as a launch pad for careers abroad leaving parents here dependent and lonelythe demand for old age homes began to grow something still accepted with a frown in indian society many seniors found themselves in such homes which were more like orphanagesthis was an opportunity for the real estate sector which began putting plans on drawing boards and came up with community projects according to a 2016 jones lang lasalle report bengaluru has nearly 10 retirement projects coming up on the outskirts while a few are already operationalsathyaraj is among many who have come to accept and even praise these homes have you seen heaven asks ranjit lilani 76 a retired businessman who spent many years in nairobi and is now settled in bengaluru his question while rhetorical may seem to have an exaggerated answer but its apparent lilani is happypm chandrashekar a doctor who is also in charge of the facility says not too far from the city and people to take care of other facilities we find this convenient and also less lonelya few kilometres away is suvidha another such project this is a retirement village says ashok dey 78 there are multiple advantages physical security medical facilities and all other needs are taken care ofdey says these arent like old age homes we chose to invest our money here and came by choice several people have properties in bengaluru but prefer to live in such facilities satish rao whom dey calls a snow bird has invested in a cottage here although he only comes when it gets too cold in canadawhile seniors continue to make bengaluru their home such facilities are for those with the resources and are not going to replace old age homes for them there is no empty nest syndrome while their young are taking wing they are building new nests of their owntimes viewin a society where the young are too busy to care for parents retirement homes appear to be the ideal solution and should not be looked upon as a segregation or ghettoisation of the elderly this is a niche concept and may go against the traditional indian joint family system but the positives are many seniors are cared for professionally lead safe and meaningful lives and most important are not lonely we need to accept it as a reality without guilt at the same time we ought to spare a thought for those abandoned in old age homes surely their lives can be bettered too