The senior citizens in the later years of their lives may have specific needs, not necessarily out of any ailment but because of old age senility.   The concept of Retirement Homes is novel but very pragmatic in the sense that elderly people should have access to facilities required for their individual needs.

Retirement homes are similar to an independent house with a gated community that consists of extra facilities of individual care for their condition, like any sickness, disability, or medical condition. The construction of these homes is conducive to risk-averse factors, as skid-proof tiles, arthritis-friendly fittings, well-equipped bathrooms, CCTV cameras, etc.

In India, due to its traditional social model where families used to live jointly, taking care of each other, people may find the idea of a Retirement home quite inappropriate, but going deeper into its significance, no one can deny their benefits and effectiveness. Unlike Old age homes, these homes provide joy, independence, and dignity to elderly people.

Leaving aside the stereotype thinking, there are several reasons why the concept of retirement homes is gradually being taken into consideration. Families, where children are working abroad or any other city, it is difficult for children to make themselves available for the elderly people; also, safety is another issue with the increasing number of crimes, these homes are the best solution for them. The major advantages come to elderly people as it enables them to build a social circle with like-minded people of the same age group. Strenuous physical work which sometimes takes a toll on elderly people is easily managed by the association, giving them a stress-free life. In old age, people require regular medical needs which is fulfilled diligently by caretakers.

According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 2018, the population of elderly people will be 18% of the total population in 2050 in India which is three times higher from 104 million in 2011 to 300 million in 2050. The retirement homes are meant for people above the age of 55, who can lead an independent and active life. It can be divided into independent living and assisted living. Independent living provides services for those elderly people who are healthy and independent whereas assisted living provides services for elderly people who need medical support.

Upon evaluating the need and usefulness of retirement homes, many renowned builders in India are actively involved in Senior citizen housing projects which can meet the needs of elderly people. Ashiana Group, Eden Retirement living, Anthara senior living, Melur Medows, The Golden Estates, Covai Senior Care Constructions, Mantri Homes are the successful ventures who are working in this direction.

Despite numerous advantages of retirement homes, there may be several factors when these homes may not be a good choice to serve the purpose, hence, before availing their services one needs to consider few factors, as- the location of the home, healthcare facilities, climate of the area, reputation and credibility of the builder and reviews. It is always recommended to do some background checks and make a visit to the area or spent sometime over there as a tenant so that one can have a clear picture of what facilities are offered.