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As the joint family breaks down, a look at how retirement homes could provide one solution.
Mathew Cherian says, “Given our value system, there is a continued expectation that children will look after their parents in old age. The stigma of abandonment continues to persist.” As Dr. Puni Kalra, a Denver-based clinical psychologist specialising in cross-cultural trauma, says independence is a very important marker of aging. “Senior community living does not have to be a negative option. If we can have the discussion early between parents and children about what parents want to do or achieve, instead of making assumptions, it will make the decision-making process easier when it’s time.”
Good retirement communities don’t come cheap. They cost anywhere upwards of Rs. 10,000 per person a month depending on the kind of arrangement chosen. Other variables like medicine, utility charges, TV and Internet connection are extra.
Not everyone is comfortable with the way retirement communities are evolving in India. “In the U.S., it is a highly regulated industry,” says Dr. Vish Venkatesh Iyer, who is a certified medical director of various nursing homes in the Pittsburgh area. “Here, if a resident does not get medicine on time, authorities can take action against the facility. If there is a pattern of abuse, it is a criminal offence. There is a high level of accountability.” He worries that, with the lack of clear laws and legislations, assisted-living facilities in India can become money-making entities that leave the elderly vulnerable to scheming business ventures.
Colonel Sridharan agrees, and says that his company’s homes are modelled after assisted-living facilities in the U.S, with stringent guidelines for design, safety and accessibility. Their staff receives training on how to behave and treat elders. “I have become a senior citizen myself during the journey of creating these retirement homes and, to me, this is very personal. However, with the lack of legislation, fly-by-night operators without any track record are entering this market.” The need of the hour, he points out, is clear laws that de-link senior communities from real estate ventures.
Retire, without hurt - The Hindu
Mathew Cherian says, “Given our value system, there is a continued expectation that children will look after their parents in old age. The stigma of abandonment continues to persist.” As Dr. Puni Kalra, a Denver-based clinical psychologist specialising in cross-cultural trauma, says independence is a very important marker of aging. “Senior community living does not have to be a negative option. If we can have the discussion early between parents and children about what parents want to do or achieve, instead of making assumptions, it will make the decision-making process easier when it’s time.”
Good retirement communities don’t come cheap. They cost anywhere upwards of Rs. 10,000 per person a month depending on the kind of arrangement chosen. Other variables like medicine, utility charges, TV and Internet connection are extra.
Not everyone is comfortable with the way retirement communities are evolving in India. “In the U.S., it is a highly regulated industry,” says Dr. Vish Venkatesh Iyer, who is a certified medical director of various nursing homes in the Pittsburgh area. “Here, if a resident does not get medicine on time, authorities can take action against the facility. If there is a pattern of abuse, it is a criminal offence. There is a high level of accountability.” He worries that, with the lack of clear laws and legislations, assisted-living facilities in India can become money-making entities that leave the elderly vulnerable to scheming business ventures.
Colonel Sridharan agrees, and says that his company’s homes are modelled after assisted-living facilities in the U.S, with stringent guidelines for design, safety and accessibility. Their staff receives training on how to behave and treat elders. “I have become a senior citizen myself during the journey of creating these retirement homes and, to me, this is very personal. However, with the lack of legislation, fly-by-night operators without any track record are entering this market.” The need of the hour, he points out, is clear laws that de-link senior communities from real estate ventures.
Retire, without hurt - The Hindu
iness? 
