they are neither neglected nor abandoned an increasing number of elderly people are moving into oldage homes in search of safety independence and companionshipi didnt consult my daughter before deciding to live at panchvati ive lived alone for 10 years and value my independence i didnt feel safe living alone anymore and love the company here saroja a 63yearold retired jnu administrator says saroja is part of a tight friend group of six who eat every meal together and spend their evenings sipping tea on their beautiful shared terrace discussing everything from last nights kbc episode to politicsafter visiting three homes she settled on delhis panchvati senior living many senior citizens across india are doing the same overturning images of oldage homes being places where neglected parents are abandoned by their kids rather those who choose to live in them see it as simply the next logical step offering safety independence and companionshipnestled in the crowded lanes of south delhis tughlakabad panchvati senior living facility is an airy welldesigned property with 40 rooms part of a growing number of the nations senior living facilities it is a higherscale version of the traditional old age home one of its 25 residents is santwant mathur 90 after my husband died i lived alone in our house for seven years with fulltime help as i got older my elder son moved in with me one night he just collapsed and that was it recalls the retired psychologistmathur says her younger son keeps asking her to come live with him in vancouver im a very independent person i dont want to be cooped up in a house when its cold and raining here i can afford to get a cab and go see my friends or even a movie on my own i cant do that in vancouver because its expensive i dont want to be a burden to anybody she saysmalini goyal whose parents have been staying at ashiana senior living in bhiwadi haryana for the last four years says before living there they used to talk about it being the last phase of their life now that dialogue has ended my mother has started learning driving at this age she practises every day she also takes dance classes ashiana organises monthly parties and they have big celebrations for every festivalwhile senior living homes like panchvati and ashiana are designed to challenge our austere perceptions of old age homes they are far from affordable for all helpage india has 6 homes across the country and lends support to hundreds more ashima saini director of resource development at helpage says our homes are free of cost for the residents we sometimes charge a nominal fee for healthcare services but only if the individual can afford it in ourhome in cuddalore or the upcoming one in uttarakhand we not only have recreational activities like singing and dancing but also livelihood activities such as planting veggies basketmaking and picklemakingthe demand for oldage homes in india