KOCHI: After having resided in Muscat, Dubai, Sharjah, and later, the US with their kids, Thrissur natives Mallika Paul and her husband decided to return to Kerala to spend their retired lives here.
However, when her husband’s health took a hit and the pandemic struck, Mallika moved to an assisted living facility with him after a brief stay at their Thrissur home.
“As an elderly couple, we found it difficult to stay at our home. Also, when my husband’s health worsened, we had to depend on a home nurse. Though our children urged us to return to the US and stay with them, we wished to stay here. Later, we decided to find a facility and move out,” said Mallika, who has been staying at Bless Retirement Living for the past three years.
Industry officials said the number of well-heeled elderly Malayalis, who return to Kerala to spend sunset years at an assisted living facility, is rising due to high healthcare costs in developed countries, and because it lets them be with friends and relatives.
Babu Joseph, president, Senior Living Association of Kerala, said elderly Keralites settled in the UK, US, or Gulf countries return to Kerala due to several reasons, one of them being that their relatives and families are here.
“Also, the medical care available here is of high quality. They can spend their retirement in a safe place. The cost of living in developed countries is also much higher,” he said.
Post pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the number of such returnees, said Jiji Philip, the CEO of Travancore Foundation, an assisted living facility in Kottayam.
“During the Covid pandemic, and following the lockdown, elderly people realised that it is not safe to stay alone at home. For many, it is not possible to spend their retired lives in other countries owing to cultural, financial and other reasons. So they choose senior living homes in Kerala that have better facilities,” Jiji said.
Jijo, the MD of Bless Retirement Living, said such people prioritise living standards.
“In the US and other nations, the cost of such facilities is much higher than in Kerala. (Here) The same standard of living is ensured at a much lower cost. Thus most of them tend to return to Kerala and stay here. Also, as they are living in a community with lots of activities to keep them engaged and people to take care of them, they decide to settle here,” Jijo said.
Health is another reason, said Jiji. “People choose to stay at assisted living facilities as they are concerned about their health. Staying at home is safe as long as the health condition is satisfactory,” he said.
“Such facilities have nurses and social workers, so residents do not have to worry about health issues and treatment. Some people may have memory issues as well. In such cases, they feel more comfortable as there are trained people around to help,” he emphasised.
Mallika said staying in such facilities can help develop a sense of community living.
“I am an artist. Here, I have a few ‘students’ aged between 75 and 85 years. We have several activities and expeditions to stay engaged. Also, the residents, especially those who are ill, are provided better care and treatment, making such facilities a better option,” she said.
Almost all returning to Kerala from the US, UK, or Gulf countries are those who left India in the 1970s and 1980s. Many have deep roots in Kerala and wish to go back to them. Also, even if they are at home, they are not interested in living a lonely life and may wish to have people around. In such cases, they may choose an assisted living facility.
However, Jiji said the trend may not continue for long. “We cannot expect people who left Kerala after the 2000s to return and choose to spend their retirement here,” said Jiji.