Brigade Group commenced operations in 1986, and over the last two decades has evolved into a brand that is synonymous with Innovation, Quality, Trust and Customer Satisfaction.
Headquartered in Bangalore, Brigade Group has a network of offices across South India, an office in Dubai, and is represented in the USA by an accredited agent, Legion Real Estate. Brigade Group’s portfolio includes residential, office, retail, hospitality and education.
Over 20 million sq.ft. of developed real estate, across over 100 projects, Brigade has emerged as one of India’s leading property developers, and is constantly setting new benchmarks in the real estate industry.
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) says that nationally the demand for retirement homes is close to 300,000. There is a huge demand- supply gap and therefore an urgent need to address the needs of retired folks and senior citizens in India, says Mr M R Jaishankar, Chairman & Managing Director, Brigade Group in an exclusive interview.
What are retirement homes?
M R Jaishankar: What was once known as a “home for the aged” has today undergone a revolution in terms of a concept. Retirement homes, as they are now known, are apartment complexes aimed at fulfilling all the needs of a senior citizen. From interiors designed to make living comfortable to ample social interaction opportunities and safe environs, a retirement home today, offers all this and more. Retirement homes are coming up in all major cities such as Bangalore, Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Pune, Goa, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bhopal, Jaipur, Delhi, Nagpur and in Punjab.
How are they different from regular apartments available?
M R Jaishankar: A retirement home is executed in a manner, very different from a regular apartment; beginning with the layout of the homes. Features incorporated into the apartment are done so from the perspective of the safety of the residents as well as for convenience. Walkways, parks and gyms are designed keeping the senior citizen in mind and what you see in these complexes is vastly different from the average apartment complexes. Value additions in terms of social interaction opportunities for the residents as well as emergency services are also made available.
What are the types of units available in such retirement home projects?
M R Jaishankar: There are a range of units that can be had and these are designed based on factors such as single or double occupancy, the layout, the overall price of the apartment and its positioning. Apartments are available in 1,2 and even 3BHK options ranging in size from 500 sqft to 2500 sqft. At Parkside, the apartments range from 1050 sqft to 1450 sqft.
Why, according to you is there such a huge demand for retirement homes?
M R Jaishankar: Nuclear families are the order of the day today. Youngsters today prefer to move out of their family homes as soon as they are independent, even if they do live in the same city. More and more elderly couples prefer not to be dependent on their children and therefore, the demand for a retirement home is on the rise.
What are the features of a retirement home?
M R Jaishankar: Retirement homes are designed with fewer stairs and wider doors
to enable the use of wheelchairs. Flooring too is made non-slippery with anti-skid tiles and support bars are incorporated in the home at essential points such as the staircase, in the bathrooms and toilets. Emergency call switches are strategically placed around the house to ensure help is never too far away. All essential services related to medical assistance, groceries, transport and more are organized within the premises of a retirement home complex.
Tell us a bit about the Parkside- retirement homes by Brigade.
M R Jaishankar: Meeting the lifestyle needs of the retired gave rise to the idea of Parkside retirement homes in the integrated township of Brigade Orchards. The township is spread over 130 acres in Devanahalli near the Kempegowda International Airport, and is being developed by Brigade Group under an SPV called BCV Developers Private Limited.
We have 156 units of 1 & 2 bedrooms at Parkside that range from 1050 sqft to 1450 sqft. The idea is parents and older family members can live independently with all the geriatric facilities and at the same time be closer to their children.
Brigade Group has tied up with Age Ventures India (AVI), an entity floated and supported by Help Age India, for setting up of these retirement homes with Assisted Living facilities.
What are the USPs of Parkside at Brigade Orchards?
M R Jaishankar: Careful attention to detail has gone into adding special features and providing facilities for the best mix of comfort and specialized care at Parkside. These homes have been designed with an airy open plan with a central soaring atrium. The activity rooms are dispersed across the floors and through the building.
Some of the USPs of Parkside at Brigade Orchards are:
• Abundant Green space.
• Larger room formats, extra-wide corridors, ramps and hand rails in all important areas, non-skid tiles, wheelchair friendly, scientific lighting etc.
• Stretcher lifts for emergency evacuations with generator back-up.
• Air-conditioned medical and nursing facilities, assisted care with a resident doctor, nurse and physiotherapist and an Ambulance.
• Luxurious dining facilities with dietician monitored hygienic food.
• Travel services including pick up, drop and ticketing.
• Payment of Utility Bills, taxes and help with banking
• Geriatric Gym, Ayurvedic Massage Centre, Laundry, Library, Reading room, Indoor Games, Cards, TV room, Billiards Room, Music Room, Computer Room, Dementia Garden, Temple, Prayer rooms, Viewing Gallery etc.
• 24 x 7 Garbage Clearing Arrangements, Security, Electrical, Plumbing and other preventive maintenance services.
• Recreation arrangements
• Guest rooms.
• Housekeeping Services
