Category: SANJEEV KOTNALA

By Sanjeev Kotnala

In an age dominated by information overload and social media, people suffer from an unacknowledged pressure to have an opinion on every subject. From global geopolitical conflicts to social justice issues, from wokeism to LGBT issues, from sports to religion, individuals find themselves compelled to take a stance and make it public. However, amidst the clamour for voices to be heard, a fundamental right deserves recognition—the individual right not to have an opinion on every subject.

It is a rarity for me not to hold a firm opinion on a subject. However, there have been instances when I found myself in doubt, uncertain of the side I should take. This dilemma arises from my attempt to be rational and logical, evaluating everything based on facts and direct inferences rather than relying on gut feelings and beliefs.

I understand that It’s a challenge, and I firmly believe that one’s belief and value systems can come to the rescue, nudging the opinion. And, there’s no shame in not having an opinion; being open to suggestions, fresh thoughts, and new evidence.

Multiple Subjects and Questions

Numerous incidents in the past and more to come often leave me indecisive. Questions like whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) benefits humans, who is right in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, or whether brands should publicly state their stances on social issues are complex and polarising.

Such issues and the stance could divide communities, making it challenging to take a stance that doesn’t alienate others. Sometimes, putting thoughts to paper and conducting a pro-con evaluation help clarify my stance.

However, in such a situation, I remind myself that nobody expects me to have an opinion on everything. It is impossible to be aware of every event in my extended ecosystem surroundings or have enough knowledge to take a stance. I tell myself that it is okay to take a stance only if I have been conscientious, consistent, and coherent in my thinking. After all, my responsibility is first to myself, and I need to be fair and truthful to myself. And I reserve the right not to have an opinion.

The Pressure to Have an Opinion

There is an overwhelming influx of information. Content generation and consumption are on the rise with the rise of the internet. The news cycle is short, relentless and sensational. Social media serves a constant stream of diverse perspectives and debates with a question- what do you think about it?

It asks the individuals to be well-versed on an array of topics, ready to articulate informed opinions at a moment’s notice. However, we must acknowledge the limitations of human capacity. No one can be an expert on everything, and an attempt to have opinions on every issue can only lead to superficial understanding and misinformed perspectives.

Therefore, the right not to have an opinion is a safeguard against the perils of information overload, allowing individuals the freedom to prioritise depth over breadth in their knowledge.

With their algorithms and echo chambers, social media platforms significantly contribute to individuals’ pressure to voice their opinions publicly and create biased narratives, often overshadowing the importance of thoughtful consideration.

Unfortunately, we are in a trap of perceptions. We seriously are afraid that the changing social expectations does not accept silence; there is pressure to take sides even when you may prefer to say, “I don’t know.” It should be entirely acceptable for someone else to have a different opinion based on logic, facts, expectations, experiences, or beliefs. Unfortunately, we often challenge the thinker more than the thoughts, working to find out whose side the other person is on.

The Right to No Opinion Promotes Better Understanding

In such an ecosystem, the right not to have an opinion is an unrecognised essential tool for self-preservation—avoiding the pitfalls of performative engagement and virtue signalling. The right not to have an opinion also protects against the potential consequences of expressing a viewpoint that may not align with prevailing narratives. It asks and allows the individual to engage with essential subjects at their own pace, allowing space and time for information collection, analysis, and genuine understanding before contributing to the discourse.

Right to Not Have an Opinion Promotes Diversity

The right not to have an opinion promotes cognitive diversity, something crucial for encouraging innovation and well-rounded decision-making. Society benefits from unique perspectives, including acknowledging one’s limitations in knowledge.

Embracing the right not to have an opinion encourages a culture where people feel comfortable saying, “I don’t know,” fostering an atmosphere of humility and continuous learning.

Implementing the Right. It will happen when society celebrates individuals who choose thoughtful contemplation over hasty judgments.

One must note that the right not to have an opinion is not an abdication of civic responsibility but a recognition that genuine engagement with complex issues requires time, consideration, and a commitment to understanding nuance.

Net-net

Exercising the right not to have an opinion is an act of self-care and mental and emotional well-being in the face of incessant demands for input. It is a statement acknowledging that one’s worth should not be determined by the frequency or tonality of their public declarations but by the depth of their understanding and the authenticity of their contributions.

If you agree, let us champion the right not to have an opinion. In doing so, we would honour the diversity of human cognition, encourage genuine dialogue, and create a space where thoughtful introspection is valued as much as vocal expression.

Before taking a public stance on a subject, ask yourself if you have enough knowledge to defend your position to yourself and if there’s a need to voice your opinion. If the answer is yes, proceed carefully, consistently, and conscientiously with your thinking. Avoid voicing opinions solely to please a particular group, fit into a community, or as an ill-informed immediate reaction.

PostScript

The above is my POV, and your POV could support or be completely divergent… I respect and acknowledge them in both cases.

By Sanjeev Kotnala

Recently, fake videos of actress Katrina and Mandana went viral, and people started talking about the possible dangers. People were not so worried when it was suggested that such videos and AI-generated content could influence the outcome of elections and how the masses react to events. Slowly, people realised that more is possible. If the wheels of technology change – and more specifically, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its different avatars accelerate and remain uncontrolled, the human race would be doomed. The more significant fear and problem is that maybe it has already entered a phase where it is no longer controllable.

Niti Ayog is not off the mark when its strategy document for AI in India says, “AI. is poised to disrupt our world. With intelligent machines enabling high-level cognitive processes like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem-solving and decision-making, coupled with advances in data collection and aggregation, analytics and computer processing power, AI presents opportunities to complement and supplement human intelligence and enrich how people live and work”.

However, we all know that knives are not the problem. The problem is how to use it. You can use it to cut the vegetable or to murder someone. Similarly, the rope can be used to climb a wall or commit suicide. AI. is such a knife and rope that we are unsure of possibilities and the direction we can/will take. So, it is okay if most want to cut vegetables. But, there will be few who would like to put it to other use, which could be decisive.

DUALITY IN LIFE

I firmly believe in the Duality in life. Two sides of the same coin concept. So, if there is so much positive potential, there must be a set of potentially harmful and hazardous possibilities. It does not matter whether we have been able to think through them, recognise or not.

There is a strong lobby crying for universal collective control of the progress of AI and the way and speed at which the technology is evolving. Of course, some naysayers poo-poo these sensible voices.

Remember, typically, crime has always been ahead of the law. And the case of A.I. is no different. However, the scale of dynamic changes and possibilities in AI make this chase and gap threaten the human race.

AI BHASMASURA.

Many readers would know the Bhasmasura story. The Rakshash was granted a boon by Bhole Bhandari- Bhole Nath- Har Har Mahadev. The boon was simple. Whoever’s head Bhasmasura will keep his hand, that being will turn to Ashes. Once the boon was granted, Bhasmasura wanted to keep his hand on Shiva’s head. To save the situation, Bhagwan Vishnu had to take Mohani’s (attractive) disguise and flirt with Basmasura. Mohini agreed to marry Bhasmasura if he could defeat/copy her in dance. The Dance started. At one stage, Mohini keeps her hand on her head, and Bhasmasura copies it- thus turning himself into Ashes.

The question is simple. Have we created a technology Bhasmasura?

The answer seems more Yes than No.

Many will still defend it, saying how we develop and utilise it remains to be seen. These people believe they will have AI under control and never allow it to fight the human race. For them, AI will always remain the protector! The other side says, ‘The day A.I. is capable of talking, feeling, and reacting to emotions like desire, ambition, love, and care and can create without the help of humans, the machines would rebel. By then, humans will be redundant for the planet or slaves of the machines’. Now, this seems far-fetched to many and a distant future to many. True, time will have the answer. I am on the side of people who believe that we are doomed.

Now, this raises the second question. Do we have a Mohini ready for AI Bhasmasura?

The answer is capital NO.

THE GLOBAL WARNING.

The Global leaders recognise the possibilities. They do know that unless reined well and AI’s path and progress is controlled, AI Could Cause ‘Catastrophic’ Harm. 298 Governments, Including the U.K., the U.S., and China, have agreed to cooperate to collectively evaluate the risk of Artificial Intelligence. All agree on harnessing and regulating artificial intelligence under the Bletchley Declaration.

The document emphasises that ‘AI should be designed, developed, deployed, and used, in a safe manner, in such a way as to be human-centric, trustworthy and responsible. AI should be used to promote inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and innovation to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. And that we all must foster public trust and confidence in AI systems to fully realise their potential.’

They agree that ‘There is potential for serious, even catastrophic, harm, either deliberate or unintentional, stemming from the most significant capabilities of these A.I. models”. And if you read them, it clearly shows significant distrust in how it is developing. And we do not trust that AI will only work in ways that benefit the human race. Job loss is no longer a possibility but something that could significantly change the fabric of the society. The role AI can play in disinformation, fake news and security breaches is no longer a bad dream. It is a reality. It could end with major cyber attacks freezing the national networks or designing weapons against Humans. May one day even rebel against the very creator of AI’.

FUTURE UNCERTAIN, UNEPLAINED AND OPAQUE

Like every other technology in the past, AI is definitely ahead of regulators.

Regulators are still trying to comes with terms of Global C0llective Regulation.

They thus keep the door open for toxicity, misinformation, weaponisation, rogue controls and unintended developments.

The safety and security of individual independent nations come first. So, while they talk of collective initiative, individual countries are busy creating their own regulatory frameworks.

The US has been off the block with an executive order that necessarily asks companies working in the A.I. space to assess the impact of technology on national security risks before letting the public use or experience it.

The European Union’s AI Act is an absolute outreach, and no one expects the stringent rules to be followed.

There is a problem of agreement between the state and the organisation regarding what is relevant and impactful and what is too much of a constraint.

We continue to debate which organisations should be exempt from the restrictions. We all know and recognise that just one such exemption can backfire on the human race.

We don’t know and can not wholly appreciate the possibilities.

We are thus in no position to create regulations, and the technology is evolving at a pace that the time is running out for us.

Net-net

This is the time to act. Take a stance and operate.

If the fear is real, the regulations should also be real and practical, evolving with time.

We should be able to react to and regulate the four distinct AI technology types. The reactive, limited memory, Theory of mind, and self-aware A.I.

When Emotive AI gets developed with the Theory of mind, when it starts becoming tough to differentiate between humans and machines and when the machines start making decisions just like the humans- the results will be more damaging.

When we have ‘Self-N-Aware AI’, where the machine is aware of its own emotions and the emotions of others around it, they have a level of consciousness and intelligence similar to human beings. It will be the stage of A.I. with desires, needs, and ambitions.

We all know what happens when such feelings are hotwired to memory and the mind that can remember, decide and execute.

The problem is not that we are getting there. The problem is that we will get there one way or the other.

It is possible that the 10th Avatar of Bhagwan Vishu, Kalki, is a hugely strong, fast, independent super A.I. with state of mind awareness and full of Human emotions, capable of reflecting and meditating. Capable of thinking, planning and executing plans full of desperate ambitions and desires… then for the human race, the time will start running out. The fight for survival will begin, and then there can only be one winner- the Bhasmasura- unless we have a Mohini in place.

By Sanjeev Kotnala

I have been an ardent believer and follower of the Bigg Boss concept and reality show. The effect may wane as the degree of innovations and craziness drop or spike. I may be watching fewer episodes and not interested in the participants. But, I will remain interested in the interplay and interaction, the passion and the efforts, the rivalries and the friendship and much more.

I and my dear friend and mentor- Vermajee and I discussed Bigg Boss over a few glasses of Laphroaig in our three-cube style. Bigg Boss is one show that reflects life in its complete duality. The ups and downs would beat the most volatile stock market. We saw merit in the show and a concept that slowly took shape. A corporate offsite concept with a change. I write and share the idea for two reasons. One, to let people know we were the pioneer thinkers and two, to act as implementers or consultants to the corporations who may want to try it out this winter.

Bigg Boss retreat

The retreat idea is flexible and highly adaptive. It works on the minimalistic concept of treating the participants with luxury. It is amendable to a villa in Lonavala or Goa, a cottage resort in Mukhteshwar, a cruise or even a farmhouse.

One can select representatives through nomination or audition across the organisation or a specific department.

The duration could be a week – i.e. Sunday to next Saturday (7 units of time) or 3 days (12 units of time) when the 6 hours is treated as one unit of time. It can be directed to solve issues and problems, ideation, innovation or be real fun.

Camera units are limited.

There is no access to the external world- TV, Radio, newspapers, Social media.

Access to a laptop that can only log in to the intranet.

Real-life issues and problems are presented to teams and individuals, along with fun tasks to keep them going.

The inside gang of participants can opt-in any person from the organisation.

And they all wear the same defined uniform for equality.

Rest Of the Organisation

The rest of the organisation watches the webcast on the in-house intranet without permission to record or forward any part of the process. The organisation, through e-voting, decides who leaves the retreat.

A start-up can go public with the show- making the brand name get all the mileage.

Though it is inspired by the real Bigg Boss, it is not Bigg Boss.

Bigg Boss Recruitment Retreat

We look forward to some corporate entity using this as a format (asking us to define and execute) to recruit the best candidate from a pool. Get all the candidates during the winter vacation and put them through a 7-day process. Watch them interact and make friends and enemies. Approach, plan and execute tasks. The interplay dynamics. The chaos of living together. Meeting deadlines and celebrating or taking in failure. The process may follow the ‘Selection Through Rejection’ approach, as the internal team watches and rejects a person’s candidature at a fixed interval. In the end, you get the pre-checked gems for organisation culture, knowledge, leadership, thought process, mental and physical strength and emotional quotients.

Rules

Bigg Boss is an ever-evolving format that allows for tinkering as the janata wants. The thing remains that the winner does not participate in another season but can be a consultant- is that not a very corporate thing to do. There can be single- multiple, no eviction or whatever the Bigg Boss likes. There is Dil, Dimage, aur Dum– part of everything a business would need. I can see such diversity, inclusivity, sensitivity and approach to the possibilities that it is nightmarish to attempt to describe them. The best is: rules are meant to be broken,

Net-net

I firmly continue to believe in goodness and learning while watching Bigg Boss. My observations across seasons could be a book someday.

The format has so much HR in it. Business schools just gloss over interpersonal skills, negotiation, approach, attitude and groupism. It is an inspiration for crafting an apt corporate result-oriented offsite. It can even help the employees bond and help the organisation identify the candidates with expiry dates.

By Sanjeev Kotnala

Every day is and can be Dassera day- when good wins over evil. The day internalisation and acceptance of our mask of being an expert is realised. A day when we can agree that there is no need for us to be expert on everything under the sun. So, this Dassera, I ask you to kill the newest Ravan in the town- the desire to be the expert on everything.

A post by dear friend Ramki on Twitter (currently known as X) triggered the thought. The post read, “Did you know that it is not mandatory to be an expert on every issue in the world from Article 370 to Zionism. It’s even less mandatory that you share freely of your expertise.”

People are hyperactive on social media platforms and intensely desire to be seen as an expert. They participate and contribute by posting polarised points of view across groups and forums. There are heated exchanges many times, leading to walkouts and boycotts. It crushes Brand-i, and more inputs are thrown to control the damage.

Before we proceed further, let me unconditionally accept I am not an expert and definitely not on the subject I am writing about. This article is for people who want to be seen as an expert with minimalistic efforts. The single action command for them should be – Don’t even attempt it!

Not possible to be an Expert on every subject

We are humans and have our boundaries of accessibility, availability, affordability, adaptability, and absorbability of information. There is so much time and no more. You cannot experience everything first-hand, you can’t do everything, you can’t read everything, and you cannot have a basic knowledge of everything. Forget being an expert.

Just get this straight. You cannot be an expert on Climate Control and the Ukraine-Russia conflict on one day, Cricket and the Israel-HAMAS conflict on another day, and talk about what makes bananas too costly on e-commerce on the third day.

No, you can also not be a jack of all fields. Forget about being an expert in all or many subjects.

Know the boundaries. The physical limits of efforts and time. Understand what you know and, more importantly, know what you don’t know. Learning more and more will soon help you realise that you know nothing.

It is Okay. No one will blame you if you don’t know something, even if it is part of your personal or professional life. Even if you are expected to know it. However, it may be essential to be an expert in some subject that is equally relevant, critical and important for others. Then, the opinions and statements get the due importance. It is best if these expert opinions have solid self-experience. However, experiencing something is not a necessary condition for being an expert on the subject.

Rules of Expertise

Experts have a depth and width of experience and understanding of the subject. More than

the titles of the chapters, they know and understand the chapters. They know the details and nitty-gritty of the subject and can pinpoint what is critical. Trust me, a lifetime is less to read everything on any topic, and I am not even talking of deep understanding.

An expert knows it better, is of sound mind and think before you speak. Creating your personal brand and building the desired perceptions is time-consuming.

However, simple acts of ignorance ( or fake expertise) can destroy it. The more you expose yourself by posting, sharing, and commenting, the higher the chances for people to realise how shallow your fake expertise is. So tread with caution.

Why people try to act like Experts?

Expertise, is a symbol of superiority. If you keep justifying your expertise, the knowledge spreads thin, and the shallowness becomes apparent. However, despite knowing it, many try to be seen as experts for multiple reasons.

Self-Validation

It gives a sense of self-validation and recognition as knowledgeable from peers and a social media audience. It boosts self-esteem and confidence, leading to overestimating ability and remaining practically unaware of lack of expertise (Dunning Kruger Effect)

Desire For Influence

The charm of being heard and making an impact. Fake experts live under a misunderstanding that their posts, blogs, comments, reviews and rejoinders shape opinions.

Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO).

Fake experts engage in discussion simply to be part of the conversation and give vent to their suppressed point-of-view.

Lack Of Consequences

Social media provides anonymity of scale. Fake experts use this derived overconfidence to behave in ways they wouldn’t dare to do in a face-to-face interaction. They know there are no immediate consequences for pretending to be an expert.

Social Comparison

Comparing to others is a known human trait. Fake experts see other experts and tend to imitate them to appear equally knowledgeable.

Low Entry Barriers

Anyone can share opinions and ideas on social media, regardless of their knowledge and expertise. It is highly accessible and affordable with no restrictions.

Net-Net

Social media is not just full of fake experts. There are some genuine experts. Social media inputs and information must be evaluated with weightage to the credibility and expertise of the source. Knowing above reasons for fake experts can help navigate social media more effectively and discern between genuine knowledge and baseless claims.

If you are one of the experts, re-evaluate your position. Re-evaluate your desire and knowledge. Kill the desire to be perceived as an expert on everything under the sun. Choose your subject and dive deep into infinite information and knowledge. Let there be an expert worth following.

Remember- it is Okay not to know. 

It is always better to hear and read everyone’s input but act independently. 

……………………………………..

PostScript

Dunning-Kruger Effect: A person’s lack of knowledge and skills in a specific area causes them to overestimate their competence. By contrast, it also makes people who excel in a given subject think the task is simple for everyone and underestimate their relative abilities.

Types of Fake Experts:

Fake experts deploy multiple strategies in their attempt to be seen as an expert. Check them out. It’s okay if they sound like the categorisation could even apply on WhatsApp users.  ( trying to categories these Fake expert shows I am still under the influence of ‘Office-Secrets’ by Harish Bhat.)

Aggregator Unbiased Forwarder (AUF)

AUF never claims to be an expert. Their life revolves around forwarding gems from social media and sites. They realise no one can read all the content he shares. He further knows that frequent sharing can help him become a perceived expert.

The deadlier variety of AUF forward information from unreliable sources and present it as their expertise. They rarely deeply understand the subject but rely on regurgitating information found online.

Aggregator Unbiased Curator (AUC)

Like AUF, AUC crawls the internet to get the latest and sharpest information and forwards after filtering it internally. The person gives credit to the source and love sharing and forwarding contradictory information to add fire to the debate discussion within the group.

Aggregator Biased Curator (ABC).

ABC has a strong point of view. They only forward information that makes their case stronger. They believe by this overload of skewed information, they can make you think their way. And, if you keep interacting, social media platforms will serve you information of a similar nature, making their task easy.

Some ABC are biased toward Conspiracy theories, presenting weird (at times plausible) explanations of significant events. They cherry-pick information to support their claims. They are known to selectively quote experts without considering the context.

Reiterating The Spider On The Wall

The deadliest variety of fake experts. They interact less but engage well. While reposting, they rephrase to sound like an expert. ‘In my overall assessment’, ‘In my considered opinion’ and ‘If you allow me to suggest’ are some of their favourite words.

My Way Only

Sharper type of Aggregator Biased Curators (ABC). They have unidimensional strong points of view. They genuinely read a lot and know a lot. However, they are corrupted by a strong belief in their own beliefs.

They will take sides and want people to take sides and their side, to be specific. They seek and believe information confirming their existing beliefs and present it confidently. They are firm in their thinking and, at times, violent in their action.

No One Cares For My Opinion

A lame expert who won’t say much is slow off the ground. Their opinions are hijacked in conversations. They hesitate and hence are not heard much. However, they continuously complain about no one wanting to listen to their opinion.

Opinion Hijackers.

They have brilliant timing and a remarkable ability to rephrase other’s opinions to make it sound like something new. They add flavour to the discussion while presenting the hijacked ideas of others.

By Sanjeev Kotnala

Senior citizens are a growing tribe, a segment that the government and marketers seem to ignore,. A large part of this segment is characterised with decreasing income and increasing responsibilities and hardly any government schemes and support. A part of senior citizens wish to live independently as a choice and not as the last option because of relationship with their kids or lack of anyone to support, assist and take care. They desire and demand a particular standard of living. Their specific wants and needs may differ slightly, but the solutions are limited and almost the same. Senior Age home or the Retirement Homes.

According to a report, there are around 3,600 occupied senior/ retirement homes in 15 projects across the country. Meanwhile, 5,000 units are under development in some 20 new projects. Some of these projects are multi-storied buildings designed with seniors in mind, whereas most seniors prefer single independent units/bungalows/villas (with 50-100 units) as retirement homes.

Independent Senior Age Living

Senior age living (SAL) is simply living in a community for independent people leading an active life. They are an independent and safe living option to senior citizens. They offer convenient services with senior-friendly design and social activities. Additionally, they are equipped to provide medical support in emergencies or primary healthcare and check-ups.

There are primarily three types of senior age living:

Independent Community Living for active, healthy seniors.

Assisted Living Facilities: designed for seniors who may need assistance with their daily activities but do not require full-time medical care.

Skilled Nursing Homes – as the name suggests they provides 24/7 medical care and support for seniors with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Independent Retirement Homes

Here the focus is on Independent senior age living (ISAL) also called Retirement Homes. They are in demand due to decreased support and interaction between children and aged. And these seniors at some stage graduate from independent living to an assisted living.

Both private companies and non-profit organisations operate senior-age homes in India. Private Senior age living communities are often upscale offering premium amenities. The non-profit organisations provide more affordable options for those with limited financial resources and wants.

Facilities at Retirement Homes

Retirement communities have almost all the facilities of a self-contained regular residential apartment complex with added special features to aid seniors and give them freedom from daily household chores.

The place is designed for senior age. The common features include gentle slopes, anti-skid bath floors, easy-to-reach and operate light switches, grab rails and an emergency response system that can tackle first-aid and minor medical emergencies. Regular medical check-ups and tie-ups with leading hospitals are essential to the infrastructure.

Additionally, active living with yoga, swimming pool, fitness centres, indoor and outdoor games, and meditation are part of the services. Food can be ordered restaurant-style, fresh and delicious, or customised to special dietary requirements. However, there is no pressure for shopping, planning and cooking- which the senior age home staff takes care of.

The children and grandchildren are welcome to visit, stay, and interact with their seniors and the extended family of other seniors. Though there are limitations to the number of days they can come and stay at the retirement homes.

Emotional Bonding at Retirement Homes

Good Retirement Homes have frequent community engagement activities to foster a sense of belonging and purpose among residents. This can never replace a family and bonding with family members. It is a mutual two-way street. One get what one invest in. The bonding is dependent upon the time invested in community and interaction. The bonding is higher where the residents collective takes majority of the decisions about how to run the retirement homes.

Senior Age Home – A Rational Choice

It is wrong to presume that old age homes are meant for people who have disabilities due to old age. And anyway that is for assisted living. The focus here is Independent Retirement Homes. It is a choice that works for strong-willed seniors making a rational decision not a reaction to lack of support/interaction with the younger generation. Otherwise, they end up missing their families and crying, affecting the whole ecosystem and ambience of the Retirement Home community.

The priority should always be home, better homes with kids. The basic rule should be, if one can take care of parents, it is better not send them to a Senior Age Home. Old age is childhood revisited; they need attention from their own children rather than outsiders. Senior age home should be is a second or third priority or the last option be it a healthy independent senior or one who requires assistance. However, many healthy individuals/couples make a choice for Retirement Home.

Maybe Retirement Homes Are The Best Decision

Every senior deserves post-retirement happy days. Retirement homes are one such solution. Don’t chose a retirement home based on websites and catalogues, personally visit and interact with the seniors living there. If it is a new project, do a background check. Take advantage of trial stays. It will help find the retirement home where one can enjoy retirement years, which one rightly deserve.

A Retirement Home is a good choice if the following Is true.

:: You are living alone. You and your spouse are the only family members.

:: The children are not with you; they live far away or in a different country.

:: There is no one to look after you or to take care during the emergency.

:: You want to independently live with people of your age group.

However, if you want to stay in Retirement Homes, don’t postpone the decision. Visit available options, talk to the residents there and get more opinions before deciding.

Find The Right Retirement Home.

The situation is fluid. There are hardly any benchmarks quality of care, affordability, and rights and dignity of residents. There are no rules and regulations governing Retirement Homes. So, finding a retirement home that will tick all the boxes is tough. The way is to have clear priorities for this mostly a one-time decision. Decide if a library is more important than a swimming pool, Or a movie theatre is important than indoor games. In case you are medically aligned, it is best to check if the hospital the retirement home associates with is within 20 minutes.

The best part is being surrounded by a like-minded community. Where your friends and neighbours are the same age. However, this healthy, happy independent post-retirement life with emotional support and inter-dependency among like-minded people can be a dampener at times. Remember, the ROI on engagement and involvement, entertainment, and health depends upon one’s inclination to invest in the communities and participate in the events and efforts.

The Cost Of Living In A Senior Age Home.

Old age homes in India are available at INR 10,000 to INR 30,000 per month at base level and a 100K for places with more luxury, maintenance quality and additional services like laundry, transportation etc.

There is also a one-time-lumpsum-payment option. However, it still has a very low monthly charges.

A decent retirement home outskirt of a tier-II city would cost INR 50-75K for single occupancy, and 60-90 K for double occupancy with a deposit of 10-15 Lakh.

The security deposit is usually refunded after a lock-in period of 6 to 12 months. In some places, only 60% of the deposit is refunded on vacating. One can negotiate the deposit amount and monthly fee, a higher deposit decreases the monthly payment.

Single payment plans start at INR 75 lakh and go up to INR 2 cr and more. The living space and amenities are guaranteed for life, i.e. till the age of 99 for either or survivor in the case of a couple. Here, the lock-in period is long, and only a small amount or nothing is returned, however one can sell the ownership in the market but the purchases must be approved by the team/society/community governing the Retirement Home.

Cost References

Antara Senior Living project in Dehradun sells on a lifelong lease model. It charges INR 1.7 crore for a one-bedroom unit and INR 7 crore for a three-bedroom unit with staff accommodation. The lease is renewable by the heirs of the original residents. While they can exit at the market value, the management must approve new buyers.

Assistant is usually available as per shift at additional cost. Usually, a 24-hour assistant costs 60K, and an 8-hour shift attendant costs around 25K per month. In the case of an outright buy or lease model, nominal housekeeping charges are payable. Whereas in the monthly rental, the charges include everything, and there is a deposit.

Golden Estate. Faridabad provides trial stay options @3.5-4 K per day for single and double occupancy. A short-term stay costs 1.25 L to 1.5 L for single and double occupancy. It drops to 75-95K when the duration is more than 6 months with a deposit of 20-40 lakhs.

Factors Governing Cost Of Living At The Retirement Home.

The cost of living in a retirement home varies widely based on a few criteria and the type of facility.

Location: metro, non-metro, tourist destination and climate.

Amenities: Meals including in-unit delivery, ala-carte ordering and 24-hour meal service.

Housekeeping including plumber – electrician on call, concierge service, scheduled transportation to the city, Sanitation and garbage disposal, daily need shop and banking assistance.

Recreational activities include a Gym, acupressure walk, walking space, Movie theatre, smart TV in the unit and common area, Café and garden and some talk of Jacuzzi and aqua therapy.

Medical assistance includes regulated nursing with OPD, Ambulance and doctor on call, and some include on-site physiotherapists. Ac vs. Non Ac unit.

Safety and security include gated entry, 24X7 security guards, local administration and police liaison, CCTV monitoring, emergency control room and response systems, automatic rescue devices in the lift, invertor and electricity backup.

Size of the unit: studio apartment, one-bedroom or two-bedroom unit

Type of facility: Independent community living, Assisted Living Facilities designed for seniors who may need assistance with daily activities but they do not require full-time medical care. Skilled Nursing Homes provide 24/7 medical care and support for seniors who are unable or challenged to take care of their daily activities.

In case of Retirement Homes, simple things become selling points. Things like Skid Resistant Tiles, a Night lamp in the master room, Arthritis friendly fittings, Round wall edges, wheelchair and age-friendly environment and structures, and Grab rails in the bathroom.

Reverse Mortgage An Alternative To Retirement Homes.

Not yet popular in India. In this case, the property is mortgaged to the bank with reverse EMI. Simply said, the bank pays the owner an EMI till death. After which, the property is transferred to the bank. It is an excellent option for seniors who continue to live in their properties in the current location and are open to not leaving it for the next generation.

Net-Net

Retirement homes should be a rational decision and not an emotional spur-of-the-moment decision. There are enough options across locations and new ones coming up. One must research and visit different retirement homes, understand their fee structures, and carefully evaluate the financial situation before deciding. Check the years of existence and their expertise in delivering the promise.

Do not sign any agreement before really reading and understanding the contents. It is important to note the initial and recurring costs. 

One should consult a financial advisor to plan and determine the type of retirement home facility that suits your needs and budget.

Consider a future scenario where one may need to graduate from an active individual enjoying retirement age to someone needing assisted living. If time permits, use the trial stay. It will ensure two things. One, it will tell if one is ready for a retirement home stay and if one likes the place (including the food), it can help take a right decision.

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Some Retirement Home Options.

These are internet researched. Most retirement homes were unwilling to share the cost-structure without personal data and contact details. Most were like apartments for retired people than the retirement home community.

Coavi care in Coimbatore and services for the elderly at Nerul Gurugram seemed like one real retirement community.

In assisted living, HELPEE, with properties in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, is a trusted name that emerged in discussions. They also have independent living in Chennai.

Some other names are Antra. Dehradun. Ashiana Advik. Bhiwadi Rajasthan. They also have properties in Chennai (Ashiana Shubham) and Lavasa-Pune (Ashiana Utsav). Near Gurugram (Ashiana Nirmay), Athulya. Chennai., Covai Care. Coimbatore, Elements. Alapakkam, Near Valasaravakkam, Chennai., Golden Estate. Faridabad. Graceland Foundation. Kochi. Place De Retraite Anandam, Bangalore, Silvergrade, Delhi and Primus Swarna Active Senior Home, Panvel.

PostScript

MAINTENANCE AND WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZEN ACT 2007

The Act asks children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and/or parents in the form of monthly allowance. Until people become fully aware of it and the kids start caring for their ageing parents more as a responsibility rather than a chore, the senior citizens need to take care of themselves.