Columbia Pacific Communities Articles

Gone are the days when retirement homes were considered old age homes and were associated with bland food. Today’s retirement homes in India are offering their residents not just meals but dining experiences. They offer a social atmosphere as all of us have grown up with social events that have always involved food. If you are looking for the best retirement home for yourself or your loved ones, do check out these latest dining trends: Healthy meals with a range of options: Some of the best retirement homes in India are offering menus that include fresh and nutritious ingredients. Inspired from different cuisines, delicious and healthy meals are offered. As many people miss home-cooked food, at our retirement homes, delicious and sumptuous meals are prepared home-style. It is ensured that meals are in accordance with the nutritional needs of the residents. Dining flexibility: Retirement homes these days provide a variety of dining venues. There are spacious dining halls as well as restaurants. You can also order in, to your doorstep. All this flexibility allows seniors to eat what they want and whatever time they wish. A catering staff who listen: With so many residents to please, today’s luxury retirement homes take feedback from the residents. The dieticians and staff work with residents to come up with different menus. Food allergies or special needs are taken care of. At our retirement homes, review meetings with the food and beverage team are scheduled between the team and residents, for direct feedback. Social atmosphere: In every part of the world, food is an inseparable part of celebrations, be it birthdays, anniversaries or get-togethers. Seniors today expect healthy and upscale food options and menus when they are throwing a party or celebrating an event. Our banquet service helps you throw a memorable party. Skilled catering staff: Retirement homes have upped their game when it comes to the kitchen. They are focusing on hiring employees who can strike a balance between healthcare and hospitality. We have some of the best staff members cooking for our residents. These delicious meals are recommended by qualified dieticians to ensure that the food is healthy and nutritious.

Fun and recreational activities are an important aspect of the new-age senior living communities. With more and more seniors wanting to live life independently and actively, senior living communities   in India are coming up with innovative and stimulating activities. From group exercises and art classes to swimming and meditation classes – the best senior citizen homes in India like ours offer plenty of opportunities for seniors to enjoy a healthy and exciting lifestyle.   Here are a few fun activities that senior citizen homes can organise –   Dance class: Dancing is a universal form of human expression that’s known to relieve stress. It is also a great cardiovascular exercise. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that frequent dancing improves cognitive skills. At Columbia Pacific Communities, dance classes conducted for residents help reduce feelings of isolation and boost happiness. Swimming: For active retirees, swimming is an ideal exercise. It’s not only relaxing but also has numerous health benefits. A 2016 study found that swimming can improve lung capacity. It’s also good for cardiovascular health. Research conducted on seniors suffering from insomnia found that swimming improves sleep and quality of life. Indoor games: Indoor games are fun and social ways to improve flexibility and balance. Our retirement communities have activity centers that are always buzzing with games and sporting events. Reading: Reading helps seniors stay mentally alert and in touch with the world. Our retirement homes have well-stocked libraries and reading clubs where residents can discuss and share their opinions with others. Yoga: The health benefits of yoga are numerous. It improves balance and stability and has a calming effect on the mind.  Yoga also relieves pain caused from stiff joints. At Columbia Pacific Communities, residents actively take part in yoga/pranayama exercises to improve their flexibility and overall mindset. For many residents, these classes are also a great way to make new friends. Art classes: From watercolor and acrylic painting to sketching – pursuing art can open one’s eyes to unseen possibilities. It also helps seniors improve their fine motor skills. Many senior citizen homes in India conduct regular art classes where residents create  art in a group and find an enjoyable way to connect with others.      

If you are planning to move to a senior living home in Bangalore, look for a place that offers its residents safe and secure environments. For added peace of mind, the best senior living homes in Bangalore like ours offer 24-hour security and emergency response. Our premium retirement homes in Bangalore are 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. For an enjoyable, worry-free retirement life, select a senior living home in Bangalore that offers these safety and security features – 1. Safe bathrooms and rooms: The bathrooms must have grab bars and rails near the toilet, in the shower and the bathtub. The best senior living homes in Bangalore like ours have non-skid tiles in the bathroom to prevent falls. Also, have a look at the size of the bathroom. Bathrooms at our senior living homes are big enough to allow the use of a walker or an assistant for aid. A panic button in every apartment helps to seek immediate assistance, in case of an emergency. 2. 24*7 Security: The community must ensure the safety and security of the residents. Our communities in Bangalore offer 24-hour security. The premises are under CCTV surveillance and the entry and exit of outsiders is closely monitored. 3. Disaster planning: Like any community living, we are well-prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Equipped with fire extinguishers, we ensure that our residents are aware of the evacuation plans and the action plan in case of a fire emergency occur. Our elevators have an Automatic Rescue Device and can accommodate a stretcher. Also, our lifts are programmed to stay open for longer than ordinary elevators. 4. Medical emergency: The best senior living homes in Bangalore provide the highest standard of healthcare so that every resident maintains a safe and quality lifestyle. Most of the senior living homes in Bangalore have partnered with nearby hospitals to ensure that their residents get round-the-clock care. Columbia Pacific Communities has partnered with Columbia Asia Hospitals to ensure that residents get the right medical care at the right time. From round the clock care by qualified nurses and routine health screenings to 24×7 ambulance service in case of emergencies – we ensure that our residents and their family members always have peace of mind.

Active retirees in India are looking for alternatives to conventional retirement homes. For them, retirement means a new opportunity to explore the unexplored. Instead of relaxing in front of the TV, they want to try new hobbies, start a new career or travel to adventurous locations. To meet their needs, modern retirement homes like ours are redefining the concept of senior living. Our senior citizen retirement homes offer an upbeat lifestyle to our residents that enriches their mind, body and spirit. Our residents love the daily camaraderie with neighbours and team members, enjoy the serene ambience and look forward to participating in wellness opportunities that are specifically designed keeping their needs in mind. Our emergency care with 24/7 ambulance service, doctor-on-call and trained in-house 24/7 staff available for breakdown or maintenance – give our residents peace of mind. New-age senior citizen retirement homes in India like ours are helping active retirees focus on enjoying their independent retirement life in a safe and secure environment. Let’s look at some more amenities and services designed to cater to the changing needs of today’s seniors – ● Safe and secure housing: Our senior citizen homes are aesthetically pleasing and senior-friendly. All the safety features like panic button and handrails are installed at the right places. We have the latest security systems, CCTV cameras and firefighting equipment installed in our premises. ● Activities: Our activity calendar is designed to help our residents enjoy an engaging lifestyle. Movie screenings, music concerts, lectures and workshops are some events that are hosted regularly. ● Healthcare: Nutritious food, wellness programs and daily exercise plans help our residents stay healthy and fit. Vital parameters of residents are monitored periodically. Medical records of residents are kept up to date. Our partnership with nearby hospitals ensures our residents get round-the-clock medical care. Health screening of the team is also done as a precautionary measure.

Mrs. Murthy, a retired professor, lives in one of the best rated senior living communities in Chennai. For her, moving to the community was the best decision she ever made. She lived in a big house with a garden and often felt quite lonely. When her sons moved to Canada, she decided the time had come for her to move to a place where she can enjoy her time pursuing new hobbies. She began her search for an easier and more manageable lifestyle in a retirement community. Today, she lives a worry-free life in a senior living community where she spends most of her time attending yoga classes and learning Carnatic music. She’s made new friends and has travelled with them to new and exciting places. She says, “I am very happy with my life here. I am travelling to different places, learning new skills and have made many friends. My grandkids who currently stay overseas love to visit me here.” Social needs are important basic human needs, regardless of age. To address the social needs of seniors, some of the best rated senior living communities like ours are offering ample engagement opportunities to help residents enjoy a socially active lifestyle. ● Fitness clubs: One great way to help seniors make friends and stay in shape is group exercises. At our senior living communities, group exercises are held daily. ● Book clubs: At Columbia Pacific Communities, there are various book clubs where book lovers can share their reviews about books, discuss their favourite authors and stay mentally active. ● Workshops and lectures: Many seniors look forward to learning opportunities. We organise many workshops and lectures that are designed specifically for seniors who believe there is no end to learning. Positive ageing is at the heart of our senior living communities Read this interesting story on positive ageing by one of our residents, who retired as the General Manager at TVS Motor Company.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the world into an unprecedented situation. The importance of maintaining personal hygiene, maintaining social distance and self-quarantining cannot be emphasized enough given the contagious nature of the infection. While older people are more vulnerable to the infection, for people living in senior citizen homes in India, it is important to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in a better way. Here are a few tips that could help senior living communities handle the COVID-19 pandemic better: Empower residents with information: The real threat in the times of a pandemic is not just the infection but also the misinformation. Providing residents accurate and non-judgmental information around COVID-19 is the best way to manage the pandemic. At Columbia Pacific Communities, we raised awareness about how to stop the spread of the virus, what to do if they develop symptoms of the disease, and how to best manage their health and well-being during quarantine. The information shared with our residents have been vetted by leading medical practitioners. Sense of security: Knowing that the staff at the senior living community they live in is taking all the safety precautions can help residents have peace of mind. Many senior citizen housing complexes have put in place safety measures and hygiene practices. To ensure that our residents are well-protected, the entry for visitors has been restricted at all our Communities. Community staff members are ensuring that all the essential items are being delivered to residents. Stay connected: The need for seniors to remain connected with others has become all the more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation and loneliness in older adults can adversely affect their physical and mental well-being. To help seniors not feel shut out, our Wellness team encourages residents to connect with their family and friends over video calls. Those who are not tech-savvy are provided assistance. Virtual talent hunts have kept the morale high. Community messages are exchanged regularly so that everybody stays updated and feels like a part of the community. Seniors are also encouraged to go for walks while maintaining social distancing.

Exercising regularly has many physical and mental health benefits. It helps seniors increase strength, balance, and mobility. It also reduces the risk of falling by helping seniors improve their gait. The best way to get physically active is to go outside and get started. But before you do that, here are some tips that will help you stay safe: Think of your safety: While stepping out for a jog or a walk, carry your ID with emergency contact information, especially if you are walking alone. Stick to well-lit places where there are people around. If you are walking in the dark, wear brightly colored clothes to be seen easily and carry a flashlight. At our senior citizen homes in India, we have dedicated jogging and walking tracks which are well-lit. The communities, manned by security guards 24×7, are under CCTV surveillance. Listen to your body: Start your workout with proper warm-up exercises and end with cool-down exercises. Doing this reduces muscle soreness and reduces risk of injury. Always gauge your level of comfort. Do not exert yourself. If you are experiencing pain or exhaustion, take rest for a few days before resuming your workout. At our senior citizen housing communities, daily stretching exercises are conducted under the supervision of trained physiotherapists. This is to ensure that the residents get the technique right. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing: To avoid slipping, make sure you choose shoes that are right for the type of activity you are doing. Also, make sure you wear clothes suitable to the temperature outside. Wear sweat-wicking clothes that will help you stay comfortable and dry. In our communities, all the jogging and walking tracks, aerobics and yoga decks have anti-skid flooring to prevent falls. Stay hydrated: Keep yourself hydrated while exercising. The best option is to drink water. You can also drink freshly squeezed juice. It’s best to avoid caffeinated beverages. In case you suffer from a medical condition wherein your doctor has advised you to limit your liquid intake, then do consult your doctor before exercising outdoors. At Columbia Pacific Communities, we encourage our residents to be physically active. If you do not wish to exercise because of rain or any other reason, there are fully-equipped gyms on the premises. Indoor and outdoor games make exercising fun. We hope you will find these tips helpful the next time when you are exercising outdoors!

For many seniors, moving to a community living can be emotionally difficult, leaving old friends behind and starting over in a new place. We understand that any change in your living situation is bound to stress you and make you anxious, hence it’s important to give yourself time and space to cope with change. Once you move to a community living facility, take your time to adjust to the new environment but at the same time don’t feel shy to interact with others. If you are moving into a community living facility, here’s what you can do to make new friends: Spend more time in common areas: Instead of going back to your apartment or villa, spend more time in common areas where you can find people with common interests. There are many ways you can occupy yourself in a community living facility like ours. You can participate in indoor and outdoor games and other activities throughout the day that will give you ample opportunities to strike a conversation and foster new friendships. Attend events: When you’re moving in, look at the social calendars and see if you fancy anything. Many assisted living facilities like ours realise that making friends in a new place can be difficult. Hence we organise events that are developed keeping in mind the needs and interests of our residents. You will find one or the other activity of your interest. At our community living facility, we organise music concerts, lectures, and workshops that are fun and informative. These places provide you with ways to identify common grounds with other residents. It’s better to catch up with a movie screening with others rather than watching it alone in your apartment. Break bread together: Food plays a very important role when it comes to fostering friendship. Sharing a meal with others is the easiest way to interact with them and get to know them. Sitting with new people and eating with them can go a long way in developing relationships. At our community living facility, we have spacious dining halls where you can enjoy relaxed meals. Finding new friends while eating will make your meals fun. Those of you who feel like ordering in can have the meals delivered to the doorstep. Some luxury community living facilities also have a beverage station with juicers, smoothie makers and coffee machines so that you can indulge in your favorite beverage while enjoying with your friends. Join a fitness class: Joining an exercise class can be a great way to meet people and get to know them better. Exercising is a common interest that everybody loves to talk about. Besides sharing workout tips, there is a lot that you can talk about while exercising. There is one added benefit in this; when you have someone to exercise with, you are more likely to stick to commitment and schedule. At our community living facilities, we offer yoga classes and other physical activities designed by our physiotherapists that will help you stay healthy and yet meet new people. We offer a variety of opportunities for seniors to stay involved in their community, including music concerts and movie screenings. We hope you find the above-mentioned tips handy when you are moving into a community living facility.

Exercise offers several health benefits to people of all ages, including seniors. But one exercise that particularly benefits seniors is swimming. Being a low-impact exercise, it doesn’t exert too much pressure on the joints, making it an ideal exercise for seniors. To make sure that our residents benefit from swimming, some of our senior living communities in India have swimming pools with non-slip vitrified tiles all around them. Swimming is a complete work out for seniors. Here are a few of the health benefits that swimming offers to seniors: Improved cardiovascular health: Swimming is great for your cardiovascular health. Regular swimming helps you lower your blood pressure by making your heart more efficient in pumping the blood. The improved blood circulation reduces the risk of heart disease. Increased flexibility: Stretching exercises help the body regain flexibility. Swimming is an overall workout that promotes flexibility in your legs, arms and neck. The strokes and motions used in swimming help naturally relax the muscles and alleviate back pain. Weight management: As you age, your metabolism slows down, making it difficult for you to lose weight as easily as you could have done earlier. Regular swimming helps in improving metabolism. The good thing about swimming is that you not only shed calories but also get toned muscles, giving you a better posture. As swimming is an exercise that is easy on the joints, it is ideal for those who suffer from joint pain and stiffness. Improves mental health: Swimming is a little more fun than lifting weights in the gym for many people. Swimming is a great way to socialise. When done with friends, swimming can be fun. Being in the water has positive effects on the overall mood of a person. Whether it’s swimming or enjoying light exercises in the gardens, our senior living communities help our residents enjoy an active life. The wellness programmes at our senior living communities are designed by trained physiotherapists. We take a holistic approach towards the overall well-being of our residents.

Designed to help seniors enjoy a lifestyle based on independence, wellbeing and active living, the best rated senior living communities like ours offer a bouquet of services. Let’s take a brief look at some of the services and amenities you can expect at the best senior living communities- ● Housekeeping services: To help you enjoy doing the things you love, we take care of all your housekeeping needs, be it cleaning or property upkeep. From daily cleaning and mopping to fixing a leaky faucet – all your housekeeping and property maintenance needs are handled by our trained team. To address any maintenance or breakdown issues, our team is available 24X7, on the premises. ● Concierge: Whether you want to plan a weekend trip or catch the latest movie at your favourite theater, our concierge team will not only help you hire vehicles but also book tickets. ● Food and Beverage: At Columbia Pacific Communities, food is an experience. Our menu offers flavorsome meals prepared fresh by our chefs. You’ll find a variety of choices on the menu which is designed after taking inputs from our residents. Our premium senior living community in Bangalore has multiple dining options, including restaurants, a beverage station and nutrition centre. ● Swimming pools: Swimming is a great way to stay in shape and improve flexibility. For our residents, we have swimming pools in select senior living communities where they can swim some laps and spend quality time with other residents. ● Fitness studio: To help our residents stay active and fit, we have gyms equipped with cardiovascular and strength training equipment. Our fitness programs are designed by experienced instructors and physiotherapists. ● Movie screenings: We have movie screenings so that our residents can catch up on the latest blockbusters and revisit the classics. The Virtuoso Club and Serviced Residences, our senior living community in Bangalore, has a theatre as well as an outdoor area for movie screenings. We encourage you to visit our senior living communities. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your personal tour.