Healthy, Happy, and Engaged: The New Senior Living Formula

By Saloni Singh

Just retired and dreaming of spending your retirement on the beautiful beaches and warm sunshine of Goa?

You now have the opportunity. According to Mr. Yogesh Subramanian, the vice-president of Manasum Luxury Senior Living, “The company is now offering a one-bedroom apartment on rent for Rs 30,000 a month in Goa.”

The minimum rent period is three months, and residents can choose to either buy a unit or pay a monthly rent for a one, two, or three-bedroom apartment. The rent is Rs 35,000 for a two-bedroom, apartment and Rs 40,000 for a three-bedroom flat. This does not include the electricity cost.

Giving this information at the Eldercare Indian Expo held at the Indian Expo Centre, Greater Noida, where the company had set up a stall, Mr Subramanian said, “We have been in the business of luxury senior living since 2015 and have been working to redefine the concept of senior living.”

When asked what makes Manasum different from other similar service providers, Mr. Subramanian answered, “We believe it’s the community that truly makes the difference. We have carefully cultivated a beautiful community.”

Giving details about the renting option, Mr. Subramanian, said the company charges a refundable security deposit. The amount varies depending on the unit and rental package. There is no separate down payment, but an admission fee may apply depending on the package.

For annual rentals, the lease is renewed every 3 years with a 7% increment year-on-year. The advance booking along with the payment is mandatory to rent an apartment. Along with this, the wear and tear charges are deducted when vacating the unit.

The company’s major focus is on active living, so there is a dedicated activity manager. On Women’s Day, for example, a fashion show was held for all the seniors. Besides this, there are several other regular activities. According to Mr. Subramanian, “An aerobics class is conducted in a half-sized Olympic swimming pool. There is also a Zumba class. This makes our community a fun college for seniors.”

When asked about medical facilities, Mr. Subramanian said, “We have a health and wellness centre that operates within the project, including a nursing station that runs 24/7. For example, if a panic alarm is triggered in any apartment, the nursing station is immediately notified with the apartment and room number. Our staff has spare keys and will respond immediately, and the response time is three minutes.”

He added, “We also have two doctor consulting rooms and regular visits from doctors. Our ICU is equipped with oxygen and ECG machines, along with other basic vital-monitoring equipment to handle any critical ‘golden hour’ situations. We also have regular weekly visits from doctors who understand the community’s needs and schedule appointments accordingly.”

For assisting the elderly to get comfortable in the new environment, Manasum has a transition team that helps with packing, transportation, and settling the seniors into their new home. They also hold some orientation sessions to help the elderly become familiar with the community and its services.

Regarding Manasum’s future goals, Mr. Subramanian said, “With our experience in this space, we are currently serving around 1,000 senior living families, and our focus remains exclusively on senior living. Our goal is to give them a sense of belonging and social presence.”

(The writer is a first-year student of media at KCC Institutes in Greater Noida.)

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