At the age of 72, Capt (Retd) K Prabhakar Reddy is learning how to cook. Often, he refers to his writing pad, in which he has recipes for curry, pulao and upma written down. At times he calls his sister in the US and seeks her help with regard to the amount of salt and chilli he needs to use in a dish. Or else he flips through the recently purchased cookery books.

Mr Reddy, who has undergone two by-pass surgeries finds it difficult to cook for himself. He has served in the Indian Navy for more than 35 years and now lives alone in a cottage (400 sq ft) allotted to him by LICHFL Care Homes Ltd at a cost of Rs 5.35 lakh in Madanayakanahalli, 18 kms from Majestic, on Tumkur Road.

The company, a subsidiary of the Life Insurance Corporation, launched the project of  providing cottages to senior citizens, who are independent. Over an area of 10 acres, the company has built 98 villas of three different built-up areas (400 sq ft, 600 sq ft and 800 sq ft). Moreover, the allottees are only given the occupancy certificates, which is transferred to the nominee after the death of the allottee and not the ownership rights.

The company had offered full medical care, departmental stores, soft surround music, kitchen, library, home theatre, 24-hour car service (with driver at a call), ambulance, routine medical check-up, laundry, post office, bank ATM and a pleasant ambience. The cottages were inaugurated in March 2006. Allottees were allowed to occupy their units from June 2006. So far, only 13 units out of 98 have been occupied. The company collects a maintenance charge of Rs 1,500 per month from each occupant.

However, those who have occupied the units are not getting the facilities that were assured. Six occupants, including Reddy, live here without any caretakers. They decided to live alone as the company assured them of canteen facility and medical care. The facility continued for a few days after the inauguration. Later, it was closed, on the grounds that it was not profitable. Since then, Mr Reddy has started to learn cooking. Similar is the fate of 82-year old J S Iyer, a retired Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) Officer.

Mr G S Appadu, a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, lives with his wife in a cottage. When he complained of severe chest pain one midnight this August, his wife had a difficult time trying to get medical help.

She contacted the Lifeline Hospital, which has tied up with LICHFL for health care of the occupants. The hospital authorities declined to offer service in the Care Home, but asked her to bring the patient to the hospital. She had to shift Mr Appadu next day with the help of other occupants.

Mr Appadu said, “The company has cheated us. They assured us that they would provide complete medical care. But to date, no doctor has come here even for routine check-ups. If we complain of poor facilities, they ask us to go out. Is this the way to behave with senior citizens?”

He said the company has not provided telephones at the security office. “How can we contact the office at the time of emergency?” he asked. The company has provided an ambulance, which is not well-equipped. This reporter visited the cottage complex after Deccan Herald received a letter by Mr Subbaraja, president of Resident Welfare Association, on poor infrastructure facilities provided for occupants. The reality check by this reporter showed that roads in the premises of the Care Home are in shambles. Forget senior citizens even youths will struggle to tread on them.

The association has already submitted a memorandum to the Governor, Prime Minister and President seeking facilities as assured by the company. So far they have not received any response.          

‘Efforts to meet demands’

“The roads have developed craters due to rains. However, the company is taking steps to improve the
facilities and it takes time. We have a tie-up with the Lifeline Hospital, which offers medical service as the need arises. We can’t appoint a doctor exclusively for the Care Home as the occupancy rate is very low. Moreover, the company has not made any promises to the allottees about providing all facilities. Similarly, it is difficult to run a canteen only for a few. However, the company is making efforts to meet the demands.”

Gunesh Kumar, senior manager,
LIC (deputed to look after Care Home).