Perceptions about Senior Citizen Resort

[Raji Ram]

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Dear friends,

Many of us have visited some senior citizen resorts and heard many anecdotes from our friends / relatives living there.

Let us share our perceptions about those resorts, here. And, what all facilities would you expect, in case you choose one?

P.S: Many elders select retirement communities to have a relaxed life and hence I use the word 'resort' instead of 'home'.

 

[renuka]

Dear RR ji,

Calling "Oldie Alcatraz" a resort is not going to change the perception that it is technically a "prison" and nothing more.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Renu,

Some of my friends DO have a relaxed life which is fun filled many times. As I wrote earlier, the minimum age is only 55 and there

are many long years to live the life they always wanted to live. Most of my friends selected these to get away from the drudgery of
daily chores at home like cooking, cleaning, getting groceries etc. eace:

 

[Raji Ram]

Recently one couple in late sixties have bought a property at a senior resort at Coimbatore costing 50 lakhs and given their land

and house in Sing. Chennai to a real estate promoter to build six apartments out of which they will be given two - to be gifted to

each of their two sons. They also get a huge sum in cash for this transaction. We need to call them only on their mobile though

they have a land line because they are moving out everyday to visit nearby places, temples and some friends!

 

[Raji Ram]

........ Calling "Oldie Alcatraz" a resort is not going to change the perception that it is technically a "prison" and nothing more.

Your perception is a 'prison' but to the healthy seniors, it is paradise!
One couple who are Amway product sellers find bags of time to do their business by shifting to a senior resort. opcorn:

They used to do most of the household work without a helper maid because of their busy schedule of meetings and now they are FREE!!

 

[kunjuppu]

good thread raji, good lady

for me, in india, God Willing, while i am able, with mrs K, to come 3 months a year, jan thru march, in chennai, ready made accommodation food environment with evenings free to pursue my literary interests.

mrs K is very sociable and can make friends even in a bus stop and have them home for dinner. self not so open, but have learned after 34+ years of marriage, increasingly to trust and appoach people.

i hope to come to discovery book house near your place, and hope you can make it there too. really good learned young people come there. moving with youngsters, makes one younger. i think so.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Kunjuppu Sir,

Nice to read your post. You and Mrs. K are most welcome to my sweet home.

About feeling young, one of our friends asked me the secret of being young!

I said, "Teaching music to youngsters makes you feel young, if not look young!"

 

[Raji Ram]

My Casino mAmA has spent many years in different senior resorts; some with his better half and some after her demise.

He is one of the members attracted by many, in every resort! The secret: He is very efficient in Homeopathy treatment.

He has a box holding many vials containing the 'gOlis' and has a 'rAsi' hand too that heals most of the common ailments. :thumb:

I used to call it his 'Black Box'! So, any special knowledge fetches respect in senior resorts.

My friend who tried a few resorts before choosing one in Coimbatore told me that the first question the ladies ask her is,

invariably, 'ungaLukkup pAdath theriyumA?'

 

[Nacchinarkiniyan]

Unfortunately there are many members here who have a negative opinion about Retirement Communities. They keep on posting negative comments. I have been trying for the last one year to give a factual view of the communities. But I know it is difficult to overcome negative perceptions about these communities.

http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/chit-chat/16112-retirement-communities.html

http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/chit-chat/16188-winding-up-shifting-retirement-community.html

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Nachi Sir,
Not to worry! I have got several points to prove that if a person chooses the right senior resort, life will BE comfortable and easy! :couch2:

 

[Raji Ram]

In olden days, even the kings and queens left for vanaprastha to live a life, detaching from the busy world.

Wiki says:

''Vanaprastha literally means "retiring into a forest". It is also a concept in Hindu traditions, representing the third of four ashrama (stages) of

human life, the other three being Brahmacharya (bachelor student, 1st stage), Grihastha (married householder, 2nd stage) and Sannyasa

(renunciation ascetic, 4th stage).

Vanaprastha is part of the Vedic ashram system, which starts when a person hands over household responsibilities to the next generation, takes

an advisory role, and gradually withdraws from the world. This stage typically follows Grihastha (householder), but a man or woman may

choose to skip householder stage, and enter Vanaprastha directly after Brahmacharya (student) stage, as a prelude to Sannyasa (ascetic) and

spiritual pursuits.''

Though one of the first resorts in Coimbatore has the name 'Vanaprastha' the seniors living here do not actually withdraw from

the world but have a tension free life keeping in touch with their family and friends as usual.

 

[sarang]

Vanaprastha - Retreating to forests must have stopped long ago. But after the girls are married and the sons settled, the parents withdrew from 'control' activities, and led a leisurely life, visiting temples, discourses and yatras. There is no record of old people settling in villages from say middle ages; they lived in villages only but greatly curtailing their needs and giving up responsibilities in household and community matters. But they were respected and their opinion was sought by the community, village leaders and even the king.

 

[prasad1]

In USA they call them Active ADULT or SENIOR living homes because of the stigma of retirement homes.
When we get older and children have left home who wants to put up with the maintenance and yard etc.
A house needs constant maintenance. In these communities the responsibility is shifted to HOA (Home Owner's Association). Sometimes meals are included, but there is kitchen in each home.

I have just built a 44 unit subdivision here in USA. People are moving in.

I myself would like to move to a community like that, but my limitation is the TB-food.
WE looked at some of the facility in Coimbatore and Chennai, we were impressed with the facilities. We are not able to move there at this time, but I have my option open.

In Florida, USA
ShantiNiketan is one of a growing number of niche retirement communities aimed at people of specific ethnic backgrounds, hobbies or collegiate allegiances. The name means "House of Peace" in Hindi.


Niche retirement communities are growing particularly popular as the 76 million baby boomers reach retirement age.


In USA you can not discriminate in housing, fair housing rules are strictly enforced. But by limiting the food choices to Indian food you can get only PIO's.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that it is NO-GO zone for non-pio's LOL.

 

[Raji Ram]

In USA they call them Active ADULT or SENIOR living homes because of the stigma of retirement homes. . ..........

​So.... the stigma is there in U S of A too!

 

[Nacchinarkiniyan]

An excellent article on choosing an Independent Living Home.

https://www.caring.com/articles/independent-living-checklist#

https://www.caring.com/

is an excellent web site because it provides the view point of a Caring Provider. The view point of a Son/Daughter who would like to provide for their Aging Parents.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Nachi Sir,

Thanks for the links given by you to choose a senior resort.

For tambrams, food plays and important role and it is better to stay for a few days, if the option is given, before taking the

final decision. Those who are very choosy in food items find it rather difficult to eat regularly in these senior resort canteens

and start feeling unhappy very soon! :sad:

 

[Nacchinarkiniyan]

Dear Nachi Sir,

Thanks for the links given by you to choose a senior resort.

For tambrams, food plays and important role and it is better to stay for a few days, if the option is given, before taking the

final decision. Those who are very choosy in food items find it rather difficult to eat regularly in these senior resort canteens

and start feeling unhappy very soon! :sad:

Food is the most important aspect of the choice. The best and the earliest Retirement Community in India is the one run by the Dignity Foundation.

Hassle Free Retirement Homes for Senior Citizens by Dignity Lifestyle

This is the only Community with separate assisted living facilities. It is excellent in every aspect.

The only reason why we did not go there was the food. The food is the Cosmopolitan food which is basically North Indian. We do not think we can survive on such food day in day out. That is why it is with a lot of reluctance that we decided not to go to Dignity Lifestyle.

If you can tolerate this food you do not have to look any further. Dignity Lifestyle is the Best in India.

 

[Nacchinarkiniyan]

One of the things I noticed about the Retirement Communities in U.S. They are mostly for Assisted Living. Where the elderly sick people live. They have all the medical facilities.

Whereas the Retirement Communities in India are only for Independent living. They have hardly any facilities for Assisted living. There is hardly any medical facilities. In a nutshell most of these are elaborate scams and shams. Promoted by builders. Or Swamijis.

 

[mkrishna100]

One of the things I noticed about the Retirement Communities in U.S. They are mostly for Assisted Living. Where the elderly sick people live. They have all the medical facilities.

Whereas the Retirement Communities in India are only for Independent living. They have hardly any facilities for Assisted living. There is hardly any medical facilities. In a nutshell most of these are elaborate scams and shams. Promoted by builders. Or Swamijis.

True

 

[prasad1]

Nachiji and MSKji both of you are misinformed.

The Active adult community has been there in USA from 1970's. Assisted living was there from depression era.

Active adult retirement communities first came on the scene in the 1960s due to a growing housing demand for retirement age people who weren't quite ready to go into assisted living or retirement homes.
History of Active Adult Communities

In USA the active adult community is only for independent living, generally one of the partner has to be 55+ age bracket. The government gives service at concessional rate as they do not require schools and public assistance.

The assisted living homes are generally affiliated with Hospitals or other care giving organization.

India entered this market very late may be in 2000. Most of the Adult community In india are for well to do persons, they were modelled after the USA model as there was need for the parents of well to do NRI, or expats from Delhi and Mumbai.

 

[Raji Ram]

............ If you can tolerate this food you do not have to look any further. Dignity Lifestyle is the Best in India.

Dear Sir,

Some of my relatives living in the North prefer North Indian food to South Indian.

I can suggest Dignity Lifestyle to them! Thanks for the info.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Prasad Sir,

Many of the senior resorts are admitting active oldies right form the second half of their fifties (thanks to VRS)

One of the resorts in Coimbatore does not tolerate persons with skin problems! One lady was requested to move out when she

developed psoriasis, though it is not contagious. Now she is happily settled in another one in Sing. Chennai, where she has a

singing group of mAmis and one of them, A grade artist, teaches new songs to that group.

 

[Raji Ram]

My 'casino mAmA' had a very comfortable life in the same resort in Coimbatore, till he fell down once and developed problems to walk.

Then he was allowed to keep a nurse to take care of him and he had to pay for her food + Rs. 6,000 as salary. After a few months, that

nurse eloped with his cash and some valuables he had with him, on one fine morning! Then he was sent away because the management

decided NOT to allow assistants for the inmates there.

Such problems crop up when seniors don't have their partner to take care of them! :sad:

 

[Nacchinarkiniyan]

It is preferable to buy your accommodation in the community. The lease model enables the promoter to ask people to vacate the accommodation. There are a number of single males in our community. Two of them are in active care with someone to look after them. Both of them are seriously ill. But the community takes care of them. There is no question of their being asked to vacate.

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Nachi Sir,

Those who were sent out had opted for lease model only. Our friend took care of his elderly mother till her ripe age of 100 years in

one of the senior resorts in Coimbatore, with the help of his wife. He is an octogenarian and has bought a two bedroom house there.