Senior Citizens Day 2021: Developers Creating Gated Communities for Elderly

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T Chitty Babu, Chairman and CEO, Akshaya Pvt Ltd on the occasion of Senior Citizens Day on August 21, briefs on making homes that are senior citizens friendly. Senior-citizen friendly homes are a norm in the western world today, but in countries like India, the concept still in its nascent stages. As of 2021, India has 13.8 Cr citizens above 60 years of age. And among states, Tamil Nadu – where senior citizens form 13.6% of the population – is second only to Kerala. To cater to this segment of the society, significant changes have occurred in the Senior-Citizen Friendly Home segment over the past decade or two. Real estate developers have become more aware about creating inclusive gated communities in which every single resident’s need is taken care of, regardless of their age, gender and disabilities. After all, creating communities that are senior-citizen friendly is seen as a tribute to those who have spent the 50-plus years of their life, running tirelessly day in and day out, raising families and providing for them. Often, the misconception around setting up an elder-friendly home is that it must be like a hospital ward and this a wrong notion. Senior Citizens do not want to be patronised in any way and will never want to compromise on the independence they have enjoyed all their life. The key aspect of a thoughtful design is to build a gated community safe for senior citizens, while not compromising on appearances. To successfully design one, the developer must think like a psychologist and an architect! In our formative years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, we started analysing occupancy of all our projects and we realized that almost 90% of the homes had one or more senior citizens living there. Some of them were part of a joint family and living along with their children and grandchildren, while some others were accommodated there by their children living abroad. Broadly, there are 7 key factors under which Senior-Citizen Friendly Features are included Accessibility: Ramps and railings at the ground level, aid not just senior citizens, but also differently-abled persons, in terms of accessibility. Grab rails with suitable grip are also provided in various parts of the common areas, including the elevators. The projects also have a restroom on the ground level earmarked for senior citizens and differently-abled persons. Navigational Support: Prominent signage installed at all locations help senior citizens navigate effectively within the project. Wheelchairs are also kept handy at projects for easier mobility. Sensory Support: Eyesight is a major issue as one grows old. Keeping this in mind, all elevators should carry audio announcements to aid senior citizens. For the visually impaired, braille scripts are available at the elevators. Alexa-enabled lifts that are touch-free have been appreciated by many senior citizens. Comfort & Relaxation: Enough and more park benches in the landscaped areas for senior citizens to sit in comfort and relax, while breathing in the fresh air in the mornings and evening. Dedicated walking paths for those senior citizens who are keen on daily physical activity. Safety: Anti-skid flooring in various common areas which are frequented by senior citizens as a preventive measure to avoid mishaps. Security: Apart from providing 24x7 security and CCTV coverage, various th video door phones within the home to screen visitors at the entrance level, and bio-metric access-control as well as intercom facility. Convenience: Gated communities that they are equipped with clinics and pharmacies as well as first-aid kits saves the hassle of having to go outside the premises for even small medical needs and emergencies.