Some people need to find a new home at an older age, especially those who live in cities. Why they look for it and who looks for it is not the topic of today's discussion. The need is there. The need is drastically increasing. After 2050, all city dwellers over 60 will be expected to move to community living. Currently, the number of elderly people in India is about 10% which will reach 20% in just 25 years by 2050.
The word old age home is an obsolete word that still has a negative meaning in Bengal. To be precise, it can be called senior living community living or retirement living. It is gradually becoming an industry.
There are only 21,000 senior living facilities in India, both large and small, which meet the needs of only 1% of the elderly. Many people need community living. Some are looking for it, some are afraid to leave their homes due to shame. Many people don't know how to search - they are looking at Facebook, YouTube, Google, or newspapers.
In West Bengal, a license to open a drug store or nursing home has to be obtained by following the government procedure. Here, a trade license is enough to open a so-called old-age home. The government does not have a complete list of senior living facilities. It is very easy to cheat the elderly. That is what is happening. Elderly people are in danger.
We have organised a discussion group where we will discuss how to choose the right old age home or senior living facility, what the hidden costs are in old age homes, the services available, whether it is a legal option, the types of senior living facilities, and many more topics. The question-and-answer session will be held on September 18, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Rabindra Tirtha, near Biswa Bangla Gate, Newtown.
The discussion will be attended by:
1. Dr. Mohan Chandra Dolai, Research Scholar on Free Old Age Homes in West Bengal, currently Assistant Professor at the College. Topic: Current trends in old age homes in West Bengal.
2. Dr. Dhiresh Chowdhury, Gerontologist; Organisation head, ‘Banchbo’. Topic: In-house support services and all these organisations.
3. Dr. Amitava De Sarkar, Psychologist, working on Social Gerontology. Topic: Types of old age homes and how to identify the right old age home.
Anyone can come.
THIKANA SHIMLA
A Welfare Organisation for the Elderly
Ashoknagar Near Habra N 24 Parganas – 743272
WhatsApp: 093308 43394
E mail:
dGhpa2FuYV9zaGltbGEgfCB5YWhvbyAhIGNvICEgaW4=
www.thikanashimla.in
www.tshe.in
www.facebook.com/thikanashimla
11.7.25
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