COVID-19 contagion has not spared a single area of human existence. Particularly, the day-to-day needs of senior citizens have had a dire impact since the onset of the COVID outbreak. While quite a huge numbers of senior citizens live independently and have a social life, COVID has led them to contemplate the decision of moving to senior living facilities. This article is all about the reshaping of senior living facilities and their demand post-COVID-19.
Many senior citizens do not live with their children and due to COVID, their caretakers have returned to their homes. Thus, it became daunting for them to manage a household. This is where senior living residences come into play. As India proceeds to normalcy with precautions, adequate measures for the safety of senior citizens have been put in place. This aspect impacted the growth and demand of senior living residences exponentially. Several real estate developers who are in the segment of the senior living claim that the number of inquiries about the same spiked post COVID. Basically, the contagion has pushed the growth of such homes.
In communities centered around elderly needs, all the requirements of a senior citizen is taken care of. Some essential staff are always residing on the premises. It ensures complete safety and that medical assistance is always at their disposal. Most importantly, they get the much-needed peer environment to share their conversations. Hence, senior living residences are fat becoming the holy grail for elderly citizens in the COVID era.
Reshaping of senior living residences facilities
According to the Help Age India and United Nations Population Fund’s estimation, the elderly citizen population in India will reach a mark of 173 million by the year 2026. The services to cater to the needs of such a huge number of senior citizens are in the nascent stage. But, there is a surge in demand for senior living facilities.
The past
In India, numerous senior citizen care facilities of different dimensions are available. The drawback is that the ecosystem tends to be in fragments even today. Many of them have a poor reputation as they lack the basic facilities required by senior citizens. The homes also lacked in terms of development because of the inadequate supply of funds. Prior to COVID, elderly homes were more of a choice than a need for senior citizens. The reason being the traditional care system for senior citizens. Earlier, the joint family structure and helpers for assistance never created a gap in the care of elderly people. The thought of senior citizens living in old age residences didn’t cross minds of the family.
However, corporate jobs and the deterioration of the joint family structure have left the senior citizens in the care of medical attendants and house helps. Their medical and daily needs are under the management of domestic helps but this too needs a constant follow-up. To cope with this gap, the concept of senior living residences started emerging in India. Senior citizens whose children are living abroad or in a faraway city were sent to senior living homes where they were properly taken care of. But, the number of families choosing to opt for senior living residences was still very less. The reason for it was that the children would visited their parents often and the helpers were always available at their disposal. Hence, senior living residences was an emerging concept in India till the country was hit by the pandemic.
The present
With COVID causing the fear of seclusion, lack of funds, restricted movement, and severe infection, the restlessness of elderly people in their homes was seen to rise. For them, elderly homes was a blessing. When COVID hit in 2020, senior living communities became the apt choice for the elderly people and their children as neither the children nor the house helps could be with them. Hence, COVID seems to have been a blessing in disguise for the development of senior living communities in India. . With the second wave already creating havoc and an expected third wave, people are accepting the harsh reality of learning to live the Virus. Senior living residences provide medical supplies and assistance, essential services, safety, and companionship. Hence, it will become the preferred choice for more and more elderly people in the country.
Developers of existing elderly care residences upgraded their premises with all the necessary elements required for senior citizen care. This happened post the outbreak of COVID-19. Especially, the healthcare facilities witnessed many additions in the these residences. Additionally, the social engagements and physical exercise adhering to the norms of social distancing were a plus in these homes post-COVID. Also, the digital interventions helped them connect with friends and families living across the world. This surely kept the morale of elderly citizens high and satisfied with their life in senior living residences.
Future scope of senior living residences
Now, the expected growth of the senior citizen population is seeing an upward graph. Thus, development of the senior care and living segment is also witnessing a trigger. Presently, India has senior citizens who are socially active and like to keep themselves occupied. The senior care and living communities are the ecosystems that can facilitate this for senior citizens. Now and in the near future, the discourse is all about providing elderly people a comfortable life. Also, finding the probable areas of economic wellbeing from this segment.
In tier 2 and tier 3 cities, the supply is expected to rise because of the new demography of independent senior citizens. Old age homes are now being kept at bay as people can and want to live in well-equipped senior care residences.
All these factors combined with the fact that COVID is the new normal, investment from private authorities and policies from the government to boost senior living residences are expected. Such measures would surely reform and bring a change in this real estate segment of India.
