Healthy habits can improve the quality of life for seniors. These not only affect their physical well-being but also play a huge role in keeping seniors mentally fit. They can also lead to seniors feeling more disciplined and empowered. As one of the leading retirement communities in India, we share some of the useful insights on how to create health habits that can lead to a balanced and fulfilling life. 1. Setting clear and realistic goals: Starting a journey towards improved health often hinges on setting clear, attainable goals. Using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework is an invaluable strategy for keeping seniors both motivated and focused. Such an approach ensures seniors have a realistic expectation from the onset, so that they can avoid disappointment and demotivating thoughts later on. 2. Starting small and building gradually: The prospect of radical lifestyle modifications can be daunting. Instead of overhauling habits, seniors should make incremental adjustments. Starting small—say, by increasing daily water intake—can lay a foundation for more significant lifestyle changes in the future. As these small steps gradually transform into routine behaviours, seniors can incorporate more significant changes such as committing to a 30-minute daily walk or ​​engaging in regular strength-training exercises. As time goes by, these small changes can add up to make a big difference in living a healthier life. 3. Setting a routine for health habits and other activities: Seniors should establish a weekly routine when it comes to their life. This routine should include sufficient time for health habits, but it must also provide enough time for recreational activities and relaxation. Overdoing healthy activities can tire seniors out unnecessarily and prevent them from continuing the habits in the long-term. However, with a routine, they will know exactly when it is time to devote to health habits and when it is time to lay back and relax. 4. Support systems are important: The journey towards a healthier lifestyle is significantly more manageable with a robust support network. Seniors should seek out friends, family, or community members who can offer encouragement and even participate in healthful activities. The companionship not only serves as an additional motivational boost but also fosters stronger emotional bonds, enriching their overall life experience. 5. Tracking progress regularly: Keeping track of the progress can help seniors stay accountable and motivated. They can use journals, apps, or calendars to record their daily habits and any improvements in their health and well-being. Assessing how far they have come since the beginning can lead to positive thoughts and increased confidence. It would also provide the necessary push to keep going and not stop the healthy habits they have formed. 6. Sticking to a balanced diet: A balanced diet is the foundation of good health. Seniors should eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Trying to be too restrictive regarding the diet can demotivate them and shift them from the right track. Instead, seniors must focus on getting wholesome foods that promote overall well-being. 7. Prioritising rest and sleep: Sleep is often overlooked when talking about health habits. While exercise and diet are important, proper sleep is an irreplaceable part of healthy living. Seniors must focus on getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. A night of restful sleep can improve brain activity, memory, and cognition. It can also keep the senior feeling refreshed and energetic throughout the rest of the day. Retirement homes in India are increasingly focusing on the promotion of health habits to improve the quality of life for their residents. They offer various amenities designed to enhance the physical and mental well-being of seniors. These may include gyms, yoga studios, meditation rooms, and even nutrition-focused meal plans. Looking for retirement homes in Bangalore that focus on promoting health habits?   Explore Serene Amara by Columbia Pacific. The world-class senior living community promotes holistic wellness, ensuring that seniors lead not just a long life, but a fulfilling and healthy one as well. To know more, call us at  +91 8884555554. 

Developing and nurturing intergenerational relationships can be an incredibly enriching experience for seniors. When seniors establish strong intergenerational bonds, it can alleviate stress and anxiety. It also helps them embrace their golden years with a profound sense of fulfilment and joy. As one of the leading retirement homes in Coimbatore, we share some of the useful tips for fostering intergenerational relationships:  1. Stay engaged in the community: Staying engaged in the community is important for seniors. By actively participating in community activities, events, or organisations that bring people of all ages together, they open doors to meeting individuals from different generations. This creates wonderful opportunities for seniors to form connections and interact with younger people. 2. Embrace technology: By becoming familiar with social media platforms, video calling apps, or online forums, seniors can communicate and connect with younger family members, friends, and acquaintances. Embracing technology offers a fantastic way for seniors to stay in touch and share experiences, even when physically apart. 3. Be open-minded and curious: Seniors should approach intergenerational relationships with an open mind and genuine curiosity. They can demonstrate interest in the perspectives, ideas, and interests of younger individuals. Also, they should be willing to learn from the younger generation and share their own experiences. 4. Participate in family activities: Seniors should spend time with their children, grandchildren, and extended family members. Seniors can strengthen their relationships and create happy memories by attending family gatherings, celebrations, or outings. By sharing experiences and spending quality time together, they can build strong bonds and positively influence their family’s lives. 5. Volunteer: Seniors should consider volunteering at local schools, libraries, or charitable organisations. By doing so, they can make valuable contributions to the community while interacting with younger generations. Sharing their time, skills, and wisdom with others can have a profound impact not only on their own lives but also on the lives of those they connect with. 6. Attend educational programmes: Seniors should explore workshops or classes that align with their interests. These programmes often attract participants of various ages, offering seniors an opportunity to connect with younger learners. By participating in educational programmes, seniors not only benefit from intellectual stimulation but also have a platform to share their valuable knowledge and life experiences with others. 7. Share wisdom and experiences: As seniors possess a wealth of knowledge and life experiences they should offer to mentor or guide younger individuals who may benefit from their insights. They should consider joining intergenerational mentoring programmes. By sharing their wisdom, they can make a positive impact on the lives of younger generations while fostering meaningful relationships. Leading senior living homes in Coimbatore organise activities that foster intergenerational relationships. These activities are designed to bring seniors and younger generations together. Looking for retirement homes in Coimbatore that promote positive ageing? Explore our senior living homes in Coimbatore. These senior living communities offer a range of services and amenities tailored to meet the unique needs of seniors, allowing them to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. To know more about the services and amenities offered, call us at  +91 8884555554. 

As a senior, you can benefit greatly from building resilience, as it helps you deal with the physical, emotional, and social changes that come with age. You can learn to be resilient by creating social support, fostering a positive outlook, and building positive memories. Additionally, you must learn how to control your thoughts and emotions. This will help you deal with difficult situations in a more positive way.  If you are looking for information on strategies for building resilience, here is a useful read. As one of the leading retirement homes in India, we have curated a list of useful insights to help seniors build resilience.  1. Stay positive: Resilience is closely linked with optimism. Hence, focusing on the positive things around you can help you keep an optimistic outlook towards the future even during challenging times. Being optimistic involves many aspects such as being aware of potential problems, choosing to focus on the good things in your life, and finding the right solutions. By being optimistic, you can stay away from depression or anxiety, which can make it hard for you to bounce back during difficult times.  One of the effective ways to stay optimistic during challenging times is to look for the silver lining. Look at what you can learn from the situation and how it will make you stronger in the future or think about how grateful you are for all that you have.  You can also hang positive quotes or affirmations in your living space to improve your mood and overall well-being. Some of the popular motivational quotes include:  “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”- – Martin Luther King, Jr. “Pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it.” – Paulo Coelho “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller 2. Develop and maintain a strong social network: When you are feeling stressed, reaching out to empathetic people who understand what you are going through can be a great source of support. Maintaining strong relationships with family, friends, neighbours, and former colleagues is a great way to stay strong during difficult times. It is also important to build new relationships with compassionate and understanding people.  You can also join a support group where you can meet other people who can relate to your situation. These groups are often based on a specific issue, such as depression or anxiety, but some groups are open to everyone who needs help.  If you live in a retirement community, you can connect with others who are in a similar stage of life and may be facing similar challenges and opportunities.  3. Manage stress and learn to respond to challenging situations: Building stress management habits is a good way to stay resilient. You have to understand that there are situations which are beyond your control and you need to be flexible and focus on things that are within your control.  Also, you need to be proactive and decisive about your actions. In order to be resilient, you must take on challenges one step at a time. If you try to do too much all at once, it can become overwhelming and cause anxiety or depression. 4. Take care of your physical and mental well-being: It is important that you take care of your physical and mental health as you adjust to the new changes in your life. It may be tempting at times to neglect yourself, but do not give in. To combat stress and anxiety, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well, exercising, and pursuing interests that are both stimulating and relaxing. Take enough rest and do not exert yourself.  Mindful journaling, yoga, and other spiritual practices such as prayer or meditation can also help you build connections and restore hope, allowing you to cope with traumatic experiences more easily. When you journal, meditate, or pray, think about the positive aspects of your life and recall the things you are grateful for.  Also, establish healthy boundaries with people who are negative and do not show empathy for others. You may also want to re-evaluate the amount of time you spend watching news and reading about politics on social media. Spending too much time consuming negative stories can change your outlook, making it difficult for you to maintain an optimistic attitude. Looking for retirement homes for NRIs in India? Planning to buy retirement homes in India? Explore our retirement communities for NRIs in India. Our retirement homes are designed to bring together like-minded seniors and enjoy a wide range of social activities and events, such as game nights, fitness classes, and community outings. To know more about our retirement homes, call us at +918884555554 or book a virtual tour.

Millets are nutritious and healthy. They require minimal water and have a long shelf life, making them ideal for storage. Millets are rich in starch and protein. They are an excellent option for a wholesome meal, particularly for seniors. As one of the best senior citizen homes in Karnataka, we share some of the healthy millet recipes for seniors. 1. Millet khichdi: Ingredients:  ½ cup foxtail millets ½ cup moong daal 1 cup vegetables of your choice ¼ cup methi leaves or spinach 1 diced tomato 1 teaspoon grated ginger Dry spices: ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, and ½ teaspoon garam masala Salt to taste Procedure  Wash and soak the foxtail millets for about an hour. This cooks the millets quickly. In a pressure cooker add ghee and let it heat. Add cumin seeds and let it splutter. Add ginger until it emits a nice aroma. Add veggies and tomatoes. Saute them for a few minutes. Add the spices and cook for a few minutes on low flame until the tomatoes are mushy. Add the soaked and drained millets and daal. Saute them for a while. Adjust the salt and add water. Cover the pressure cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles or until the millets are cooked to the right consistency. Once done, open the lid and give it a final mix. Add a little ghee on top and serve warm with pickle and papad. 2. Kodo millet roti:  Ingredients:  1 cup Kodo millet flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2-1 cup lukewarm water Ghee/oil for cooking Procedure  In a mixing bowl, add Kodo millet flour and salt. Gradually add lukewarm water to the flour mixture and knead to form a soft and pliable dough. Divide the dough into equal portions and shape them into round balls. Using a rolling pin, flatten each ball into a thin circular disc, dusting it with flour if necessary to prevent sticking. Heat a tawa or non-stick pan over medium heat. Place the flattened roti on the tawa or pan and cook for about 30 seconds on each side. Add ghee or oil on top of the roti and cook for another 30 seconds on each side or until it turns golden brown. Remove from heat and serve hot with your favourite side dish. 3. Ragi wheat dosa: Ingredients:  1 cup ragi flour 1 cup wheat flour 2 cups buttermilk (adjust as per preferred consistency) Salt to taste Procedure  In a mixing bowl, add ragi flour and wheat flour. Add salt to it and mix well to make an even distribution. Gradually add buttermilk and stir continuously with a whisk to avoid lumps. Mix the batter evenly and consistently to incorporate air into the mixture. Cover and set aside for 6-8 hours or overnight to allow the batter to ferment. After fermentation, stir the batter well and adjust the consistency with water if necessary. Heat a flat non-stick tawa over medium-high heat. Once hot, pour a ladleful of batter on the tawa and spread it evenly in circular motion. Add oil from the sides so that the dosa cooks evenly on top and does not stick to the pan. Cook until the bottom turns golden brown and the top is cooked. Flip the dosa and cook the other side for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Fold the dosa into half and take it off the heat. Serve hot with your favourite coconut chutney and sambar. 4. Mixed millet bhel puri: Ingredients:  1 cup pearl millets 1 cup ragi flakes 3 cups puffed rice 1/2 cup bhujia 2 tbsp chaat masala 3 tbsp black sesame seeds 2 chopped onions 2 chopped tomatoes 4 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons chopped green chilies 3 tablespoons green chutney 2 tablespoons sweet tamarind chutney Chopped fresh coriander leaves Pomegranate seeds (optional) Procedure  In a mixing bowl, add pearl millets, ragi flakes, and puffed rice. Add salt and roasted peanuts to it. Add black sesame seeds, chaat masala, and bhujia mix. Give it a good mix. Then add chopped onions and mix again. Add green chutney and sweet tamarind chutney and mix everything well. Finally, add chopped tomatoes, lime juice, and chopped green chilies. Mix well and adjust salt if necessary. Garnish with bhujia, fresh coriander leaves, and pomegranate seeds (optional). Serve immediately and enjoy. Looking for the best senior citizen homes in Karnataka that offer top-notch senior-friendly dining facilities?  Explore our senior citizen apartments. Our dining facilities are designed to cater to the unique needs and preferences of seniors, with a wide variety of dishes that are not only delicious but also nutritious and easy to digest. In addition to top-notch dining facilities, we offer other facilities and services such as customised housekeeping, recreational activities, fitness programmes, preventive maintenance for electrical and plumbing work, and 24×7 security. To know more, call us at +918884555554.

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.

With empathy-centered services that contribute to greater independence and foster a sense of community, senior citizen homes in Columbia Pacific Communities encourage residents to live the retirement life they have always dreamt of. Check out our senior citizen homes in India here. We are committed to helping our residents pursue enriching and fulfilling lives surrounded by respect, dignity, happiness and an exceptional standard of care. Let’s take a sneak peek into how we leverage the power of empathy to stay true to our commitment- Age-friendly communities: Empathy has played a crucial role in the design and development of Columbia Pacific Communities. At our retirement homes in India, attention to the smallest detail has been paid to ensure that our residents live in a safe and comfortable environment. With senior-friendly features like non-slip vitrified tiles and handrails in bathrooms and common areas like swimming pools and jogging tracks – our senior citizen homes provide a setting where residents feel comfortable and safe. The rooms are designed to allow wheelchair access. There is a panic button in each independent apartment. Our premium retirement home in Bangalore is compliant with the NBC (National Building Code) standards for accessible housing as well as ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act 1990) guidelines for structure and facilities. Maintenance-free lifestyle: We understand that household chores like mopping, cooking and property maintenance can stop seniors from enjoying their golden years of retirement. Moving into our senior citizen homes, can help them enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle. They don’t have to worry about home repairs – be it a leaky faucet or a broken switch, our 24X7 maintenance team will take care of it. Cleaning of apartments is done daily, and residents can also ask for customised housekeeping help for specific tasks. From housekeeping to the care and support team, all our team members are trained to the highest standard. Your suggestions in dining options: We make sure that the food served in our dining halls is not just nutritious but also delicious. Our food and beverage team and dieticians work with the residents to ensure that their nutritional needs are met. We change our menus regularly so that our residents enjoy tasty and balanced meals created with their preferences in mind.