self-sustained community is for the well-being of senior citizen, justify this master thesis. These include
integrating housing, health care, lifestyle, and emotional support services into ecosystems where senior
citizens are not only cared for but can also connect organically and well. The project conceptualizes an
accepting aging from the heart, rather than from paternalistic systems of care, but on the basis of homes
with caring and loving.
History
The first ever old age home in India : Raja Varma Old Age Home in Thrissur, Kerala was established as the
first old age home in India in 1911 and later became a home for the destitute elderly. With charity acts by
individuals, government and private organizations slowly old age homes became popular across the whole
nation. Traditionally, these establishments offered a rudimentary dwelling and subsistence to those elderly
persons who had no family or whose family was unable to support them. But the level of care and
infrastructure varied considerably, with a number of institutions adhering not to a philosophy of rights but of
welfare.
Following analysis shoes the core Problems & probable solutions for current situations:
Isolation → Inclusion: Elders are considered community assets, not burdens.
Dependence → Contribution: Models support elders to lead, guide and engage.
Charity → Sustainability: Local environments are in the way less dependent on foreign help.
Sterile Spaces → Therapeutic Surroundings: Design is good for your mental and cognitive health.
Ageism → Intergenerational Harmony: Elders and youth cohabitate, tell stories, and mind each other.
Why This Type of Community Not In India?
1. Cultural Expectations of Family Care: There's the fact that looking after elders are often viewed as
something that is a family duty. It’s often seen as abandonment, or taboo — much as senior citizens
abandoned in Zulu society.
2. Absence of Policy & Infrastructure Backing: Zoning regulations, land use laws and regulations for
senior living are not there in India. Most homes for the elderly are unregulated.
3. Economic Constraints & Financial Dependency: Many senior citizens have no pensions or health
insurance, and are priced out of living independently. NSSO data: senior citizen`s 3.8× share on
healthcare spend with younger adults.
4. Urbanization & Shrinking Families: Migration, reduction in family size and nuclear families have
disrupted the traditional support. But community-based alternatives haven’t expanded to fill the void.
5. Social Isolation & Stigma: Elders living solo can struggle with loneliness, safety and accessing
medical care. Community models are still generally regarded as “a last resort,” rather than preferred
options.
Why This Topic?
The study and research interest in the areas started when we visited Matoshree Old Age Home in Latur, in late
2024 , the space and feelings of the people living there reverted emptiness- the structure had all the attributes
of a home but it did not have what a home would have- the emotional connectivity. The experience prompted
distress about the dignity of older family members, leading to further thinking. A thought and a dream emerged
in minds about a self-sustaining community of elderly people who live independently and with dignity, not
dependence. In this vision, intergenerational spaces such as cafes, workshops and gathering areas connect the
old and the young for authentic interaction. The same thought and concept motivated to carry on a detailed
Thesis Project namely: `Self-Sustained Community for Senior Citizens which mainly focused to create
inclusive, therapeutic ecosystems that cultivate courage, pride, and joy in the lives of older adults.