Your Guide to Senior Living: Top Solutions for Every Stage of Life

Who said the golden ages are over, they are just getting started!

We all are currently participating in a running race, to see who reaches the finish line and receives the trophy for becoming Old. Yes, you heard me right we all are slowly turning old day after day. Currently, we don’t need to worry about giving thought or searching for Old Age Homes for our future, as it is too far in the future. But it’s not the same with our Senior Citizens right now.

They all are searching for a new phase in their life, “A new life journey.” But where to start they actually sometimes have no idea about it. Let’s find out how they can start this new life journey with comfortable solutions.

When it comes to Senior Living Communities there are plenty of communities to be known, let’s jump into the most important ones shall we:

Types Of Senior Living

1. Independent Living

2. Assisted Living

3. Memory Care

4. Skilled Nursing Facilities (Nursing Home)

5. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

6. Home Care

7. Respite Care

Now let’s discuss the above in detail

INDEPENDENT LIVING: Aging Well with Assistance and Companionship

These types of living communities are ideal for seniorly independent residents who do not require constant supervision or assistance in their Basic Activities of Daily Living such as bathing, dressing, taking medication or making meals. These kinds of living offer personal homes or small homes like houses easy to move in the wind, which may provide housekeeping, meals, transportation etc.

Key Features

• Private accommodation – Apartments or flats, Condominium or Townhouse, Small houses.
• No more work- no mowing of lawns, no fixing of broken items in the house
• Group services – Aerobics, Clubs/sections, Trips
• Food services, Sheltered cafeterias and transportation terms.
• Optional features such as washings or eating services

Benefits

• This makes patients to be more social and they do not feel left out most of the time.
• Of importance, it activates the community through programs that encourage exercise and healthy habits.
• It brings convenience with the eating, cleaning and repair services.

ASSISTED LIVING: Support with Routine Tasks in the House

These types of old-age home living are for elders who require assistance with the ADLs such as showering, dressing, administering medications, and feeding. However, these seniors do not require intensive medical care. This type of living also provides access to 24/7 staff assistance for any emergency.

Key Features

• Assistance with ADLs
• Private or shared living spaces, often including kitchenettes
• Personalized care plans to meet individual needs
• Social and recreational activities designed to maintain mental and physical health
• On-site health care monitoring and emergency response systems

Benefits

• It ensures safety with trained staff available around the clock
• It provides personal care while promoting as much independence as possible
• It also offers a vibrant community with structured activities to maintain engagement

MEMORY CARE: Structured, Secure Care for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Patients

These type of homes provides specialized care for seniors with Dementia disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or other cognitive impairments. They are intended to create a compassionate environment with a suggested goal – to help patients preserve their mental ability without further decline and enhance their quality of life.

Subeach and every one of the staffs are trained to cater for people with memory-related ailments and post activities singular to each of the clients’ competencies and requirements.

Key Features

• It’s a secure, locked facility to prevent wandering and ensure safety
• It has a structured daily routine to reduce anxiety and confusion
• They have specially trained staff to handle the unique challenges of dementia case
• They provide cognitive therapies and memory-enhancing activities
• They have small staff-to-resident ratios for personalized attention

Benefits

• It provides safety and security measures to protect residents with cognitive impairments.
• They focus on maintaining cognitive abilities through structured activities.
• They provide compassionate care tailored to the emotional and physical needs of memory care residents.

SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES (Nursing Homes): Overview of Medical and Rehabilitation Treatment

These nursing homes or nursing facilities offer around-the-clock medical care solutions to seniors with chronic complications or those who are still ailing from sickness or injury. These structures hire registered nurses among other health care staff who deliver medical care solutions including rehabilitation services as well as reducing physical assistance in everyday living activities. These facilities accommodate residents with chronic conditions who are in constant need of medical care.

Key Features

• These facilities offer 24-hour medical monitoring in the presence of registered nurses and physicians.
• The facility has comprehensive care plans that may include Physical, Occupational, and speech therapies.
• They offer management and administration of medication
• Assistance with ADLs
• On-site rehabilitation after surgery or injury

Benefits

• It provides access to 24 hours of 7-day professional medical care and monitoring.
• It is equipped with rehabilitation services to enhance strength and mobility.
• There is a safe environment furnished with around-the-clock staff to attend to health issues

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CCRCs: Continuum of Care

Care retirement communities provide long-term care solutions to the elderly, making it easy for them to advance through stages of care, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing. It offers a continuum of care, ensuring residents don’t need to relocate as they age and require more support.

Key Features

• They provide multiple levels of care within one community
• Lifelong contracts offering guaranteed access to increasing levels of care
• They provide private accommodation with access to shared services like dining, and recreational activities.
• Health and wellness programs to promote a healthy lifestyle
• If needed there are services on-site with skilled nursing and rehabilitation

Benefits

• Unified transition between care levels as needs evolve
• They provide long-term planning for seniors and their families
• Continuity of care with familiar surroundings and staff

HOME CARE: Personalized Care in the Comfort of Home

This type of living provides personalized care to seniors while they remain in the comfort of their own homes. Assigned caregivers can assist with daily tasks, provide medical care, and offer companionships, depending on the level of need. The timings range from a few hours a week to full-time live-in care according to the specifications provided by the Seniors.

Key Features

• They provide personalized care plans tailored to the individual needs
• They provide aid with ADLs, meal preparation, and housekeeping
• Medical care such as wound care, medication administration, and therapy services are provided as per the requirements
• Flexible hours ranging from part-time to full-time or live-in case as per requirements
• They also provide emotional and social support to combat loneliness

Benefits

• It allows seniors to age in place in familiar surroundings
• It provides one-on-one care and attention
• It provides flexibility in scheduling and care levels

RESPITE CARE: Temporary Relief for Family Caregivers

These cares provide temporary relief for family caregivers by providing short-term care to the seniors. We can arrange this care in-home or at a senior living facility for a few days or weeks. This will help the caregivers to rest, travel, or attend to other responsibilities.

Key Features

• They provide Short-term care tailored to the Senior's needs
• They are available In-Home or at an assisted living or nursing home facility
• The Caregivers assist with ADLs, medication, and daily routines
• They have Social interactions and activities to keep seniors engaged

Benefits

• They provide family caregivers with needed time off
• They offer seniors a chance to experience professional care in a self-environment
• They help caregivers prevent burnout

Now let’s explore some Senior Living Properties and centres in India

Paranjape Athashri

This is India's largest senior housing community which is located in Pune.

Columbia Pacific Communities

Offers a premium independent senior living community which is located in Indiranagar, Bengaluru.

Akshaya Trust

This home supports senior citizens who are neglected by their families and is located in Mudichur, Chennai.

NEMA

Offers five-star old age homes with laundry and housekeeping facilities which are located in Gurgaon, Haryana.

Ashiana Senior Living

India's first senior living community, recognized as the country's top senior living community in 2020, is located in Padmanabhanagar, Bengaluru.

Here are some more centres in listing for Senior Living in India:

• The Graceland Foundation, Kochi
• Place de Retraite Anandam, Bangalore
• Athulya's Assisted Living, Chennai
• Antara Senior Living, Dehradun
• Services For The Elderly In Nema, Gurugram
• The Golden Estate
• Covai Care, Coimbatore

The age for joining an old age home varies from centre to centre, but the ideal age to join is 58 years or older. Applications may also have to fill other parameters such as Financial history, and Medical history. Any Old age home costs between Rs. 10,000 and over Rs. 2,00,000 or more depending on the centre or the inhabitants that the seniors decide to spend their remaining years. Even there are ways to get Senior Citizen Housing Loans for their homes during this new journey to old age.