Columbia Pacific Communities Articles

Bangalore is pleasant nearly throughout the year. If you’re looking for fun things to do with grandkids, you are on the right page. As a leading senior citizen home in Bangalore, we have curated a list of activities that will warm your and your grandkids’ hearts: Go for a wildlife safari: Create lifelong memories on a safari through Bangalore’s Bannerghatta Biological Park. Observing wild animals in their natural habitat is something that you and your grandchildren will love. Hire a private safari vehicle and a guide for a knowledgeable and fun experience. Explore historical places: Rich in heritage and culture, Bangalore is not just about IT parks, the city is home to several palaces and forts. Plan a day trip with your grandchildren to explore iconic historical monuments like the Tipu Sultan Fort, Bangalore Fort, Mayo Hall, Lal Bagh and St Mark’s Cathedral. The majesty of these buildings and their architecture will leave you in awe. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Bangalore Race Course and the Brigade Grounds from Mayo Hall. Go for street shopping: If your grandchildren love shopping, the city offers some great markets in Commercial Street and Brigade Road where they can buy budget apparel and funky jewellery. When it comes to shopping in Bangalore, you and your grandkids will be spoilt for choice. Not just that, the markets are dotted with quick eating places. From idlis to pizzas, you will find a lot of places where you can satiate your hankering for something delicious. Spend an evening at the parks and lakes: There is no dearth of sprawling and lush green areas in Bangalore. The city of gardens and lakes offers you plenty of open spaces where you can play with your grandchildren without any worry. Boat rides, photography, strolling around the lakes and bird watching – there’s no dull moment in Bangalore. Join art classes together: Most children love to get crafty! There are several art classes that you can join with your grandkids and discover the inner artists in you. While your grandchildren will get to learn something new, you will enjoy health benefits like -improved cognitive function, keeping stress at bay and an opportunity to socialise with others.

With age, it’s normal to worry about health. However, when one constantly worries about becoming seriously ill, it’s a form of anxiety called health anxiety. It is a serious condition, whereby people develop an obsessional preoccupation with the idea that they are currently, or will eventually be, seriously ill. Though health anxiety is a common condition, it can be difficult for seniors to find the right support to cope with it. The medical condition is often not taken seriously and is joked around as hypochondria. As one of the leading independent senior living communities, we debunk some common health anxiety myths: Myth 1 – It’s not an illness: People often wrongly believe that health anxiety is just someone overreacting about their health. But this is not the case. Health anxiety is an anxiety disorder that needs medical treatment. People with health anxiety obsess over their health to the extent that every little symptom seems dangerous to them. Myth 2 – It’s all in the head: A person with health anxiety may experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, excessive sweating and blurred vision. These symptoms are caused by anxiety. Healthy anxiety can also trigger panic attacks that may trigger several severe physical reactions such as shortness of breath, racing heart and weakness. It can be difficult to calm down a person who is having a panic attack. Myth 3 – It affects just the mind: Health anxiety can affect the overall quality of life. The condition may prevent people from enjoying things that they once used to love. A person with health anxiety may find it difficult to read a book or watch a film that has a reference to physical illness. News about health issues can cause anxiety. Myth 4 – Health anxiety cannot be treated: Just like other anxiety disorders, health anxiety can also be brought under control with effective treatment that includes medications and therapy. Myth 5 – The condition affects just the sufferer: Often people think that those with health anxiety only worry about themselves. Well, this isn’t the case. Some people have anxiety over other people especially family members like children and spouse. People with health anxiety may find yoga helpful. Yoga and breathing exercises help in reducing stress and increasing mindfulness. We urge people to not dismiss the fears of those who are suffering from health anxiety and encourage them to seek medical help.

“What is hell? Hell is oneself. Hell is alone, the other figures in it. Merely projections. There is nothing to escape from. And nothing to escape to. One is always alone.” – TS Eliot, renowned American poet. The above quote by TS Eliot captures the sad truth about loneliness. Loneliness is indeed an unpleasant experience. But besides the feeling of being alone, are there any long-term harmful effects associated with loneliness? Well, loneliness is more than just a terrible feeling. There are several long-term health effects of loneliness. As one of the leading senior living communities, we share with you the impact loneliness can have on your parents’ health: Psychological disorders: Loneliness can often contribute to a range of psychological disorders like depression and anxiety and older adults seem to be at a slightly higher risk. It can be difficult to recognise the signs of psychological disorders as seniors are less likely to talk about their feelings or physical problems like fatigue, loss of appetite, sleeping troubles and fatigue. This means family and friends may find it difficult to recognise whether older people are feeling lonely or not. Unhealthy habits: Loneliness makes it harder for senior adults to stick to a healthy lifestyle. Overeating or drinking too much alcohol are some of the bad habits that senior adults may get addicted to when they feel lonely. Moreover, lonely people are more likely to withdraw from socialising and seek emotional support – all this makes them even more isolated. Sleep deprivation: Loneliness can wreak havoc with sleeping patterns. It has been found that sleep deprivation can have negative effects on metabolism and hormonal regulation, affecting the immune system of senior adults. How independent senior living apartments are helping their residents beat loneliness? “The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.” – These words by American physician, and New York Times best-selling author Mark Hyman, capture the importance of living in a community with like-minded people. We believe that the best way to beat loneliness is to have a sense of belongingness and something to look forward to each day. Many independent senior living apartments like ours provide residents with opportunities to meet like-minded people. We have different groups for different activities that your parents can join should they choose to live in our senior living homes. Joining these groups offer them a platform that has a shared purpose and eventually, they will make a friend. Though initially, it may be difficult for people who are lonely, research shows group activities and being part of a community help fend off loneliness.

When people reach a certain age, they often believe that they are too old to do certain things such as starting a new career after retirement or pursuing new hobbies. However, there are many senior adults who are defying that notion and not letting their age dictate their life choices. As one of the best senior citizen homes in Coimbatore, we bust some common ageing myths and challenge the long-standing assumptions associated with ageing: Too old to change careers: Did you know that actor Boman Irani debuted at the age of 44? Entrepreneur GR Gopinath launched his airlines Air Deccan when most people start planning for retirement. National shooting champion Chandro Tomar started shooting when she was in her 60s. The list goes on. We understand that making a new start at any age can be challenging. However, if you embrace everything as a new adventure, it’s true that anything is possible in life. Too old to exercise: If you follow Senior Olympics, you would know that age is not an obstacle when it comes to exercising. Seniors can incorporate exercise into their daily routine by understanding and accepting their body’s limitations. With proper planning, you choose exercises that suit you. For instance, those with joint pain can plan an exercise regimen that has less impact on their joints. Regular exercising helps ageing adults improve their mental and physical health – both are important for leading an independent life. Too old to start a hobby: Want to learn to play a musical instrument or learn a new language or learn salsa? Your age should not hold you back from discovering new hobbies and pursuing them. There have been studies that show learning new things can keep an aged person’s brain active and sharp. Too old to make new friends: Friends are important at all stages of life. As you grow old and there are fewer familial and professional commitments, you will need the company of like-minded friends. Volunteering, joining a club or taking group lessons can help you make new friends.  

There are many elderly people who struggle to sit still for long. If you are one among them, active meditation may be the right self-healing technique for you. You have all the benefits of meditation without sitting in one place. As one of the best senior living homes in Bangalore, we discuss some useful insights on active meditation: Meditation is not a chore: Anyone who has tried meditation before knows how difficult it can be to sit for long and gather thoughts. When you approach it as a chore, it becomes all the more difficult. It is for this reason that many elderly people are embracing meditation through movement. You can have a mini meditative session whenever you want. The key is to focus on what you are doing and what it feels like. Conscious breathing exercises, mindful walking and yoga are some great ways to still the mind while your body is moving. Active meditation helps to ease stress, improve sleep, and promote positive well-being. Practising active meditation can help you feel calmer and more focused. Reduce anxiety with mindful breathing: On an average, a human being breathes 24,000 times a day. But how many of us are consciously aware of those breaths? Poor breathing practices can lead to a host of health problems. High blood pressure, increased stress levels, suppressed immunity and increased susceptibility to illness are some of them. Taking just a few moments each day to practice deep breathing helps your mind and body to relax and also keeps a host of health problems at bay. If you are new to active meditation, conscious breathing is a great place to start with. You just need to take out 60 to 90 seconds to practise conscious breathing anywhere you want. But this isn’t the only form of active meditation you can do on the move, there are many more that we will discuss further. Mindful walking: Turn your daily walk into an intentional meditation session. To practise walking meditation, all you need to do is take deep breaths and walk. Be mindful of each breath and every step you take. Mindful walking offers many benefits, both physical and psychological. Yoga: Yoga is perhaps the most widely practised form of active meditation. It involves slow breathing that is in sync with the body’s movement. You can combine strengthening and stretching poses with deep breathing and meditation. You can actively meditate no matter where you are. Being more mindful in the moment can help you find enjoyment in even the mundane things in life.

An important part of living well and ageing well is staying physically active. Exercise is good for everyone regardless of age, but for older adults, it offers a host of benefits like improving their cognitive functions, helping them maintain their independence and reducing the risk of falls. Regular exercising can reduce the risk of depression, obesity, lethargy, heart disease, insomnia, poor concentration, and a weakened immunity among seniors. Here are a few more reasons why low-impact exercises are good for seniors: Exercise is a great coping mechanism: Being active can boost feel-good endorphins otherwise known as happy hormones, thus, helping in managing stress. Be it a long walk, yoga, or several laps in the swimming pool, all these exercises encourage seniors to focus on their body’s movements. Helps to keep bones and muscles strong: Ageing can take its toll on the bones, joints and muscle. Conditions such as arthritis and osteoarthritis put senior adults at greater risk of falls. Bone and muscle-strengthening exercises like walking, jogging, climbing stairs, playing tennis, lifting weights may help seniors slow down the rate of bone loss. Besides strengthening muscles and bones, these exercises help in improving posture, stability, and coordination, thus reducing the risk of falls and age-related health issues like joint pain or a hip fracture. Helps in maintaining a healthy weight: One of the most apparent benefits of regular exercise is that it aids in weight management. According to a published study from the London School of Economics, people are more likely to have a lower weight if they regularly engage in brisk walking than compared to high-intensity workout. Keeps them mentally fit: Memory loss and cognitive decline are some of the common complaints among seniors. However, seniors who engage in physical activities experience an increase in blood flow to areas of the brain associated with improved memory. A new study shows that exercise plays a significant role in combating changes in the brain associated with dementia. For senior adults, there are countless benefits of staying active. It is for this reason that days at our senior citizen homes in Bangalore and other cities start with stretching exercises. We also have several yoga classes and aerobics classes that make exercising a fun social event.

As people age, they often consider moving to independent senior living apartments. Earlier, the notion was that people move into senior living communities when they do not have a choice. But today more and more senior citizens are proactively moving to senior citizen homes because these communities offer an active lifestyle and a feeling of community, along with a wide range of support services and amenities. Before finding the right independent living community for your senior parents, first, determine if they are a good candidate for independent living. Ask yourself the following questions: Are they in good health? Do they feel bored at home? Are their household chores taking time away from doing what they love? Do they want a socially and physically active lifestyle? Are they worried about maintenance and repairs? Do they feel secure in their homes? If your elderly parents can care for themselves without assistance and wish to lead a maintenance-free lifestyle, they are the right candidates for independent living. When your parents move to a senior living community, they don’t have to worry about the following things: Preparing meals: As people age, their nutritional needs change but at the same time, they find it difficult to prepare meals. Cooking and cleaning up afterwards can be tedious while eating take-out is not feasible in the long run. Residents at senior living communities get to relish well-balanced food while enjoying the company of fellow residents. Home maintenance: Does the lawn need to be mowed? Is the mixer grinder in need of a repair? If your parents are tired of maintaining the house, it is a sign that they would love staying in independent living communities where housekeeping and maintenance services are offered. Social life: If your parents are feeling more and more isolated and their social circle has diminished, one of the best places to make new friends is at an independent living community. Not only will your parents get to meet others of their own age, but they will also get to be a part of a thriving community where there are different activities such as exercise classes, indoor games, music classes, movie nights, lunch, and dinner outings to look forward to.

Many seniors prefer to remain in their own homes as they age. However, this is not always possible because of health or difficulty in maintaining the house. As a result, we are seeing a growing number of older adults proactively choosing to move to senior citizen homes as these facilities offer an independent living and support services. Also, senior citizen homes are inherently social settings and thus, many residents see them as an opportunity to expand their social circle while having the comfort of their own homes. If you are planning to move to senior citizen homes, you can explore our communities in Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kanchipuram, and Puducherry. Here we discuss few tips to help you plan the move: Why do you want to move to a senior citizen home? Yard maintenance, personal security and other tasks often hold back seniors from spending their retirement years exactly how they’d like to. If you feel burdened by household chores, moving to a senior citizen home can be a good choice. Some of the features that are considered important in relocation decisions are: maintaining independence, access to medical facilities, security and community activities. Often people also look for luxury features like salon, spa, restaurants and swimming pools. If you know what features you want from senior citizen homes, it will be easy for you to find the right one. Where to live after retirement? While there are many senior citizen homes in India, it’s always a good idea to take the factors related to location into account – like the cost of living in a particular city, proximity to family and friends, weather and medical facilities. What is the cost of living? When you are planning to move to a senior citizen home, compare the amenities different communities are offering and the associated costs. Ask if the maintenance fees are payable weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Find out how often maintenance fees are revised and how much will it increase in the coming months. Are there on-site provisions if you fall ill? Many senior citizen homes offer a wide range of wellness services that make it easier for residents to stay healthy. However, on-site arrangements for medical emergencies is different from wellness services and is a must. Ask these questions when touring a facility, is there a doctor or a nurse available on the premises? Is there 24×7 ambulance available? Is there a panic button in rooms? If so, who responds to the calls? What does community life look like? From yoga classes and art workshops to charity work, senior citizen homes offer a variety of experiences that help residents spend their time in meaningful ways. Check the social groups and community activities when touring a facility.  

There are many reasons why seniors think of moving into a senior citizen home greater security, more companionship, maintenance-free lifestyle or easy access to support and healthcare. However, picking the right senior citizen home is very important as it’s a life-changing decision. If you are planning to move to a senior citizen home, it’s a good idea to see the facilities by yourself. There are many senior citizen homes in India that provide you with a guided tour. Here we discuss some important factors that you should consider when you visit these senior living facilities: What facilities are available? When you visit the senior living facilities, make sure they look neat and clean. Ask how often housekeeping is provided in the personal living space. Get full details on the types of maintenance provided and the estimated response time. Ask for all the details regarding the monthly cost. Our senior living facilities, our trained in-house 24/7 staff ensures that all maintenance and repair work are timely identified and fixed. This may include plumbing, air conditioning and electrical problems. Can family and friends stay over? People love to have their families and friends over. The rules of the community may differ from one senior living facility to another. At our senior living communities, not only can family and friends stay over, but residents can also host get-togethers and movie nights for them. How does the social calendar look? It’s a good idea to schedule your tour in such a way that you get to attend community events. Take a look at the community calendar of events. Social calendar at our senior citizen homes is packed with activities such as yoga classes, aerobics, music lessons, workshops, and cultural events. Are any meals provided? Leading senior living facilities like ours offer communal dining as well as doorstep food service. When visiting communities, it is important to discuss and learn about dining hours and food choices. Check out the dining hall – it is not only a great way to sample the food, but also opens up a great opportunity to meet some of the residents. What is security like? Safety and security are important factors to keep in mind. Make sure that the bathrooms are senior friendly and have grab bars at convenient locations. Check if the community gates are being manned by security personnel 24×7. Is there an emergency call system? Ask how residents contact the staff if they have an emergency. At our senior living facilities, there is a panic button in every dwelling unit so that immediate assistance can be sought without any delay. How close are medical facilities? As you are touring the facility, make sure you ask about the medical facilities available on the premises. Also, check how far the nearest hospital is. At our senior living facilities, on-site medical assistance is easily available, and we also have tie-ups with leading hospitals for round-the-clock medical care. How do residents move around within the community? If the senior living facility is spread over acres of land, then ask about intra-community mobility facilities. At our select senior citizen homes, buggies are available to help our residents move within the community.

Senior living communities are designed to help residents with day-to-day activities while promoting health and well-being. If you value your independence, but want to lead your retirement years staying socially engaged and physically active, our senior living communities will make you feel right at home, with the assistance you need to live an active and independent lifestyle. Here are some of our best senior living communities: Serene Rose, Coimbatore: Just 24 kms away from the airport, Serene Rose is a great place for you to enjoy a worry-free lifestyle. One of the best senior living communities in Coimbatore, Serene Rose offers residents a wealth of amenities and activities. A Wi-Fi enabled clubhouse, fully equipped gym, indoor game facilities and library with computers and internet access are among the wide range of amenities offered by the community. Our residents also enjoy planned activities created specifically for them such as yoga classes, music lessons etc. Serene Pelican, Puducherry: Serene Pelican is spread over 36 acres with a great selection of different types of villas. Surrounded by lush greenery and pristine lakes, the senior living community in Puducherry offers modern amenities and community activities that help our residents lead a peaceful and yet active life after retirement. Our residents enjoy amenities such as a well-maintained clubhouse, Wi-Fi enabled library with computer facilities, buggy service for intra-community mobility and a fully equipped gym. As there is a dedicated team of staff to take care of housekeeping, cooking and maintenance, you have all the time to do things that you love to. Serene Adinath, Chennai: One of the best senior living communities in Chennai, Serene Adinath offers residents the feel of city life and the comforts of a senior-friendly home. Within the community, you can enjoy amenities such as well-maintained common areas, clubhouse, gym and a library. Not just that, there is a community hall where you can host parties and get-togethers. The social calendar is full of engaging activities like music lessons, day outings and friendly matches among residents. It is the perfect setting for those looking for new experiences throughout their retirement years. Serene Kshetra, Kanchipuram: Located in the temple town of Kanchipuram, Serene Kshetra is designed to promote active retirement. In addition to owning an individual space, you will get to enjoy several amenities should you choose to move into this senior living community. You can spend your afternoons reading or playing a game of table tennis at the clubhouse. From doing yoga in the morning to sweating it out in the gym, there is more than one way to stay physically active here. Planned activities like music lessons and bhajan sessions ensure that our residents have a good time and every day there is something to look forward to. Looking for the best senior living communities for yourself or your parents? Great! Our communities are conveniently located close to local attractions and medical facilities.  We look forward to having you as a new resident. To book a tour, call us at +91 8884555554.