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VISITING IKIGAI: IT’S ALL ABOUT ASSISTED LIVING
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VISITING IKIGAI: IT’S ALL ABOUT ASSISTED LIVING

Uncategorized November 7, 2025 , by

Posh upcoming senior living community in Goa…it’s time to wake up to assisted senior living, says Tara Narayan

THESE days all down the main thoroughfare of capital city PanAjim, the Campal promenade or Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, there are seductive AKIGAI Senior Living advertisements up. If one is over 50 years old and even if one is not one is tempted to stop and read; of course the fastest real estate projects today must be the ones offering senior citizens safe and happy sanctuary in the latter difficult years of their life (for which the first was made presumably).
India’s elderly population is growing and waking up to the fact that sometimes it is better to take a timely decision to move to a home away from home, to make life worth living in sensible, practical, joyful ways. Ask around and you will find many unhappy stoic seniors! All around we see seniors in humble or not so humble homes coping with life’s latter day dilemmas of mind and body, heart and soul, as they slip from their 60s to their 70s, 80s, 90s… until they can no longer cope with the nitty gritty of housekeeping, maintaining a spick and span home.
Quite simply as the body hardens courtesy a lifetime of sins of omission and commission indulged in, it becomes harder to bend this way and that to sweep under the sofa, swab the floor, cook, wash up after every meal from morning till night. Before retiring tiredly to sweet sleep at the end of another domestically challenging day. There are services galore but no one would come and take the curtains down for laundering and then put them up again, nobody will come in and cook the day’s two meals for you, take you out for a shave or a joyride in your car or their car…out for a meal even once in a few blue moons!
I have seen far too many seniors ruing the many things they can no longer do, they forget to drink water, cook something to eat – or eat bread dipped in tea most times thinking that’s enough food. No wonder their health deteriorates faster. In comparison it can be bliss to sell off everything and retire to one of the now many existing or upcoming retirement homes for seniors.
Funnyu, or not funny, most upcoming retirement homes promise 5-star luxurious living beyond imagination, as if that’s what the majority of seniors are pining for! They are not.
A friend of mine in her late 70s over the phone shared, “My son in the US calls every now and again to check up on me, but now my husband has passed away and I’m happy we took the decision to sell off our home and invest in this seniors retirement community located on the outskirts of Chennai.” She’s very happy there, more so than in her former home! The services include housecleaning, a central kitchen providing meals, or she fixes her own small meals if she wishes — in her 2-bedroom/kitchen/hall/bathroom/balcony, overlooking serene garden grounds. Whatever she needs for her personal use is available in the vicinity and if she needs medical help that too is on call. Her outgoing costs are rarely more than Rs10,000 per month. I found that retirement homes down south India are far more grounded and economical!
But this is after I spent a fruitful half day trip out at the Goa IKIGAI seniors assisted living project still coming up out at Azossim at the other end of the Kadamba plateau, close to the still lush wilderness of the Carambolim lake. Here 7.5 acres of very tranquil countryside land is being developed a partnership of Prescon-Manasum, and Ikigai assisted living for seniors is their main project coming up. Although currently there’re barely say 20 or so families residing out here at the Ikigai project complex.
Most have purchased their 1/2/3 BHK apartments here in A3 and A4 five-storied buildings, three more are coming up and presumably being booked up. Yogesh Subu from Coimbatore, in charge here at the offices located at the breathtaking Club House building, tells me, “We have only nine apartments left in A-3 and A-4, a 1BHK apartment is Rs80 lakh…” But three more blocks are coming up so I might want to book in advance to get the best choices.
In response to a query, “Yes, 40% of those who have bought or booked apartments at Goa Ikigai are Goans, many of them are NRI families and surprisingly 28% of the apartments are taken by naval and defense force people!” The outgoings add up to about Rs35,000 per month but this is flexible to match individual needs, plus or minus.
Housekeeping services are pretty much taken care of and they work hard at putting into place the key philosophy of “ikigai” — it is a Japanese word “which weaves in simple elements to live a long, meaningful and happy life.” To quote from the brochure in hand with me this is what “ikigai” senior living is all about… “to stay active, get in shape, live in the moment, eat right, give thanks, surround yourself with good friends, smile, reconnect with nature, find your joy, take it easy…”
SEEKING WELLBEING
SOUND good? What’s there not to like if after a long, hard working life, one is desperately seeking wellbeing and peace of mind in retirement – and yet keep in touch with extended family out there in the world with their nose still to the grind! Say, something like that. With the growing “burden” or “blessing” of growing old, older — depending on one’s material and immaterial wealth, situations in life, it makes common sense to invest in what one may imagine at least could be home away from home and where there’s freedom enough to be independent, interdependent, or dependent if the need arises as more years notch up to take their toll on once upon a time body beautiful.
It’s a pity that most seniors in India don’t even think of it, that they can be happier away from their family! Many in various situations of physical and mental stress keep waiting, hesitating, unable to take a decision at the right time in their own interest and wellbeing. Out in the countries of the West the aging community is far more practical and now it’s being observed that seniors live far more happily in well-designed retirement communities than they ever will on their own, or with their grown up children who have to live their own busy lifestyles of today’s demanding times.
JOINT FAMILIES VARNISHING
MOST of us see how the old traditional joint-family systems are breaking down, where a few members once took care of everything individually or collectively – and that too with a lot of equanimity and grace! Those times are gone with the wind. The cost of living too has escalated and in middle class nuclear family homes, sacrifices and stretching it becomes mandatory for someone or another in the family…wittingly or unwittingly seniors with failing health begin to get lonely, depressed, marginalized, oftentimes feel like they’re a burden on their adult children who may of course deny this till blue in the face.
Perhaps it is not such a bad idea after all to stay in an organized seniors facility where there’s a support system in place to meet seniors’ needs, be it of the social or medical kind. In this case, Goa Ikigai, presented by Manasum Luxury Senior Living real estate developers (headquartered in Bengaluru), comes across as a good solution for life’s finale years.
A LOOK AROUND
GOA Ikigai is a sprawling project set amidst enviable verdant grounds uphill and downhill in quiet countryside at Azossim. A tour around the 25,000 sq ft Club House takes one to neatly appointed recreation-library rooms, the restaurant, a room for sporting activities (gyming), there’s a 43-seater theater room under way where movies will be screened regularly, and there’s 24/7 nursing station with regular doctor visits for consultation (some doctors have booked apartments for themselves) and well, the cherry on the cake or so to speak, Healthway Hospital, is just a stone’s throw away.
Activities are organized for the seniors in residence and don’t be surprised if their wellbeing actually improves over time, as it is said, given the sunlight, salt and time. Other amenities include well manicured outdoor swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, meditation lawn, yoga deck, tennis court, cricket pitch, outdoor gym. The non-skid flooring everywhere at Club House building is appealing as is the décor on walls with comfy benches placed here and there.
Residents get buggy rides and weekly shopping trips to nearby markets for their sundry needs. Family members visit their parents to stay weekends or longer. Visitors may stay at guest apartments on rental for about Rs7,280 per night, inclusive of meals, housekeeping services and so on, and this quote is for two people (as per the very helpful Ikigai representative Tanay Sawant).
One must understand that this is a realty project much like say the Aldeia de Goa project at Dona Paula where the vast Kadamba plateau actually begins. The Goa Ikigai project is just one of the Prescon- Manasum real estate partnership and the seniors living apartments are designed for their comfort. One could also buy land here to design and build one’s own home, like a few people have done (for example, Deepak Khaitan of the very agreeable Rasoda restaurant nearby where the Hilton Hotel stands up this Kadamba plateau route into the interiors of Goa).
All in all if you’re thinking ahead and seeking some place in Goa to unwind and catch up with a different kind of life in your senior years – you might want to check out Goa Ikigai and do it sooner rather than later, for prices just keep going up as demand grows for home away from home for the growing population of seniors in India. India may be perceived as a young country but one in five will soon be a senior citizen! And there’s no idea more comforting than a comfy home of your own to grow old graciously, with the help of a team of people trained and able to anticipate the needs of the elderly. I would say go for it!

Promising almost heaven…

THE list of real estate projects wooing senior citizens with wondrous home away from home retirement lifestyles is long and exhaustive. Clearly, the time for holiday homes and second homes is over and today it is full steam ahead for senior citizen retirement homes of various gradation.
Here’s a shortlist of ongoing and proposed projects being promoted on social media. Pick your choice but always be sure to check and double-check the fine print details thoroughly, before setting your heart on happy retirement stories for you!
• Cradle of Life claims to be “India’s most awarded senior living project” and is at Talegaon, Pune. It offers fully furnished homes, with 60 plus amenities, enviable second homes for those after 55 years, the golden years. More than a home, it’s a community which grows with you, that’s a promotional line. Buy for Rs74 lakh plus, plus or do their long term stay packages starting at Rs50,000 per month.
• Ashiana Amodh active senior living, is also at Talegaon, Pune. India’s No.1 senior living, offers everything including 24×7 security with CCTV in gated complex. 2BHK apartments starting at Rs93.53 lakh. Offers secure, vibrant, spacious lifestyle apartments. Air quality superior here!
• Mynirvana Realty retirement homes, near Navi Mumbai airport, retirement isn’t an end, it’s a beginning.
• Premium Assisted Living in Kiwale, Pune, offers rental homes starting at Rs56,000 per month, couple suites at Rs88,500 and premium suites at Rs1,18,000. Is this part of the Avana Way also at Kiwale, Pune, a gated colony coming up over 73 acres, 3.5 hours from Mumbai, second home away from home costing Rs1.5 crores plus, plus.
• Jeevin Senior Care at Talegaon, Pune, possibly part of “Move into Cradle of Life” scheme, monthly rentals start at 50,000 onwards…promises worry free living.
• Saral Satya Legacy Active Senior Living, Greater Noida (West), offers rental living for active seniors, interesting to check out if you’re interested in being near Delhi, capital of India.
• Nalam Lakeside Senior Residences at Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, south India. Interesting, pet-friendly! Prices starting Rs37 lakh. Sounds good.
• Paranjape Schemes (Constuction) Ltd, claims to offer India’s largest senior care facility at Athashri Vadodara starting just Rs24 lakh (all inclusive), non-skid flooring, generator-backed lifts, live life to the fullest!
• The Wisdom Club offers assisted living for seniors at Vile Parle (West), Mumbai, with 24×7 medical support and homely warmth.
• Saroj Serenity Senior Living Resort at Nerul, Karjat, Maharashtra, is part of Mumbai 3.0 (whatever that means), RERA approved.
• Elements Senior Living at Mysuru down south India, project is a sprawling 51 acres township, “crafted for joy, connection, and well-being.” Starting cost Rs99 lakh for premium senior-friendly apartments, secure gated community with 24×7 medical assistance. Sounds very good!
• Vedaanta Retirement Resort, Coimbatore, south India. At Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, only 25 villas, for vibrant senior living, starting at Rs55,344,37 plus, plus.
• Manasum Temple Town, Tirupathi, south India, offers luxury senior-friendly homes near the temple with medical support, community living and divine surroundings, vegetarian food, all-inclusive. Also, homes for seniors in Bangalore, Avighna in south Bangalore, Riva in north Bangalore, Govardhana in Mysore. The Manasum senior living projects come highly recommended, are very efficiently promoted, including the Ikigai project in Goa. Boast of such senior-friendly touches such as anti-skid flooring and tiling, grab rails in washrooms, great views, etc. Worth looking up and investing in for immediate or future retired living!

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