Two extremes of a spectrum – The young and the Old…..

India in the last few decades has emerged as a very mobile society of working women and busy homes. It favors a youth culture, which caters to the youthful energy of people in their prime. Consequently, those who live at the extreme spectrums of society such as old dependent parents, parents-in-law may be looked upon as a burden and find themselves placed in the care of day nurseries or homes for the aged.

At one end of the spectrum we have the young. After having a child a woman may want to return to work to help supplement the family income. Men do not object to working partners as it helps maintain an upwardly mobile lifestyle. Working women often do not have the convenience of an extended family where the mother-in-law / father-in-law can take care of young children until their parents returns from the office or workplace. As a result pre-school children are often placed in day care centers where they are supervised by trained adults and engaged in a variety of planned activities, arts and crafts and games. While in these centers children are socialized to get along with others their own age and to express themselves creatively through art and music. Parents, while busy at work are relieved that her child is in the good, supervised care of professional adults. It is a business transaction. They pay the caretakers and in return, their children are taken care of. There are no strings attached and they need not make any adjustments at home or in their lifestyle, which they would have to if they had old parents / in-laws living with them.

What they lack is the unconditional love from grand-parents, empathy towards older people and an skill sets that can only be learnt from interaction with elders in the family.

At the other end of the age spectrum are the elderly who also need special and professional care. As the life span if individuals increases in industrialized / developing countries, people now can live well into their late seventh and eighth decades. With good health and monetary independence, many seniors choose to lead an independent life. Some of these elderly people who have no children or surviving spouse have to choose an independent life as they have no choice.

Freedom is the essence of life and the impulse and need to go on leading an independent life, making their own decisions and choosing their own lifestyle is seen as the most essential element for many seniors.
A decent life savings in the bank, helps most old citizens tide through their old age smoothly. Seniors often find that they can no longer take care of themselves. Unfortunately, it is only when ailments, sickness and illness hinder their regular routine , that seniors become dependants. It is a very difficult decision they have to make out of desperation. When their free and independent lives are suddenly under the control of others who treat them with veiled impatience and blatant disregard, their self esteem takes a big knock.

Constant medical care, treatments, check-ups become a routine part of life, which is neither understood as critical or significant by the younger generation who act as caretakers.

Many seniors may be alone and have no family of their own to care for them. In many cases the family of the aged, for a variety of reasons may no longer be able to provide them with the special and professional attention they need.


Consequently, senior citizen homes have developed to serve as centers where the older members of society can spend their declining years in relative comfort while being cared for by people especially trained to deal with the unique problems of the aged.


There is, however, a difference between a senior citizen's residence or retirement home and a nursing home which goes beyond a mere euphemism. In a retirement village such as Melur Meadows, an elderly persons lead a life of pride and dignity. They have not been forced to take accommodation here, rather, this is a place that is sought after by many in the dusk of their lives. A place where peace and harmony co-exist. A place where there are no restrictions. A senior is treated with all the respect and dignity that they deserve. And most important of all, they have the freedom to choose to live life at their own terms.



Melur Meadows provides excellent opportunities to its residents to take up any hobby they desire and to pursue it at their own pace. Be it music, yoga, pottery, dance, cooking, gardening – just about anything !. A special attraction is the opportunity to do community service by way of spreading education or any form of skill or art to the people and children in the nearby villages. Even reading out stories in Tamil to the children/ village folk could serve as an awareness campaign to spread news regarding various important issues.


In a nursing home the occupant may be totally at the mercy and kindness of the staff. They may not be able to feed themselves and may be confined to a wheelchair. In extreme situations they may not be able to recognize those they love. In Melur Meadows, we do have a provision for assisted living, wherein, the management, with is close tie-up with the reputed KPS Hospital, Mettupalayam, can help identify a live-in nurse for round the clock care or our resident nurse at the village will provide her services on call.

In a community, and life in a village like setting, people interact closely and a strong bond of kinship is formed. People from different backgrounds, age groups and professions reside in the village, giving rise to a healthy mixture of culture, age groups, and activities. Visit www.melurmeadows.com for all details.

Whichever part of the spectrum you may belong, do pass on the good message to elders and young alike so that they may experience some of the good things in life.