“Lifecare enabled Communities” –
An emerging concept in Senior Living
Senior living solutions is a topic being discussed by many and is relevant in today’s society. “Lifecare Enabled Retirement Community” is a new variant and is considered to be a sustainable solution for the issue. Mrs. Annamma John, a 74 year old retired government officer moved out of her own house 12 years back when both her sons were securely settled in the US and middle east when she was widowed at the age of 62. It was a very difficult decision for the family to take as there is a definite stigma attached to old age homes. She was not going to a usual old age home where older persons were lined up in a dormitory and who have to follow strict time table laid by the management or the charitable NGO. It was also not a place where older persons where found abandoned by their family and the society and where older persons had to live the rest of their life at the mercy of others. Even though she was going to a ‘Five star’ senior citizens Home where she has to pay a lump sum amount in Lakhs as deposit and monthly subscription, many of her relatives could blame her and her sons. Today, Mrs. John is very happy and says it was a wise decision she had taken taking into account the rising incidence of crime and violence against older persons. Almost all of the residents of such homes have a similar story to say.
The concept of an old age home was brought into our Indian culture just a few decades back as the conventional family structure of a Joint family system fragmented giving rise to nuclear families. Migration of younger generation in search for better job opportunities and financial security left the older generation alone and in agony when the expectation that “children will look after their parents” could no longer be realized. Those who had migrated early and have come back home after retirement added up to the number of older persons who require care and support. According to data available with State crime records bureau of Kerala, suicides among elderly is very high that points to the psychosocial distress faced by today’s elderly. As per statistics, elderly comprise of more than 9% of the total Indian population and around 12% of Kerala population is elderly. The population of elderly are increasing rapidly as more are entering the 60s group while older persons are living longer. It is projected that the population of elderly is going to rise substantially in the coming decade.
One of the major concerns of older persons is the uncertainty remaining in the place of stay in their later life. As there is lack of care givers, safety and security of staying alone in a house is questionable. There are only limited options for these elderly regarding place of stay. Very often they will have to shift from their original house to a new place with their children. There are occasions where children decide to separate their parents for convenience. Here this old man is forced to stay with one of his sons separate from his wife breaking decade’s long companionship which is often very painful for older couples. When children are not able to take their parents along with them, their parents are been entrusted to one of the relatives with whom the older person may not be even comfortable with. In all these situations where they have to leave their own house and stay in a new place, they loose all their social contacts, friends and familiar surroundings. Such older persons get dependent, depressed and their quality of life suffers. Another option for these older persons is to shift to an old age home. Stigma attached to old age homes is the major disadvantage for those who care. One major concern with old age homes is the fact that independency and dignity is often compromised as the inmates have to live the rest of their later life abiding to rules and regulations prescribed by the management - even regarding time of prayer. Now there are a lot of paid old age homes coming up in India which offer better services preserving dignity and promoting active ageing. Another senior living option nowadays is to hire a home nurse to care at home. But unfortunately, older persons find extremely difficult to cope with and adjust with most of the home nurses who are not trained in geriatric care. Moreover, crime reported with home nurses is also increasing and hence popularity of arranging a home nurse on a longer duration as a solution for senior living is not often sought.
It is at this juncture, new ventures in senior living are coming up such as ‘Retirement communities’ and ‘Continuing care retirement communities’ (CCRC). In this concept, the older persons can purchase residential properties with certain conditions and can live there for the rest of their life. A continuum of care is assured as the older person’s life shift between independent living, assisted living and ambulatory care. Many retirement communities have all the care facilities short of a hospital in the same premise. In this concept the older person lives his rest of life in own home with dignity, safety and security in all aspects. The services available in such apartments in a retirement community range from assisted living (that provide some housekeeping, social activities, supervision and assistance with basic activities like personal hygiene, dressing, eating and walking) through skilled nursing care for seniors requiring medical care prescribed by a physician. A continuing care community is suitable for older persons who live in isolation and long to have a social life with persons of their age immersed in a hospitable environment. The only disadvantage of a retirement community is that it is yet another old-man’s place. Those older persons who wish to live integrated in a normal community will not find a retirement community appealing in a traditional Indian setting.
With this background, another model for senior living is being proposed. This “Lifecare enabled Community” is a new concept that should come up in future. What is special with this community is that, it is a normal community where all age group stays. If there is an older person staying in such a community, the particular home is automatically covered with ‘Lifecare’ and the person receives all service that he could have got in an old age home or a retirement community. Such ‘lifecare enabled communities’ overcome the cultural stigma of an old age home and at the same time deliver all care and service expected from being in an retirement home. The key features that are available in such a community are Day care Center, Extensive educational / cultural and recreational activities, Emergency Nurse call facility, regular health checks, nursing care, Updated medical / other data on the Web – password Protected for relatives, meal delivery on demand, companion for scheduled outings and much more. The new proposed concept of ‘Lifecare Enabled Communities’ will keep the elderly integrated to the society and will never alienate them from the main stream. More builders and service providers need to enter this arena to build such enabled communities that will solve the major chunk of problem faced by the elderly. Just as residential projects offer services and amenities such as children’s play ground, tennis court, health club, swimming pool etc, the trend would be to add “Senior Lifecare” as an added service. “Ageing in place” – a philosophy that is considered as ideal and at the same time the most difficult to materialise can be realised if such “lifecare Enabled Communities” are built.
Dr. Praveen G Pai
A Specialist in Gerontology
Managing Director,
Goldenage Lifecare
India
Ph. 09961193492
09447179062
Email: praveengpai@gmail.com
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