Senior Centers – A home away from home?
In a society where one of the first lessons a youngster learns is to respect and obey the elderly in the family, touch their feet as often as possible or at least when he/she takes leave and returns from a trip, where every young girl moving to her husband’s home is told to take care of the in-laws and treat her husband’s family as her own, the growing phenomenon of retirement centres must come as a bit of a surprise.A lot has happened in the past few decades to make this necessary. Changing cultural perceptions, starting with the increasing assertiveness of the younger couple in how they bring up the kids, to eating out, to managing finances, all contribute to family clashes. The elders no longer set the rules – they are asked to follow those set by the younger generation.
The elders’ inability to play a sub-ordinate but visibly useful role in running the family adds to the friction. Significantly, the happiest elderly are those who still own homes, have a regular income and travel at will, those who wisely put money away for old age rather than pin their faith on their kids.
Twenty years ago, when elders began to feel abandoned and helpless, they went to old age homes out of despair. In the face of poverty and cruelty, the twin attacks that often brought on depression, they felt forced to leave their son’s/daughter’s home and seek shelter elsewhere. In every interview residents of free old-age homes narrate similar stories: “I spent all my money on the kids’ education/marriage/business. On my son’s advice, I sold the house and moved in with him. I wrote my will bequeathing my property to my son. My daughter-in-law has no time for me. I’m just a servant in the house.” They left because they had no option. The senior centers then were often low cost, subsidized and poorly managed. Moving to these dreary dumps of discarded parents was a last resort, an act of desperation.
Today, there is a new breed of retirement homes. Financially successful NRI’s have the means to make their parents comfortable, and the need to assuage the guilt in not being there with them. And while the aging parent would like nothing better than living in a joint family, surrounded by children and grandchildren, there is also the realization that living in India, among familiar surroundings and friends may actually be preferable to leading a lonely existence in freezing climates where everyone in the house is busy with their own lives.
Affluent Indians now seek the independence and the responsibility-free comforts of living in post-retirement homes that are specially created to suit their needs. And they seem to like what they get and who they enjoy it with. There are landscaped gardens to stroll in, temples, well stocked
libraries, hygienic kitchens and the company of people of their age who share a common culture and similar tastes. The added attraction is the fact that many of these centers are not too far away from major cities, where the residents have had active work lives.
My mother moved into a retirement home last September. She had been scouting around for one, having decided that her 4 children’s homes in three Indian cities were too restrictive to her taste. We suspect it is because mom is a sprightly 83, having lost none of her abundant zest for life.
Mom discovered Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial (SSM) Trust Residency during a conversation with Mrs. Jaya Seshan, wife of the former Chief Election Commissioner of India. When she said she and her husband were planning to move into this place, mom was convinced. SSM Residency would meet her exacting standards in food, accommodation and company. She decided to do a recce before casting the final vote.
On her visit, mom grilled owner Mr. Santhanam, manager Mr. Raghavan, the all those in charge of the various facilities. She checked out the main office, the distance one had to cover to reach it and the entertainment center. She even spoke to the gardener. She liked their (practised?) answers. She inspected the cooking area and approved of the modern methods and the gleaming stainless steel equipment. The cook seemed efficient. Mom then had a meal. She liked both the food and the service and decided to give the place a try. A centre that served excellent meals couldn’t be too bad.
The finance works this way: You pay a refundable deposit of a few lakhs and there is a reasonable monthly amount that you pay for food and rent. Anything beyond is extra. Mom chalks up a hefty telephone bill, giving us – and scores of her city friends – her weekly campus news. And remember, she signs up invoices at the Angadi. But her electricity bills and TV cable charges are pretty low. She comes to the city for her bi-monthly medical check-up. What she has now is an AC-ed suite, TV, personal telephones, food that she is used to. Large areas for walks, entertainment minus the hassle of running the apartment/house.
After nearly six months, mom looks good. She has put on weight. In India, this is a sure sign of happiness, if not well-being. She comes to visit occasionally but has become so comfortable with her new home that she returns quickly.
According to HelpAge India, 70 million Indians now fall in the senior citizen category. The number is likely to touch 117 million by 2025. Senior centers run on business lines are booming. Here are some examples.
[1] Ashiana Housing on the Delhi-Gurgaon Road. One/two/three bedroom apartments are priced between Rs 9 and Rs 20 lakh . There are 640 units. The complex offers a 4.5 acre park, a dhaba, a convenient shopping area, doctors on call, maid and driver on demand and bathrooms with grab rails.
2] At Classic Kudumbam, with a built-up area of 50,000 sq ft near Sholinganallur (near Chennai), you make an initial deposit of Rs 10 lakh (this after being screened through a painstaking process), of which Rs 2 lakh is non-refundable. It entitles you to membership in the club with a swimming pool, massage parlour, physiotherapy an hour of internet weekly. Rooms are available on a twin-sharing basis; they are air-conditioned and have a TV set, fridge and a telephone.
An open-air theatre screens films on weekends; the nearest hospital and medical services are 2 km away. Interaction with residents includes moonlit dinners and bhajan sessions. Plans are afoot for dependent living units (where you can live with a dependent), and assistant living units (for the physically infirm).
[3] At Wellness Communes near Chennai single bedroom homes cost Rs 6.75 lakh, double bedroom homes are for Rs 8.75 lakh. There is an additional charge of Rs 1,100 for maintenance and security.
[4] SCR has a cluster of cottages along East Coast Road Chennai. A 200 sq ft unit could cost around Rs 1 lakh.
[5] The Naya Jyoti in Chennai is a 42 unit outfit with an independent kitchen, a community hall and a library. Naya Jyoti’s Noida (near Delhi) Centre offers 24-hour medical help, a bookshop, a bank and a post office among its facilities. Apartments cost between Rs 6.5 and Rs 10 lakh and there is a security and maintenance fee of Rs 3,100.
[6] Amar Nensey’s Bhairavi, built around the Eagleton Golf Course, Bangalore, has a mini recreation club, a hospital and access to the 18-hole Eagleton Golf Course. Apartments cost Rs 12 lakh onwards.
[7] Housed in Basavangudi near Bangalore is a retirement complex owned by H N Reddy, a former member of Bangalore Development Authority. You pay a deposit of Rs 1 lakh, and a Rs 7,000 monthly charge. You can hire a full-time cook, vegetarian meals, and have a doctor on call for your four-bedroom apartment which houses a TV and a PC.
[8] Sharan in Navi Mumbai has an interest-free deposit scheme, most modern amenities from independent living quarters, doctors on call and has a monthly charge of Rs 6,000-10,000.
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Hello Ms Geetha
I am curious to know if your mom is still in SSM Residency and if so, how does she like it there?
My parents have been there for some time now and initially they were all praises.
Now, I understand that Mr Santhanam’s demeanor has changed and he treats the residents with contempt and utmost disrespect. Word is that he is knee deep in several costly projects and is trying to get more money out of the old residents or chase them out so that he can get a larger sum as caution deposits from newcomers.
Also Earlier, Santhanam promised an immediate refund of the caution deposit if they vacate the premises with a 30 day written notice. Now, they are saying that the residents need to give 60 days written notice and the money will be refunded without interest only after 90 days after they vacate. So, a resident has to wait for 150 days in all. This is causing panic and a helpless dejection amongst some of the older folks who have left everything to come here.
Please post your response on this blog and let us know your thoughts on this.
Thank you!
Hi Sita, I just spoke to my sister and her daughter who visited my mom on Thursday. This is my sister’s report: “Mom is doing fine. Her room was clean and the food was of the usual standard. The temple is about to be completed and the consecration is to take place in July. Two new buildings have come up and the a lot of new beds have been added to the hospital. Mom had no complaints except she was getting bored there. (My mom gets bored easily!) During the course of the conversation, Mom said that a year ago, 4 or 5 residents were asked to leave since they had formed a clique and indulged in constant criticism of the place. They were given their deposits almost at once and were asked to go with the words “We don’t encourage politics here!” We didn’t speak to a lot of people, so I really can’t tell you if anything big is going on.”
Yes, the deposit rates have been raised for newcomers. And my mom pays 2 thousand rupees more for her stay which includes food. We feel it is justified considering the big jump in the cost of living.
Hi Geetha My mum is also there she seems to be quiet happy and content no complaints I actually spend about a week there myself personally i think its really good and its peace of mind for me as I live in Australia and I am happy that she is getting looked after very well
Hi,
I heard that SSMR has different categories of rooms depending on a person’s level of fitness, i.e a person who is less mobile can have her/his meals served in the room, of-course this comes at a cost. Do you have any idea what the initial deposit and monthly outgoings are for basics i.e. food and electricity. And how does SSMR compare with Clasic Kudumbam ?
The best thing would be to get in touch with them. Here is contact information.
Phone: zero four four – two two seven nine two zero zero three / two two seven nine two one four one.
website: ssmhome.org
e-mail: ssmeto at dataone.in
I really don’t know what the current rates are for a comparison.
There is a website if that helps with brochure its
http://ssmhome.org
and for classic kudumbam it is
http://www.kudumbam.com/
I would like to know contact addres of Naya jyoti Noida.
usha
Hi all, if you know of any good retirement homes in Coimbatore / North Kerala side, please email me.
NOTE TO USHA (Ref posting 21-8-08):
I could pick phone no. of Naya Jyoti of Chennai ie
Naya Jyoti Charities Trust
Business Owner
Update my listing
KANDASWAMY STREET
R A PURAM CHENNAI
600028
TAMILNADU
Phone : 24950702
I wonder whether they wld know ?!
Hi All,
Could anyone suggest a good senior citizens home in Bangalore. Please mail me
I heard of a place called Ponni Delta in Trichy – seems to be a good offering for seniors. Has anyone heard of it?
http://www.wecarefoundation.in/seniors.html
This link has a list of home..may be some will find this helpful.
I am planning to take my parents to SSM. If anyone has good/bad feedback, please do let me know. Thanks.
I am planning to settle down my father in law at SSM. can anyone please send me the current website. Looks like the old one is not functioning.
Thanks.
Hello
I am also looking for a place for my mother in law.. however she need a liitle bit of help . she has bp etc problems. she needs a companion to escort her for walks etc. we feel a home will be better than her staying with a live in maid. can anyone let me know if this place will be able to have such help aound like someone being around when needed/ what medical facitlites are available considering it is so far away frm town.
I found this in today’s issue of Tuglaq. Details of SSM Residency E-mail – ssmeto@dataone.in
Website – http://www.ssmhome.org
Hope that helps.
Could anyone provide me name and address of senior citizens home in Coimbatore Please? It should be near to the city may be just 5 minutes walk.
Could any one let me know the address and tel no of Sharan, Navi Mumbai? Tks
I refer to the inquiry of Ms Meena.
SSM home is the best for your mother-in-law they have inbuilt hospital with 24 hours nurses, a doctor visits every day; they have separate block for terminally ill inmates also. This is the best place I can think off.
Hello, Can u please provide me with some senior citizen retirement homes around navi mumbai and andheri. Thanks
Senior Centres – “Senior Centers – A home away from home?” By Geeta Padmanabhan – Her write-up mentiones about Naya Jyoti’s Noida (near Delhi) Centre which offers 24-hour medical help, a bookshop, a bank and a post office among its facilities. Apartments cost between Rs 6.5 and Rs 10 lakh and there is a security and maintenance fee of Rs 3,100. Can anyone please give me the fulll address & Tel Nos. of Naya Jyoti at Noida? Thanks
Please let me know the places for senior citizens who can keep for short period that is 1 or 2 months , so that we can leave them at safe place while we are on move as we have lot of other responsibilities.
You could try the place mentioned above. I have a feeling they will be able to accommodate guests for a few months.
Lalitha: have you tried the Net for information about Naya Jyoti?
There is no website http://www.ssmhome.org. It looks a fake website. and email address is also not looking good ssmeto@dataone.in. (Mirror site for DATAONE.IN – Broadband Forum IndiaDataone.in doesnt seem to work for more than 2 weeks. I enquired the cc and they gave me this alternate URL . Its working fine. U can chekck ur usage.
broadbandforum.in/bsnl-broadband/2802-mirror-site-dataone/ – Cached – Similar ) My question is when these institution has not velid webpage how we can trust on them.
Please look in the matter.
Dear Sam,
I looked into it and you are right that the existing links don’t work. Thanks for pointing it out. I have removed the link. Will try to find the right one. But the home does exist; at least I hope so since otherwise my poor grandmother is lying under a palm tree somewhere!
Also discovered this website which gives details of many senior homes – http://wecarefoundation.in/seniors.html
Hi Sam and Vidya Pradhan,
The website is not up and running. But the place is very much in operation and is lively. My mother is in SSM residency and I visited her just last week. When I was there I told the office that their website is not working and they seem to be unaware of this. They thought I had the wrong address and since I wasn’t sure if I tried .org or .com I did not argue.
Don’t judge them based on the website.My mother has been living there for over a year now and is certainly very happy with their services. I understand that they are becoming a little bit commercial, but at this stane age it is rare to get good service even if you are ready to pay. I stayed there for a couple of days and to be honest I felt that she is in the right place. The temple there is so beautiful and very well maintained. There is a meditation centre, a shop, a library and a hospital with beds. The security in the place seems to be very good and nobody is allowed without prior permission and all details are recorded. Each room has a phone and you can get broadband if you want. Most people have Airconditioning for their bedrooms. The capacity of the Generator was insufficient due to the huge increase in load caused by ACs this summer and they have immediately purchased a huge Generator unit to fix the issue. During my stay I spoke to several people there who my mother has made friends with and almost everybody said that the place is good. Ofcourse there will be exceptions. Not everybody will like everything. But in General, I think it is a good choice.
Hi Anand Narayanan, My mom has been staying at SSMR for over three years now. Her name is Haimavathi and she writes for Brahmin Today. Do you think your mom and my mom have met?
My mother has been staying at SSM since the beginning and really likes it. I stayed there for 2 months when the place was really new ! its a non-profit place ,and the main trustee does a pretty good job of keeping things under control. Cost has gone up but the care is good and people are happy. In fact my uncle too moved there last year !!. This March when mom was really , really ill , ( I rushed and stayed for a week ) the staff took very good care of her. The medical block is pretty efficient and decently run. The management is very particular about drinking/ smoking or eating non-veg food both for residents and staff/ helpers alike. My mother is happy and thats what matters right now. We will be visiting SSM this summer….
Oh yes I forgot….. ITA to everything Anand Narayanan wrote
For doing the last rites,their wards need not come.They will do it in an honoura
ble way.If people want a very simple burial or have donated their organs,money to be sent for such things also can be saved. All their assets and the money
that will be refunded all will go to their good, irresponsible sons who abandon them ,out of fear for their wives.They should write the will in such a
way,that it will be useful to some deserving needy.A sudden change after
marriage , makes us wonder.The REMOTE-CONTROL( girl’s mother,not father)does everything.SOME girls deceive the boys by their behaviour before
marriage .If the marriage is an arranged one, we can talk and make them
mentally prepared for taking care of his handicapped sibling 1 or 2 years senior to them,we too not being very greedy in taking girls from very rich family.Very rich , focus their attention, only ,on the good salaried boys
without taking into consideration of their parents or dependent siblings
who have lost their identity.SENIOR PARENTS WITHOUT ANY RESPONSIBILY FOR THEIR WARD WHO IS DEPENDENT ON THEM ARE
REALLY LUCKY IN GOING TO SUCH GOODPLACES LIKE S.S.MRESIDENCY ETC.
kARPAGAM.
hi all you young men and women..
Nice to see all of you do care for your parents and want to give them a comfortable life under the circumstance of your not being with them.Commendable.Very similar to parents sending their kids to good boarding schools for them to start their lives in a better manner having been groomed well.An edge over the other live -in day scholars anytime.Agreed.But….with all its plus and minuses…home is home!Pleasures of growing up with family anyways outweigh the discomforts…
Same goes for parents to be living with their children…Somewhere if we sit back and think …cant there be a dialogue for peaceful co-existence with our parents?esp when they are growing old?some give and take..thrashing out differences…can a compromise not be arrived at??no harm in giving it a shot!!.As hi- flying negotiating professionals at work place if we can turn around a company’s fate with our negotiating skills..cant we bring about that congeniality at home??.Not saying its a easy task.but then…your company’s coveted place in the stock index isnt either!!
A 46yr old mother of two boys 23 and 20 …wondering whether i should look for a home from now on or develop that spirit of tolerance to co-exist with my own children!!
NO OFFENSE MEANT…PLEASE DONT TAKE ANY…just wondering if we can work towards a happy home…
shobhana
Great comment, Shobana. I appreciate your honesty when you say, “develop that spirit of tolerance to co-exist with my own children!!”
Hi Shobanaji, Appreciate your comments. Certainly nothing ever will match the love and touch of children looking after their parents in their old age. No money or outsider can give the care like you personally would. Fully agree. But situations compell and we need to our best in a worst situation . You are making an assumption that the parents are forced to live there because there is no harmony in the family. This is not always true. In my case for example, we are a very good quiet happy family. I came abroad for a variety of reasons which were perfectly valid at that time and very much encouraged by my mother. My son grew up where I live ( Quite naturally) and now I am unable to leave him here nor take him back to India. We are more or less forced to take this as our place of residence. I brought my mother (twice) to live here with us but she did not like living here. It is not about family feud or harmony. She loved living with us, but just did not like the country / social / religious culture / climate. I was growing more concerned to leave her on her own in India. We all agreed that ths is the best thing to do and so she is in SSM now. I make it a point to go to India on holidays every year and she spends all the time with us. The whole thing is not ideal but is the best of a bad situation. I felt guilty initially for a while – then thinking about it more carefully, it was her choice, not mine. Ages ago, when our fathers got their jobs in Cities, many of our grandparents came to live with them in Cities. When they migrated, it would have been difficult for them to leave the village, their relatives, the culture and come and live in a city in a crammed house. But many of them did. But the present generation parents are more independent and not ready to give up their identity / social status / culture and ready to change them vastly to suit their children’s job / lifestyle. This includes myself and when I grow older I am not sure if I will ever leave all that I built up over the years and go and live with my son who god knows where in the world he will settle down. This is the changing culture we are in now and it is inevitable that we are going to see more and more of these SSMs in future.
Hello Geeta ( Padmanabhan), Just logging in after a while. I spoke to my mom and she knows your mom quite well. In fact I remember, even seeing your mom when I was there last month. She was rushing to the temple before they were closing for the night to witness the last pooja. We did not meet, but I remember my Mom telling me then, that your mom never misses this particular pooja everyday. She is so regular that everybody there knows that if she is walking up to the temple around 8:00 P.M. then it is closing time.
Hi Anand, thanks for that update on mom. This “rushing to the temple at night” fits in with a description of my mom very well. She is 84.
Hi !! am looking for a seior citizens home near Bangalore. Can anyone please provide me with some addresses.
Just visited my mother at SSM . Still very happy to be there and the temple is a great place to worship and meet people; and the dining halls … where there is a lot of fun , with the Senior C’s wanting to meet all the ‘kids’ visiting from abroad
Vishranthi Dhama Resorts Pvt Ltd.
NH 209, Nettigere, Kanakapura Main Road, ( 29th Km)
Bangalore – 560 062.
Tel: 91-80-28433089 / 28433090 / 26635048 / 26547275/
98452 90672
Email : vishranthidhama@yahoo.com, anju1821@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.vishrathidhama.com
Nightingales Home Health Services
337, 2nd Cross, 1st Block,
R T Nagar, Bangalore – 560032
Ph: 080 – 23548444, 23548555
Email: nhhs@bgl.vsnl.net.in
Website: http://www.nightingaleseldercare.com/html/aboutus.htm
Amar Nensey’s Bhairavi, built around the Eagleton Golf Course, Bangalore, has a mini recreation club, a hospital and access to the 18-hole Eagleton Golf Course. Apartments cost Rs 12 lakh onwards.
Housed in Basavangudi near Bangalore is a retirement complex owned by H N Reddy, a former member of Bangalore Development Authority. You pay a deposit of Rs 1 lakh, and a Rs 7,000 monthly charge. You can hire a full-time cook, vegetarian meals, and have a doctor on call for your four-bedroom apartment which houses a TV and a PC.
Hope this helps.
Lot of misinformation is posted about Clasic kudumbam. There is NO Club;No swimming pool;Nolibrary; Nofree massaga. Deposit is NOT refunded till THE SAME room is reoccupied. Charges are increased arbitrarily. There is no transparency in financial A/C.Mgt ( atleast 4 adults ) dine free.. It is not a REGD Charity trust. Every action is to make profit.Humane approach is totally missing
My mom is 73 and lives with my brother.She had a fracture a month ago and medical tests revealed that she has acute Osteoporosis. She is slowly recovering from the fracture but feels that she is becoming a burden for my brother. I’m thinking of moving my mom to a Senior living centre 1)which would be a safe place for her2)where she could get immediate medical assistance in case of a health emergency 3)where there are services of a reliable nurse/assistant who could come on a daily basis to care for her.SSM trust seems to have some rave reviews on this page.But will it meet the third criteria I’m looking for?
hi, i need sinior citizen house on daily basis like she wants 10 or 15 days out from home in navi mumbai
all sundaravali residents beware of one sitaraman(rbi retd.) & his wife alamelu from besant nagar who don seem to have gud character & hv joined t home recently
i do agree.i think he swindled a lot of money wen he was managing our colony water affairs.
i do agree the sitaramans sold t house 2 our sister but ar blamin my sis til tdy.
Hi all i will be visiting ssm in jan 2010 and will spend some time with my mum will come back and give feed back
http://www.youtube.com/user/gayathrinatesh if anyone is intersted can watch this video it gives an idea about ssm living and the rooms and all
My mom is very happy and busy at SSM…. so I am happy too. I agree its not for everyone as the prices are quite high , so some family members are not willing to shell out money or they have some other issues.. Luckily mom does not have to depend on anybody ( for now ) and not answerable to anybody either as to how and where she spends her money each month. and she is independent and quite involved at SSM . And the people are in her age group ; many of them her classmates from so long back
and she loves loves it. 
Hi all my mum is also very happy. Its going to be close to 2 years this month and she hasn’t complained once. I am very much relaxed her knowing that she is comfortable. Great place SSM is
I heard that getting an accommodation in SSM has become difficult these days.Is this really true?
Hi Anusha, My mum said all the units are pretty full now. So it might be true
New units are being built on the other side of the kitchens . and the waiting list grows …..
Thank you very much for this detailed discussion. I am currently investigating senior citizens’ homes in Chennai, and this is the most useful forum that I have seen online.
Hi all, Just came back from spending some time with my mum at SSM, she is very happy there. I had a very comfortable stay and enjoyed the food and also people are very nice. Celebrated very special pongal there and the kanu pudi the day you pray for your brothers and sisters welfare was extraordinarly spl there. Thanks SSM for doing such a wonderful job and looking after our elders and making us less fortunate NRI that can’t spend time with our parents so special and giving us the peace of mind.
Thanks to all for an exhaustive reporting covering every minute detail. God BLESS.
Hi everybody who commented about the SSM home. But I am confused as I was unable to log in to the web site of SSM home. Even after July 2009, whwn someone has commented about website not working, what to say about the efficiency of the organizers. Nobody has given the latest tariff for advances to be paid and monthly charges etc. Have to contact them on phone only to elicit such information? Are they afraid of giving any info. on a website which becomes a public knowledge? I am from Bangalore and a senior citizen. I would like to move into a decent senior citizens home in Chennai with my wife, who is also senior citizen. Can Geetha Padmanabhan elicit some information from the management as to the availability and tarif as she seems to be the person whose mother appears to be the most senior among all those residents in the home and has a lot of praise for the home.
The new website is up and running now
http://www.ssmhome.in/
I tried it this morning and its working and more photos are here as well
http://picasaweb.google.com/vidha16/SSMResidency#
They were just working on their new catalogue that’s all and not afraid of anything. They do not have to be when you have nothing to hide
I am sharing our experience on Classic Kudumbam. This is a place in sholinganallur, Chennai. My father was first person who had joined this retirement facility. The place is well constructed. The security and facilities are good. There is a temple in walking distance. They have activities and programs throughout the year. Everyday the cleaning staff meticulously clean the place. There is standby generator and water pumped from underground. There is facilities like doctor on call, broadband internet access. The food is south indian traditional and served promptly on scheduled times. The place is very nice for seniors who needing independent living. I have seen this place come up from the day they laid the foundation stone. Mr Baba Shankar has really worked on the vision he painted to me and my family.
Things to consider is these places are good as long as the seniors are healthy. They helped my father significantly even when he was hospitallized. So plan for this when you are doing the planning.
My recommendation would be also to visit the place number of times on different times of the day. Stay and get a feel for it. Meet with the other folks. Generally these places have to be run at a quality level, so it would be expensive compared to Indian standards. But the key thing is if they are able to deliver than it is worth it.
My father is no more, i still have fond memories of this place. I try to visit this place when i visit chennai to say hello to the folks. I would recommend this place.
Hi there I posted ssm new website they seem to have removed it. no idea why that might be the case.
fitness centers…
Your topic Real World Only ” Blog Archive ” New Tampa: Great Place For … was interesting when I found it on Monday searching for fitness centers…
Iam looking senior living home for my mom..living in US makes it difficult to understand senior living system in India. This forum has been real helpful and lots of information about SSM. I had tough time with SSM website, but a phone call to SSM…I was able to get enough information. The picaweb link posted by Ms.Geetha is excellent…I really had good idea what SSM will be…
http://picasaweb.google.com/vidha16/SSMResidency#
Though deposit seems to little higher side, the facilities and security seems to be really good. I did further research, there seems to be good number of retired homes in Coimbatore. I plan visit there also..I also shortlisted lions senior living and need to check there .. I wish good luck for everybody. Keep posting your experience. I plan to get my mom settled in good senior living sometime April 2010 and I will post my experience.
i hear in ssm ter is raggin of new inmates.in addition inmates ar so starved they snatch t bags of those returnin after an outing in search of food and other items-looks worse tan a kids hostel and gud news fr al of us t bastards sitaramans hv left t place.sattu ozi da devidiya naye(for info on besant nagar sitaraman refer earlier post fm gupta & chitra jayaraman
Well I am not sure where MS Sumitra is getting all this info from and its not true as I have had so many outings whilst visiting my mum and my food was always there waiting for me in the room, It was always more then enough for me.
Ms.Sumitra – why so upset & use bad foul language in a public forum? If you are angry and upset about SSM, pl. provide clear details…this will help future inmates. If Sitarams departed then it should be good right? problems gone…what else making you angry? Are you current resident there?
I agree with Ms Viji. There is no need to use foul language anywhere regardless of the topic being discussed. I guess we are all highly educated and there is no need to behave like this in a public forum and its not lady like either. Who ever this Sitaraman is I do not know neither my mother, My experience was totally different to Ms Sumitra perhaps we are just lucky or may be we just do not take things too personally. Say Om Sai Ram ten times before swearing.
Ms Viji you should try and visit the centre yourself rather then walking in with preconceived ideas given by others. I believe that is the only way to make good judgements. Each individual is different and especially when considering retirement villages and residency you must make up your mind. Hope it helps and Goodluck with your venture. God Bless.
I totally agree with you Ms.Geetha. I too think Sumitra is no other than a man in disguise in lady name. I plan to visit SSM April 2010 and make decision for my mom. I have also short listed lions senior paradise and plan to visit there also..my friends mom is living in Vanaprastha Coimbatore and she is in praise about that facility also…I plan to visit there if time permits.
There are always people
who cannot stand a good thing going like….SSM. Sumitra seems to be one of them. He/she is not worth my time !!!
I speak to my mother often and if anything is not right , she is the first one to call the office and the head trusty (sp?). SSM is like a small well run township and any ‘doings’ wrong and right cannot be hidden for long. People go to places where they are happy and comfortable ; and now more than ever there are many such places to choose from…. imo
Agree with you Ms Meena, my mum is the same she is very happy there. I wish there is a forum moderator who can go through and get rid off posts that has inappropriate language here.
Hi
I was surprised to find out so much information in one place! I have a question on SSM Home, besides the internal medical facilities are there any major hospitals nearby? (By the way, other than the 1st page there is no information on the web site?!)
Hello Mr Vasudeven there are major hospitals near tambaram. They do transfer patients there if necessary. You need to enter the website and then you have download pages or you can click on ssm residency and get more information about the place. good luck
Hello friends. My parents (93 and 85 years ) stay at SSM and so do a couple of senior citizen friends. I visit them whenever I can and my view is that SSM is very well run, with a high standard of maintenance, keeping in mind the special needs of senior citizens. Food is clean, of good variety, well prepared and served punctually. Religious sentiments are well respected and traditional occasions are celebrated with due regard to rituals. Courtesy is very evident and response to needs is quick. A very important facility is the Medical Ward, where prompt, good healthcare is delivered. All this is possible only with commitment from Mr. Santhanam and his dedicated team in charge of SSM, as well the others in the day to day operations. My best wishes to all of them.
Since SSM is a non-profit centre , cutting costs is their top priority. But cost of living being what it is… SSM does charge for anything/ everything that one might need beyond the basics. So keeping that in mind be prepared for any extras. Once a month a meeting is held where any complaints or problems can be aired . And the management really try and take care of it or resolve it….. IMO only time will tell as the place is still quite new and well run for now
Thank you everybody for your support & information. I have finalised with SSM residency for my mom. Iam totally satisfied with security, food & living. Staff seems to be very courteous and Iam sure my mom will have secured & safe living.
Hi Viji Glad to know that you have finalised it. It is a big decision and I know the feeling and I can assure you that you will not regret or be disappointed with your decision. My mum is doing really well at SSM
does anyone know of any non vegetarian homes for the elderly- i can see that SSM is a pure vegetarian place
Ms. Geetha… My mom will stay same block as your mom too… My mom is totally satisfied about the place, she just has anxiety about meeting new faces and making friends. She hates gossips, but want to make some good friends…and she is wondering how to find them
She likes that game room and temple… I asked her to start from there.
Hi Ms Viji my mum is the same she doesn’t like gossiping she stays away from all that. she loves her library and temple and occasionally the games room. She goes for lots of walk as well. I am sure you mother will enjoy it there. She will be fine.
Hi Geetha,thanks for informing me of this forum,as I have already decided to join SSM Residency,and had visited ,the place during mid Jan 2010,I totally agree,that the people running the place,are trying to do, their best in providing as much needs to make it comfortable for the seniors to feel at home there.Also this forum has given quite an in site of the on goings,as well as additional,views of the people,living there.So its left to the individual,to make the best of the same,and contribute if they can to better the situation,I think.
Hi folks,
She has been at SSM for four years now. She obviously loves the food they serve. She has put on considerable weight since she went to live there. We have very mixed feelings about this change in her life. My mom is (or has been so far) an extremely fit 85. She taught us to eat well and sensibly and maintain our figures – long before fitness became a commercial enterprise. All four of us follow those principles of exercise, good food and staying slim and healthy to this day. And mom has thrown them to the SSM winds! What is she thinking? Mom, who has been diabetes/arthritis-free all these years is now, at 85, complaining of pain in the knee! Help!
May be it’s time for me to warn you all of something that’s happened to my mom.
Hi Geeta you need to remember its very easy to put on weight when all you need to do is just go to the dining hall and eat. Your mum should try and make it as a habit to walk everyday and be consicious about it. My mother is good at that and I always tell her to go for walks. Otherwise it will be a problem
Hello Ms.Geeta Padmanabhan, As soon as i saw the facility food and dinning, I too was worried about my mom gaining weight. I have been warning her to eat less, walk more & substitute fruits and veggies instead of rice or fried items. I have to see how it goes after she gets into residency and keep warning about her diet. Your post is very useful, will ask my mom to keep in mind. I advise, now is your turn to take your mom feet and advise her healthy living, but keep in mind…she is also aging and she may be getting issues due to her age also…Good Luck.
Re: weight gain…. the people do advice that ‘ you are in charge of your stomach’. I tell my mother not to keep snacks in her room and not go to the dining hall if she is not hungry and instead ask them to send coffee or tea to her room , (once in a while. ) that way hopefully no over-eating takes place. She has also put on weight due to her meds and very little activity due to pain her in knees…. Its tough to tell them to reduce their intake….
Glad to see lot of info sharing here. Any good homes in Madurai area? My parents live there and I am looking for some good home there.
At 85, my mom is superbly healthy. Doesn’t even wear glasses. If over-eating is a disease, yes, she has it. She walks a lot, is always at the temple at least twice a day. Problem is, she is there when they serve neivedyam, specially at night. She never misses the sweetened milk.
She also finds some kitchen medication the minute she feels the slightest pain or discomfort. She takes an Ayurveda concoction as a general health supplement. She potters around her suite and outside all the time, makes friends easily, pokes into their rooms frequently for gossip. I don’t know when she last had a cold or a fever. Hey, is there a better life? Who will have the heart to tell her to eat less? Why?
Hello Ms.Geeta Padmanabhan, I sure think my mom will make good friend of your mom in Vaigai block. She got allotment letter for August… though my mom is not very healthy due to her Thyroid issues, but with her heart she is always very enthu person. Your post about neivedyam made me laugh
Thanks, Viji. I wish your mom all the best at SSM.
Does anybody know of any good Senior citizen’s home in and around MUmbai??
Does SSM cater to all kinds of people ( medically). I would appreciate if someone can give me some feedback
SSM does have low care and high care. Low care people are placed in a different area and high care people are usually in the hospital wing (dhanvanthri)
Dear Ms.Geetha, What is low care? I just saw Dhanvanthri block only.
Madam,I would like to know whether you have such a venture anywhere in kerala. It will be kind of you, if u could let me know of any such institutions/centers anywhere in kerala . I am in search for such a center/home for one my relatives who had requested me to find one for them.They don’t have children .Both of them are in search of a place where they both can spent the rest of their life. It will be great if u could help me
Hi Anoop, please get in touch with Palm Grove, Brindavan. It is in Coimbatore, not far from the Kerala border. People speak very highly of the place. You’ll find the relevant information on the Internet, I guess.
Geeta.
Ms Viji
Tamiraparani is the low care unit
Hi Anoop,
You could check out the retirement communities built by Covai Property Centre ( http://www.covaiprop.com/senior_care.html )…
I am thinking of moving my 85 year old mother from Clasic Kudumbam to SSM Residency’s Tamiraparani Geriatric block. Kudumbam is okay but they have hiked the basic charges to almost Rs. 10K a month for 1 person. With add-ons and nursing aide charges ( Kudumbam takes a cut on all charges) the monthly bill is approx Rs.25K . At SSM’s Tamiraparani block, which provides nursing assistance on call, the monthly bill may be about Rs. 10K less per month but the downside is that my mother will have to take all her meals in her room as it ’s too far to walk to the dining room. In Clasic she has to walk barely 30 yards to the dining room and she enjoys going there. I am in a quandary. Anyone who has relatives/friends living in SSM’s Tamiraparani block could you please provide some comments/advice? Thanks a lot.
With regards to old age, there is a significant need of building and supporting more old age homes and cares.
Hi
Pls let me know if we have such facility in noida .If not then like minded people can join and open one.
Fantastics to just read the entire post , it kept me interesting.