Brindavan Senior Citizen Foundation

Residents of Brindavan Senior Citizen Foundation at Vadavalli in Coimbatore. For the residents of Brindavan Senior Citizen Foundation, life is like an extended vacation. With a pretty little cottage at the foot of a hill, an even prettier garden, lots of fresh air and good food, life after retirement cannot be better.

The residential complex, sprawling over three acres in Vadavalli, has about 75 families from various parts of the country. Started for senior citizens (above 55 years of age), the foundation aims at providing a hassle-free life for elders who wish to spend their retired years peacefully. The concept of community living, though very popular in the Western countries, is just catching on here, says R. Parthasarathy, co-founder of Brindavan. "Coimbatore, with its pleasant climate and safe surroundings is the ideal place for developing a concept such as this," he adds.

Built in 2005, the foundation is a self-sufficient unit, with a library, a temple, a recreation centre, and even a waste treatment plant. It also arranges for transportation facilities for the residents. The foundation has tied up with major hospitals in the city in order to handle a medical emergency in case it arises. Residents can also practice yoga and visit the gymnasium, which are a part of the complex.

"Every aspect of our lives is taken care of here. There are people to keep the surroundings clean. The womenfolk need not cook as the common kitchen serves excellent food and all medical requirements are taken care of," says N.Hariharan, a retired senior journalist who worked in Mumbai for over 30 years.

According to R. Madhavan, founder of the Brindavan Senior Citizen Foundation, community living addresses a large share of the problems related to old age especially, health and loneliness. "We have very aged people who live here all alone. They don’t feel lonely as they meet and interact with others like them and share a healthy bond with other residents," he adds.

There are no restrictions imposed on the residents at Brindavan. Their families can visit them and even stay on if they so wish. The residents can even go on vacations. "It is not enough if you have all the comforts. In a city like Mumbai, there is no time for even retired people like me to do what I want to do and life is too fast," says N. Vydianathan, a resident of Brindavan.

The cottages are let out on lease for 20 years. In addition to the initial deposit, they will have to pay the maintenance charges. Other expenses include medical fees, telephone, electricity, cable network and laundry. The cottages within the complex vary in size. The initial deposit varies depending on the size of the cottage.

A similar senior citizen’s retirement home is being planned at Thondamuthur by the founders of Brindavan. The work has commenced and 90 per cent of the cottages have already been booked, they say. "The best thing about such a place is that it is democratically run and we don’t feel the need to go back to our own places," says P. B. Lakshman, a resident of Brindavan.

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