Old age care is getting formalised, especially in Colombo. As life pushes you to make decisions about yourself or your loved ones, finding the right care can seem like a challenge. In this guide, we break down the different avenues available for you in Colombo.
Elder care is rapidly changing, with a range of price options — including retirement resorts, nursing services, and residential care.
A complete list of elders’ homes in the Colombo District, sourced from the National Secretariat for Elders, is here. Options range from charitable to paid rooms, and we’ve outlined a few below to help you get started.
- The La Serena elderly retirement resort is about a 40-minute drive from Colombo. Its beautiful location gives you access to rooms with either the garden or sea view. La Serena also offers residence for couples — 165,000 rupees for semi-luxury garden view or 200,000 rupees for a semi-luxury sea view. If you’re single, you can pick from single standard rooms for 99,000 rupees, 138,000 rupees for semi-luxury garden views, and 175,000 rupees for semi-luxury sea view rooms.
- At the Grace Perera Home for Elders, rooms are available for men and women between 35,000 and 50,000 rupees (prices vary depending on room size). You need a 100,000 rupee deposit to enter, and the cost includes all meals and utilities. But, you have to pay for your medicines separately. An elevator allows you easy access through the home. They have a charitable arm as well for non-paying residents.
- At Windsor Gardens in Havelock, you can access both independent and assisted living. Independent living costs 300,000 rupees per month.
- The Salina Alwis Elderly Home is completely free-of-charge, accepting residents between the ages of 65 and 70. Sri Lankadhara is also mostly free. A few rooms are available for paying residents, at a cost of about 25,000 rupees per month. If you’re looking to do a good deed this Christmas, Sri Lankadhara is currently accepting donations for their annual trip.
- The Sahana Udaya Elder Retirement Home spans across a large land in Dehiwala. It’s entirely charitable, accepting residents from all walks of life.
The National Secretariat for Elders is a great place for further advice. The services offered, like day centres, elders’ committees, and the maintenance board, are geared towards low-income elders, but it’s also a useful resource for anyone seeking a greater understanding of the laws and protections offered to the elderly by the state.
Another charitable organisation working with disadvantaged senior citizens is HelpAge Sri Lanka. And finally, read our Examination on the changing dynamics of elders and elderly care in Sri Lanka here.
The Examiner has no relationship, monetary or otherwise, with any of these homes.
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