike up conversations with other residents over a game of pool or carrom. Volunteer – Volunteering for a worthwhile cause is a great way to meet interesting people who care about the same things as you do. Keep an eye on local events – From walking tours and art classes to group exercise classes – find out about local events that might interest you. Usually the basis of making a friend is a shared experience. Learn new skills – When you move to a senior citizen housing community, you don’t have to worry about everyday household chores. Housekeeping and maintenance services, taken care of by an experienced team, gives you the freedom to lead a maintenance-free lifestyle. You can use the time on hand to learn new skills and meet new people. We understand that change isn’t easy and the decision to move to a new place and making new friends may be tough. But we are here to help you take that next step with confidence.

Mr. Subramanium, a retired teacher aged 65, lives with his wife in Bangalore. Their only son moved to Canada 3 years ago and was the one that introduced them to the benefits of social media. The aged couple found their old friends on social channels and were extremely happy to reconnect with them. They exchanged personal details with them and kept in touch with their old friends. They would occasionally email their friends asking about their wellbeing. One day they received an email from Mrs. Kumar, one of their old friends, asking for money because she was in some sort of a financial bind. She particularly told them not to talk about it to other friends. The couple was worried about her and transferred the money. They were taken aback when one of their friends called them and asked whether they received an email from Mrs. Kumar asking for money. They were shocked when they heard that someone impersonating Mrs. Kumar was asking for money from all her friends. Like Mr. and Mrs. Subramanium, there are many seniors in India who fall prey to such financial scams online. Many of them lead lonely lives as their kids have settled abroad or live in a different city. They aren’t generally comfortable with technology and are less likely to react to SMSes sent by their banks informing them of transactions done by them or by someone on behalf of them. At Columbia Pacific Communities, the largest senior living community operators in India, we understand how difficult it can be for the elderly to navigate different online channels. Here we discuss a few useful tips to help you stay safe online – Be extremely careful of emails offering free vacations or gifts. These are tricks designed to get personal information from you so that scammers can steal your identity or money. Don’t use the same password for every site and app you use. Don’t share your personal information like name, address, location, age, phone number, birthday, email address, bank account details and insurance policy numbers online. Remember most organizations such as banks and charities don’t ask for your personal information over email. Don’t open attachments or click on links from unknown senders. If you get an email from your bank asking you to download an attachment, it’s better to call the bank and confirm whether they sent the email or not. There is a very common scam, called phishing, where you are asked to open a link of what looks like a legitimate website. But in reality, is a scam website designed to steal your personal information. One quick way to determine the safety of a website is to check whether the URL begins with “https://.” Also, look for a padlock icon next to the website’s URL. Clicking on it will notify you that your connection is secure. Don’t respond to messages where the email appears to come from people you know but the sender plays the secrecy card; for example, “don’t tell my son” or “don’t tell our friends”. If you want to respond to such an email, always get in touch with the sender or his/her family even if he/she has specifically told you not to.If you shop online, check your bank statements regularly.

Many of you must be looking forward to your retirement years. Not having a 9-5 schedule will give you all the time in the world. But once the initial excitement gets over, it can get pretty boring. But if you move to a senior citizen housing facility, there are a myriad of activities you can participate in to keep yourself engaged and busy. There’s never a dull moment in our senior citizen homes in India. You can explore how our residents are enjoying a fulfilled and content life, making new friends and filling their time with new hobbies. Over here are some entertainment ideas for seniors, pick what you love the most: Plan a day trip: A day trip to a nearby town or taking a pilgrimage tour can open a whole new world for seniors. At our senior citizen communities, we help our residents organise trips and facilitate booking. We also help them hire vehicles for impromptu trips. All our communities in India are located in prime locations which makes it easy for residents to go out shopping, catch the latest movies and eat at their favorite restaurant. Watch a movie: Sometimes, there is nothing more entertaining than watching a movie, whether it is the latest one or a classic. At our senior citizen homes, we provide concierge services that will help you book movie tickets and hire vehicles if you are planning to step out. You can also host a movie screening for your friends and family members at the community. In our Wi-Fi enabled clubhouse, you can watch your favourite movies and shows on your laptop or tablet. Take part in performing arts: Participating in theatre, dance, and music is not just entertaining and fun but it also helps in improving your quality of life and well-being. These activities reduce stress and are good for better cognitive function. At our communities, we organise various activities including performing arts. Recently, we also organised an inter-housing competition that was held virtually owing to the pandemic. Play games: Playing games is a wonderful way to stay engaged and feel a sense of accomplishment. Indoor and outdoor games can be healthy pastimes as they are good for physical and mental health. Our senior citizen housing communities have arrangements for indoor and outdoor games. We also organise friendly matches to keep the community spirit alive. If games are not something that interests you, you can join fitness classes like aerobics and move to the musical beats.

Premium retirement homes in India are gradually gaining popularity. With more and more seniors wanting to live life independently, people are looking for senior-friendly homes that offer convenient services, recreational facilities and medical support. If you are looking for a luxury retirement home without letting go of your taste for the finer things in life, here are some trends you should be aware of: Urban locations: While the idea of having a retirement home on the hills sounds tempting, the reality is that today’s seniors want a city life along with a serene life. Retirement homes at urban locations give them calmness and easy access to main city areas where they can shop, catch the latest movies, dine at their favourite restaurant and hang out with their friends. All our luxury retirement homes are conveniently located with easy access to the main city. High-end amenities: Fully equipped gyms, swimming pool, yoga and aerobics studio, banquet hall and restaurants are just a few of the upscale amenities that you would expect in luxury retirement homes. At our luxury care homes, we have paid close attention to ensure that architecturally the retirement homes are beautiful and safe. Our amenities are designed to cater to an active and independent lifestyle of seniors. You can stream your favourite TV show on your iPad at our Wi-Fi enabled clubhouse. You can order food whenever you want. Concierge services and booking assistance are available. Our luxury retirement homes like The Virtuoso Club And Serviced Residences in Bangalore are compliant with the NBC (National Building Code) standards for accessible housing as well as ADA ( The Americans with Disabilities Act 1990) guidelines for structure and facilities. Independence: Retirement homes maintain a fine balance between community life and independent living. This is why, at our premium homes, there are various accommodation options available. You can choose to stay in a villa or an independent apartment. You can dine with others in the spacious dining halls as well as order in food. The calendar has plenty many activities that will ensure you always find something that interests you.

When you think of your retirement home, the picture of a secluded cottage nestled in a storybook setting, overlooking a river flowing through the misty mountains conjures up. Though beauty and weather are important, access to healthcare, ability to go to the nearest malls and an active social life are things that are also important in the long run. Here are the key amenities that a dream retirement home should have: Make sure your dream home is senior-friendly: With retirement comes freedom as well as certain limitations. Make sure your dream home is fit for your current and future needs. The rooms, bathrooms and common areas should be designed in a senior-friendly way. Our retirement homes are among the best rated senior living communities in India. Independent apartments have bathrooms with grab bars and anti-skid tiles. There are elevators so that residents avoid the staircase. Common areas have non-slippery flooring. We have independent apartments and villas available. The cost of retirement homes can vary from Rs 30 lakhs for a small one BHK apartment to over Rs 1 crore for a larger three BHK apartment in the same community. Ensure easy access to medical care: Access to health care is the most important factor. It is not a good idea to have a retirement home in a place where you have to drive for hours to access medical facilities. Our retirement homes have partnered with nearby hospitals to give our residents round-the-clock care. Emergency care is available within our retirement homes. Periodic wellness workshops and awareness lectures are also conducted. Thriving social life: As they say, a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved and a joy shared is joy doubled. When you have an active social life, there is no feeling of loneliness and alienation. Make sure your dream house encourages you to lead a socially active life. There should be ample opportunities for you to keep yourself busy doing things like yoga, dance, art or playing a game of carrom with your friends.

Bangalore is emerging as one of the most preferred cities in India for retirement. The city has a great social life and offers seniors ample opportunities to do the things they enjoy the most – whether it is visiting a theater, learning something new or enjoying relaxed evenings at the city’s famous parks. Here’s why you should consider spending your golden years in the Silicon Valley of India: World-class healthcare: The city is home to some of the best hospitals in the country. For those planning to spend your golden years in Bangalore, this can be quite reassuring. Our retirement community in Bangalore, Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Communities, is away from the hustle and bustle of the city and has all the modern amenities. With Columbia Asia Hospitals as the Healthcare Partners, be assured of round-the-clock healthcare. Good infrastructure: The amazing infrastructure and pleasant climatic conditions make Bangalore an attractive place for development of several new-age retirement communities. The Virtuoso Club and Serviced Residences in Bangalore is India’s first independent senior living community designed to international standards. You can find more details about the project here Social life: Known for its amazing weather, the city offers a lot to its senior residents. You can spend the early morning at Cubbon Park, eat at your favourite restaurant on MG road, and shop at UB City Mall. You can make day trips to Nandi Hills and Bannerghatta Biological Park. You don’t have to worry about booking cabs as retirement homes like ours have dedicated concierge services that takes care of all of this. We help you hire vehicles for your impromptu trips and provide booking assistance.

Retirement homes and birthday parties? Aren’t retirement homes supposed to be grey and lifeless? If you thought so, then let us first dispel a few myths, retirement homes are not old age homes. From hosting movie screenings and music concerts to wellness workshops – today’s retirement homes in India help you stay young at heart. Now let’s look at some interesting ideas to help you host a memorable birthday party. Host a dinner or luncheon: A simple birthday luncheon or dinner feels delightfully wonderful. Having your favourite people around you while relishing your favourite delicacies is a great way to count your candles and blessings. Many retirement homes like ours offer banquet service to help you host a grand party or dinner. Our banquet halls are spacious enough for you to enjoy dining there with your friends and family. For special occasions, we can design the menu as per your preferences. Decorating the banquet hall with streamers, balloons and birthday decor items will make your birthday bash super fun. Host a movie screening of your favourite movie: If you are a movie buff, then celebrate your love for cinema on your special day. You can design your invites to look like movie tickets. Have your guests dress up as their favourite movie characters or just catch the latest blockbuster on the big screen at your retirement home. At our retirement home facilities, we can help you host movie screenings of blockbusters as well as classics so that you can enjoy with your family and friends. Follow the movie up with a nice lunch or dinner. Plan a birthday outing: Visit a museum or a monument, go to your favourite restaurant, attend a music concert, throw an amazing birthday picnic or plan a birthday getaway, there is a lot you can do on your special day. If you are worried about booking tickets and arranging vehicles, many retirement home facilities, including ours, have concierge services for residents. We help you hire vehicles for your impromptu trips. We also provide booking assistance. Fun games equal fun parties: Who said indoor games are only for kids’ birthday parties? To ensure everyone is laughing, engaged, and entertained, host indoor games. Treasure hunt, ping pong, musical hoops, and karaoke can liven up any birthday party. If you’re worried about organising these fun parties, trained and dedicated staff at our senior living communities can help you with this and a lot more. We hope we have given you enough ideas for your birthday bash and you must now be eagerly waiting to blow out the candles and unwrap the gifts.