The Elderly in Pune and Bengaluru identify more strongly with career, passion, and interests: The Positive Aging Report 2021 by Columbia Pacific Communities

• Crucial insights into the hearts and minds of the elderly have emerged from the Positive Aging Report 2021 commissioned by Columbia Pacific Communities.
• Over 68% elderly in Bengaluru identified with their careers, passions and interests, with 51% having started a new hobby in the last year.
• In Pune, over 57% of the surveyed elderly identified with their careers, passions and interests, with 38% choosing a new hobby in the last year.

BENGALURU: Globally, the elderly are often perceived as devoid of passion, independence, and individuality. Breaking such stereotypes, valuable insights from The Positive Aging Report 2021 commissioned by India’s and most preferred senior living community operator Columbia Pacific Communities has put the spotlight on how the elderly strongly associate their identity with careers, passions, and interests.

Of all the major cities surveyed, over 68% of elderly respondents in Bengaluru identified with their careers, passions and interests, then with family, religious beliefs, and friendships. 

Likewise in Pune, over 57% elderly identified with their careers, passions, and interests, and over a third, around 38%, had found at least one new hobby in the past year. 

Interestingly, over half of them, around 51%, started a new hobby in the past 1 year, whereas in the past 5 years, 60% of senior respondents in Bengaluru started a new hobby, interest, or passion (beyond work) compared to just 5% in Hyderabad.

Notably, 61% of senior respondents in Pune and 54% in Bengaluru introduce themselves with their profession, hobbies, and interests

“It was pleasantly surprised to see that instead of the commercial capital Mumbai and national capital Delhi, the IT cities of Bangalore and Pune had the elderly population who were most proud and embracing of their individuality. This shows that more than economic development, it’s the culture of a city that impacts the mindset and confidence of its residents. Bengaluru and Pune have been amongst the most professional, career-oriented, passion-driven cities, and apparently, this culture has permeated in the senior citizen demographic who have lived, worked, and positively aged in the city for years,” said Mohit Nirula, CEO, Columbia Pacific Communities.

Other than Bengaluru and Pune, 58%, 51%, and 27% elderly respondents from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, respectively, associated their identities with their careers, passions, and interests. At the same time, only 20%, 20%, 26%, 38%, and 50% of elderly respondents from Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, respectively, were least likely to associate their identities with that of their families.

The majority of candidates from other age groups chose different associations for defining their identities, including Gen Z and millennials, who by and large more strongly associated their identities with family and friends. Those respondents aged between 36 and 60 years identified predominantly with their families.

The Positive Ageing Report 2021 was released earlier this year. Commissioned by Columbia Pacific Communities, the report is based on face-to-face and telephonic interviews conducted by Innovative Research Services (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Over 2,000 respondents older than 18 from Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune participated in the study. The respondents between 18 and 35 years are referred to as Gen Z and millennials, and those between 36 and 45 years as Gen X in the report.

source https://nrinews24x7.com/the-elderly-in-pune-and-bengaluru-identify-more-strongly-with-career-passion-and-interests-the-positive-aging-report-2021-by-columbia-pacific-communities/

November 20, 2021