How Green Building Design Benefits Senior Health and Sustainability in Luxury Retirement Homes in Kolkata

Nursing care and a social hall: what’s your dream of an ideal retirement home? 

Green walls and climate-smart air conditioning? 

In an ageing India, a smart senior living revolution is ongoing, with architects and planners placing the environment on a pedestal. In cities like Kolkata, a new concept called “Green Building Design” is slowly but steadily gaining ground as a critical part of optimal ageing and independent living. After all, it’s not just the human aspects of care that need to be extra special for senior citizens. With Kolkata’s high luxury home builders leading the charge, the physical world around us has to be built right.

 Jagriti Dham stands at the forefront of this revolution. As Eastern India’s first IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) Certified Sustainable Eldercare Living Facility, it goes far beyond the traditional definition of an old age home in Kolkata. It is a testament to the belief that a healthy place nurtures healthy people. We explore the profound connection between sustainable design and senior health and why eco-friendly infrastructure is the hidden secret to a longer, happier life.

How Do Natural Light and Air Quality in Green Buildings Improve Senior Health?

Did you know that the quality of light in your room can dictate the quality of your sleep? For seniors, indoor environmental quality is a health determinant. Jagriti Dham boasts an impressive statistic: around 97% availability of daylight. This is not by accident; it is by design. Natural light is the master switch for the circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. As we age, sleep often becomes fragmented. Abundant exposure to sunlight helps reset this clock, reducing the need for medication and improving mental alertness. Furthermore, sunlight is a natural source of Vitamin D, a non-negotiable requirement for the bone health of every senior citizen.

But it’s not just about light; it’s about the air we breathe. Green buildings prioritise cross-ventilation and the use of non-toxic materials, minimising the presence of harmful chemicals like VOCs. For a senior citizens care service, this is a game-changer. It means residents with respiratory sensitivities can breathe easier—literally. A rush of fresh, oxygen-rich air sharpens the mind and boosts energy levels. A gentle walk amidst green tones tones the body. These are just some of the many reasons to know that the best medicine is indeed fresh air.

Humans have the primal urge to connect with nature; the term used to describe this desire is “biophilia”. But what does “Biophilia” have to do with an old-age care home? It’s all about creating an environment that integrates nature into the surroundings as a part of the design approach. 

What is biophilic design for a senior living community?

More than just a landscaping exercise, each plant is a medicine for the mind and body. Scientific research has found that the mere act of viewing trees and walking around a green garden lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels in the body. For an elder home, this is a matter of life and breath (literally!). Jagriti Dham’s campus alone occupies a massive 43% of the total campus.

The carpeted greens and wide-open spaces beckon the seniors to walk out and stretch their legs, meet a friend, and literally “take a walk”. This is an effective way to reduce loneliness, which is a common cause of mental illness in the elderly. The organic farms on campus are also great fun for the residents to pick up the lost hobby of gardening, which helps with their dexterity as well as brightens their mood. The stark contrast with the concrete jungle outside is a big reason to love the green cover of Jagriti Dham.

But What About Thermal Comfort? Why Does Green Building Design Make Luxury Retirement Homes in Kolkata Comfortable?

We’ve all experienced how a room can turn unbearably hot during the summer and ice-cold in the winter. For the elderly, these temperature extremes have a knock-on effect on health and blood pressure. This is where the thermal comfort of green building design takes over. Superior insulation and shading devices, together with the high energy performance of light fixtures and appliances, allow a building like Jagriti Dham to keep the indoor climate stable.

Jagriti Dham saves nearly 20% in its energy bills, but the resident wins the prize for the comfortable home (indoors and outdoors). This thermal stability is a big help for elders with cardiovascular conditions, who have increased sensitivity to the rising mercury. The best part? Sustainable architecture also solves the urban “heat island” effect. By using reflective surfaces and vegetation, the microclimate around the facility stays cooler. This makes luxury retirement homes in Kolkata, like Jagriti Dham, not just residences but climate-controlled havens that encourage a lifestyle of mobility and interaction.

At a Glance

•  Water conservation is key to maintaining hygiene in any assisted living facility in India.
• Nutritious food is a critical part of the green building ethos of senior citizens’ housing.
• A comfortable, toxin-free environment makes a green home a natural choice for families.

How Does Water Conservation Ensure Better Hygiene in Assisted Living Facilities?

Water Conservation Maintains Hygiene in an Assisted Living Facility in India. Water is the source of life. In a way, it is the source of hygiene. In an assisted living facility in India, there can be no compromise on a constant supply of clean, potable water.

Jagriti Dham is equipped with water-saving fixtures, reducing consumption by nearly 35%.

It is a victory for the environment. But more importantly, it is a victory for the residents. Conscious water management means a consistent supply to maintain their cleaning, bathing, and sanitation standards. 

Moreover, the incorporation of recycled content (about 10%) in the construction materials has minimised the carbon footprint. It is a virtuous cycle – environment-friendly building practices guarantee a strong, healthy infrastructure that will enable the residents to enjoy the world-class facilities in senior assisted living apartments.

What Role Does Green Living Play in Senior Nutrition and Wellness?

Environment-friendliness is not just a building aspect but a lifestyle choice. It starts with food. At the foundation of any senior citizens’ housing plan is health. In order to sustain the body, it must be nourished. The “Healthy Living & Nutrition” plan at Jagriti Dham is an extension of its green initiatives.

The food is cooked in-house, under strict supervision, to provide healthy, well-balanced vegetarian meals. The use of organic, natural produce, much of it sourced from the community’s organic patches, takes the farm-to-fork idea to its best expression. 

Meals are free of artificial additives and cooking preservatives. When you choose the best luxury retirement homes in Kolkata, you know that the ingredients used are a form of medicine. Carefully prepared according to a personalised dietary schedule and monitored by nutrition experts, these diets can even help in the treatment of lifestyle disorders such as diabetes. In a true green building, all aspects work in harmony to promote a positive, healthy lifestyle.

Switching to the Best Retirement Homes in India

Parents are not easily convinced to leave the family home. Emotional attachments make it a challenging decision. For the new-age, discerning family, the choice of a green building is as much an emotional decision as a value-based one.

Why Are Families Prioritising Sustainable Retirement Homes in India?

Living in a green building brings the reassurance that their loved one is in an environment free of toxins and chemicals that promote wellness. A superior quality of life is one less worry for parents. The reduction of noise pollution, from the quality of insulation and other soundproofing devices, is one part of the experience. The tranquility of lush, green plants and the absence of dust, smog, and exhaust fumes make for a physical difference, too. In the quest to find the best retirement homes in India, more and more families are looking for the “Green Advantage”. Ageing is then a choice – “fade away” becomes “fade gracefully”.

Final Thought

The “Green Advantage” in elder care may be a relatively new concept in India. But we are certain it will be the new norm in the future of ageing with dignity. The difference is in the focus on not just curing the ill but proactively promoting wellness through the power of nature. Jagriti Dham is showing the way for how luxury retirement homes in Kolkata can also be the ultimate health sanctuaries. 

By opting for a green home, the family knows that their loved one will be living in an environment that supports and nurtures every breath they take. From the warmth of the sun-soaked rooms to the vitamins in every morsel of food, every aspect of a green home is a building block for a longer, healthier life. When choosing the best place for their parents, family members will do well to look for the “Green Advantage” first.

Ready to witness this eco-friendly senior living facility? Call us today to schedule a visit and experience the difference firsthand. 

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