Why Coimbatore is becoming a hub for retirement communities

Mohan El Mailerkod, 57, who has lived abroad for nearly three decades in the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and now in Gilbert, Arizona, has already planned his retirement. By the end of this year, he will move to Nirmala Nilayam Retirement Community (NNRC) in Thethipalayam, 15 km from Coimbatore city.

“It is surrounded by farmland. There is very little noise and air pollution… It is like a big bag ending in the foothills of the Western Ghats,” says Mohan, who is currently a senior data services architect for Edupoint Educational Systems in the US work. He says he also considered Pune and Bengaluru, then chose Coimbatore because of its lush green surroundings. “I want to, for a good reason, trek, cycle, read, walk, visit temples and travel to Tamil Nadu and India,” he said, adding, “If you live close to nature, you can have a life like that. It would have been good.”

According to recent reports from several leading real estate services companies, South Indian cities are increasingly popular for senior living projects, of which around 65% are located within the region. Major senior living centers in South India include Puducherry, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kodaikanal, Mysore and Kochi, with Coimbatore topping the list with the maximum number of ongoing projects.

emphasis on healthcare

“With 13 projects at various stages of completion, the city is truly a hub,” says Dinakar Perumal, owner of NNRC. Most of the projects have been developed at picturesque locations including Pollachi, Thondamuthur, Dhaliyur, KNG Pudur and Vadavalli. Accommodations are designed with special attention to features such as wheelchair access, anti-skid tiles and an emergency button at an accessible height.

“We have built the villas to the US Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. We then increased the ceiling height to 11 feet to ensure that the interiors are airy and incorporate traditional architectural designs such as sky-lit courtyards that filter sunlight. He says he also finds questions on specific traditional structures, such as t Hinai (a raised platform in the portico, a traditional architectural design in South Indian homes where people sit and chat) and o onjal (Swing).

Globally, the senior community is a sought-after service, especially in the US and Europe. The demand is expected to increase in India due to factors like increase in life expectancy and breakdown of joint family system. “We are getting inquiries from Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka. They want a lifestyle where they can go for long walks in the sun, consume pesticide-free vegetables and breathe pollution-free air,” says Dinkar. Col A. Sreedharan (retd), founder, Kovai Care, says, “There has been a 20% increase in apartment sales in the last two years.” They have developed 18 projects in this stretch in Coimbatore, Mysore, Bengaluru, Chennai and Puducherry.

At Kovai Care, retirement homes come with prices starting from ₹50 lakh onwards (for two BHK depending on size and location). “The aim is to make homes affordable,” says Col. Sridhar. In Puducherry, we are developing 1 BHK homes with a budget of ₹ 22 lakhs.”

For new projects, for example CovaiCare’s upcoming project with 234 units in Chennai, the waiting period is 30 months. “About 20% of them, especially those above 80 and without a partner, prefer to rent a house,” says Sridhar.

The developers pay attention to the special needs of senior citizens and ensure that there is easy access to social and spiritual events, restaurants, convenience stores, libraries, parks and spaces, for example, pottery to pursue hobbies. The studio More importantly, each unit is equipped with emergency switches and there is an availability of on-call doctors to deal with medical emergencies.

“Good infrastructure, good connectivity by road, rail and air and a centralized location between Karnataka and Kerala is a big plus.” Col Sreedharan says there is also a focus on supportive care, especially for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. “We provide care, comfort and companionship. I like to say it including living in senior care,” he says, taking into account other aspects like budget and investment, and leasing and rental practices A wise decision has to be taken.

local food

Uma Maheshwari, joint managing director of Ananya’s Nana Nani Homes, which was launched in 2010, says they are currently preparing for their sixth phase with 400 homes in Vadavalli, 10 km from the city.

A snapshot from the retirement home of Ananya’s maternal grandparents. photo credit: special arrangement

“The elderly want a safe place. We have a vegetable farm and a dairy farm, and all kitchen supplies come from here,” she says, adding that there is a demand for spacious three-bedroom houses with a garden, especially from people in Mumbai and Delhi.

All these houses try to organize activities for the residents: there are places for music and dance as well as yoga and meditation. During the week, there are film screenings, spiritual discourse, Tambola, cultural programs and festivals to keep the occupants busy. Sridhar Ramamurthy, 74, who moved to Tapovan Senior Citizens Foundation in Madhampatti, started a podcast by and for senior citizens on the audio streaming platform i-Radio. It includes performances of devotional songs, mono acts, debates, storytelling and interviews by residents. There are also interviews with mental health care counselors and palliative care providers.

Retirement communities overseas are a lot of fun, says Dinakar. “During my stay in Boston, I visited the suburbs of Malden, Massachusetts a few times. I’ve seen the community play petanque, basketball, croquet and Frisbee. It’s the kind of retirement home that buzzes with energy, Which I want to make here.”

The demographics of residents are also evolving. What started as the domain of NRIs now includes many retired professionals, bureaucrats and businessmen. “All my research shows that Coimbatore is a well-balanced city in terms of weather and people,” says Sreekumar Nair, a Mumbai-based investment advisor looking for properties in Dehradun, Bengaluru, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. “I was googling for the best cities to live in the world, I chose Thailand, but my wife preferred a location in India, and so is Coimbatore.”