In advancing years, one is lucky if he is not struck with any disability. The same applies to his spouse too. However, even when free from ailments, managing the show during twilight years becomes difficult and a tiring effort. Maintenance hassles where people are perpetually dependent upon mercies of plumbers and other domestic commitments take away precious time and sap energies beyond limits.

Physical security of elders has been a cause of major concern. One keeps reading in newspapers about gory tales of mayhem, assault and murder of the elderly couples. The situation is equally worse when elders are sharing households with the children. The environment is still unsafe, since invariably both the spouses are working.

Activity with regard to setting up of Senior Citizens Homes, of late, has picked up momentum in major cities. Municipal corporations and business houses are vying with each other to establish Age-Care Centres. But what is the truth? Though these centres have mushroomed in metropolitan cities in large number; in reality they have hardly made significant contributions. Their credibility is yet to be established.

Initiative taken by Indian Air Force authorities in this regard is worth a mention. The illustrious chiefs and the commanders have always kept the issue of welfare of ex-servicemen closer to their hearts. They have kept it in constant focus. In a profession built on sacrifice and devotion, the elders must be given their dues in a consistent and fair manner; more so when the retired fraternity has always been at the beck and call of serving combatants - in peace and during war. A large number of our officers and dairymen having achieved the status of senior citizens, their children having been settled, are facing difficulties in maintaining independent establishments. In certain cases the situation has got worsened as either or both of the spouses are not keeping good health.

AF took a lead and established a Senior Citizens Home- the first of its kind in the country- to provide a holistic cover to the elders. Built at a cost of 5 crores, the complex has 2 wings with a total of 76 rooms. Each residential unit has an attached bathroom and a small balcony. There is a dining hall on every floor and the complex has provisions for recreational activities. Services such as laundry, local/STD telecom, card room, yoga/physical exercise hall and reading room will come up in stages. Medical cover is available in accordance with individual’s entitlement. In addition, there is an excellent hook-up with leading civil/military hospitals. The Home will have its own ambulance to convey sick resident(s) to any referral hospital as and when required. A unique feature of this project is the "transit facility". The IAF personnel (serving and retired) visiting capital for miscellaneous reasons like specialised medical treatment, negotiation/shopping for the marriage of the children, send-off to their wards going abroad etc have the privilege to stay (for short durations) in Senior Citizens Home at comparatively moderate rate than the open market.

Mrs Molina Tipnis, President AFWWA (Central) wife of Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, Chief of Air Staff declared the Home open during a brief and colourful Grih Pravesh ceremony at Tughlakabad, New Delhi. The function was attended by serving and retired personnel and their families along with the incumbents who had registered with the Senior Citizens Home. The Senior Citizens Home has started functioning in full swing. All senior citizens of Indian Air Force (65 and above) are welcome to join. For queries, one may contact:

Chief Executive Officer, Senior Citizens Home, 62-64, Institutional Area, Tughlakabad, MB Road, Near Batra Hospital, New Delhi-110062