Thoughts... Ideas... Aprehensions...

Mera Sapna… A LONER’S PARADISE

Living in Patiala for 3 Months, sitting next to, and nursing my old father I realized the need of a place where he could be, not alone but with F R I E N D S… truly cared for… not dependent and also not alone either.

I used to meet people who due to destiny or not finding a suitable partner or… their decision of staying single or some other (pressing) reason like not finding a suitable partner, or the feeling of not affording to have one, lived alone for years. They either had no children, or had either their children away in far lands… or busy in their own lives… somehow have no one around to look after them due to various constraints… I felt that I could not do so, so I married in the age of 50, but how many people can dare to do so… either social or family pressures does not allow them to do so.

There are few lucky ones, who had resources and health… few not so lucky ones, who had resources but no health… and few, who had neither resources nor health.

I used to feel sad for them… admire their courage… and wondered if I could do something for them, but this thought remained deep inside my mind until I went to Patiala due to my father’s sickness. He comes in the second category… who has resources but no health…

It was so painful to see my Daddy, who is 81 now, in such a condition of being very dependent on others… We lost our mother in 1989, since then he’s living alone… He was known as a Lion in the family, today he is lying helpless in the bed… dependent on someone even to fulfill his basic needs. However, we managed to get a full daycare attendant for him... but all of us know how reliable these people are… she left in a month and is gone since she got a job near her house and so…

He had one son ( our brother ) whom he /we lost in an accident in 1974. One daughter ( Me ) in Delhi and another, my elder sister, living in next door house in Patiala. She has her own large family three daughters and one son all married & settled in Patiala itself… so, has lot of responsibilities. She has no choice than to attend to his basic needs / requirements and then has no choice than to leave him alone locked inside the house… even after wanting, neither of us ( I am back to Delhi due to my kids exams now… something else would crop up later ) can be with him all the time.

Now, I am convinced that I want to create a LONER’S PARADISE where people like my Daddy are independent and have company too. They have all the comforts, availability of properly cooked and nourishing food, security, company, entertainment also nursing if required…

• A housing complex, which has one to four bedroom apartments, also a hostel type complex with single room accommodation for non affording. Where either a group of people, who choose to live together as 2-3 friends, or a couple will be allotted an apartment. Criterion is ‘single or couple and above 55‘

• These apartments cannot be given to people who do not meet the above two criteria’s.
• In case of demise of the occupant, either this apartment can be passed on to a person of the same age group in their family, or the ‘Managing Society’ will look for another alternative. And allot it to another person in queue requiring the accommodation ( it can not be kept blocked by the family of the previous occupant for a later date for more than 6 months ) and the current value of the apartment will be passed on to the beneficiary.
• 24 hours security for the complex.
• Alarm in every room to be used in case of need, linked to security office. One key of the main door in security office.
• A fully equipped emergency clinic to deal with Medical emergencies with round the clock Doctor. Other specialized doctors also to be available on call.
• A fully equipped Ambulance with doctor, nurse and attendant available, round the clock… who could be also attending the patients in emergency clinic in their free time.
• A club house, hall ( with film screen ) Gym, Swimming pool, coffee shop, Park with the walking track, Medical store and few stores with items required for daily requirement.
• Catering service in case some one does not want to cook at home.
• Also one monthly outing. A cultural program a month. One latest movie. One group dinner. Arrangements for all festival celebrations and so on.
• A manager and staff to manage the above.
• A group of 4 – 5 people / dedicated volunteers to surprise check the arrangements at all levels, having access to all areas.
• Facilities like solar water heater, generator, and big water tank for ample supply of water.
• Water filter and a small refrigerator provided in every apartment… and bigger ones as per need for the hostel.
• Central heating and cooling system.

When in today’s scenario, while jobs are too demanding, couples are working overtime and children are busy with their own activities… and also the generation gap does not allow things to move in the direction of our senior citizens choice. Also, the pace and the style of life of the younger people does not suit them & they feel left alone. I believe they deserve a place like this, which could be a Boon for affording and surely support for non affording.

I wish to appeal all to give their suggestions to polish this idea, since we all have someone like my Dad in their family and support to create one.

Thank you for traveling through my dream patiently.

Ravinder Rana