When You Retire, You Choose To Live In A Flat

Usually, retirement imposes a change of residence for many. When it     happens, an elderly couple, more particularly, a single person, should opt to live    in a flat in an apartment-building in urban agglomerations. There are several advantages in it. Health services are not a problem in the urban context, as you will have general practitioners around you, may be even a family physician, who makes domicile visits. Medical shops are there around the corner of the street. Clinic and hospitals with specialists are also not difficult to find in less than half-an hour’s reach. Short term bedside assistance also could be made available at short notice with the help of the organizations like Aasara in GHMC. Banks with ATM facility are always within the reach.

In terms of logistics, if you choose a flat in the ground floor or first floor, outside movements would not be difficult. Interiors of many flats are being constructed senior-friendly, in the sense, with anti-skidding floor, grabbing-rods,    alarm bells, lift, etc. For those, who cannot go far for an outside walk, like your wife, one can walk around the building or on the terrace. Many parks would be close-by. You can participate or even take the initiative to cultivate a small garden    around the building or on the terrace. Shops and markets are at the next door.

Now, the most important thing is the social life and assistive environment, which will not be available anywhere else. You will have the company of other senior citizens in the same corridor, if not in another floor. You can participate and run the resident welfare association of the building, which gives a lot of contacts with others. You can take up responsibilities and use your   professional   experience in running it. You can help save money on the maintenance of the building. You can make friends with the young families and their children. You can help the children in their home work or do the baby-sitting. They, in return, would love to    render small services to you like calling the doctor, taking you to the clinic, buying medicines, or shopping or lending a helping hand, when you cannot get out of the bed or even the floor. Above all, it is an opportunity to link generations, which you might not have succeeded in your own family. Exchange   of attention, care, affection, generosity and love would multiply their good effects. In case of emergencies, there would be, always and invariably, somebody to attend to you with contacts, relations and vehicle. This is what is called an emerging ‘flat culture’. A watchman would be there to ensure your safety and of your spouse, when you deal with a stranger. In the neighbourhood, you might join a day-care centre, a senior citizens’ association or a colony welfare association or a yoga centre or a walkers’ association or a library.

You can always fulfill a social need, while you are in need of the society.

                                                ---------------------------------------Rao Chelikani

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