Providing your loved one with a sense of empowering control over life and lifestyle is incredibly important. However, elderly individuals often encounter numerous challenges, particularly in adapting to health issues associated with aging, such as limited mobility and increased susceptibility to illness. They require a lifestyle that promotes self-reliance and facilitates the pursuit of happiness. In response to this need, Senior living is becoming a popular concept, encompassing a variety of housing and lifestyle options for aging individuals. This emerging asset class holds significant potential, especially reported by a study that states one-fifth of the Indian population will be aged 60 years and above by 2050. As a result, there will be a growing demand for senior living properties in the coming years, offering a stable market for those interested in investing in these properties.

Manasum Luxury Senior Living, established in March 2015 by Sumathy Anantharam, the Co-Founder, is a community where elderly individuals can enjoy their retired life with independence and dignity. At Manasum Senior Living, seniors have the option to access services or assistance as they wish. The community provides support for seniors who need help with their daily activities and respects those who are self-reliant. Senior citizens and other residents are allowed to enjoy a wonderful aging experience, where they can relish, rejoice, and recreate the joys of their younger days.


Sumathy Anantharam has always been passionate about taking care of elders. Manasum Senior Living is the brainchild of Sumathy Anantharam, who founded it with the intention of assisting seniors in the community. Sumathy holds a B.Sc in Physics with a specialization in Applied Electronics and began her career at the age of 19 as a service engineer at a Bombay based company in Chennai. Despite being the only female among her colleagues, she repaired computers and set up networks for various organizations in Bangalore, including defense and public sector clients such as LRDE, ADE, CABS, ISRO, MCFR, and JNCASR. Her perseverance and confidence led her to establish herself in the industry, and she was even recognized as one of the ‘Digital Durgas of India’ by IDG magazine for her outstanding work.

With over 25 years of experience in various workspaces such as system integration, IT, security, and surveillance, Sumathy turned her focus to serving the elderly. Additionally, it was the concern of children living abroad worrying about their parents in India and their well-being that led to the idea of senior living facilities, and Manasum Senior Living came into being.

“From an early age, I observed my mother's exemplary dedication to our extended family. After getting married, I found joy in nursing and helping others. Caring for my husband's bedridden grandmother for three years reinforced my belief in giving back to society.

Especially, contemplation regarding the later stages of life and the prevalent sentiments of vulnerability and isolation experienced by individuals in their elderly years prompted my conviction that life should be lived to its utmost potential and that our efforts should be directed towards bestowing joy upon others. Consequently, I envisioned the establishment of a shelter for the destitute and an orphanage but started a retirement home due to financial constraints. Our goal is to serve residents for 15 years or more. We chose to manage the first project to understand the intricacies and ensure our principles were followed”, shares Sumathy.

The establishment of Manasum marked a great milestone in Sumathy’s career. Breaking stereotypes through her organization, Sumathy is always passionate about supporting and promoting women entrepreneurs. Over the past 10 years, Manasum has become a well-established player in the market, specializing in providing services for senior living facilities. The USP followed by Manasum is its preference to collaborate with builders to ensure that the facilities meet all specifications, and commitment to signing 15-year contracts that can be renewed, providing residents with peace of mind regarding their ongoing service.

Breaking stereotypes through her organization, sumathy anantharam is always passionate about supporting & promoting women entrepreneurs

The well-lit corridors and ample ventilation at Manasum provide a comfortable living space for the residents. Each living space is equipped with a panic alarm system, ensuring prompt assistance in case of emergencies. Doors are designed for easy access, and latches have been intentionally excluded inside the houses to facilitate quick first aid if needed. A range of activities are organized, such as satsang, yoga, hobby classes, and dance sessions to keep residents engaged and active. Additionally, there are indoor game areas with options like snooker, table tennis, carom, and chess to provide recreational opportunities.


Also, for the residents' well-being, there are massage and spa facilities, a monitored gym, and a nursing station to address their medical needs. Informative sessions and health check-ups are arranged to ensure their holistic well-being. However, the most common challenges faced by senior living space businesses in India include the extremely high real estate prices and the difficulty and expense of finding suitable plots of land for building Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). And hence, the need for more awareness amongst the general population about assisted living facilities is required.

Journey Till Now & The Way Forward

Manasum Luxury Senior Living currently operates four to five subsidiary companies with around 70-80 employees. The journey began with just one company, and now the subsidiary company Banyan is fully established. Within a year, the company has sold over 140 apartments, with only about 35 apartments remaining in Banyan. Additionally, the company has partnered with a company in Goa to build the first retirement home in the area which is being developed by Prescon. The property sits on 7.5 acres and will consist of 240 apartments. Sales have already begun, and operations are set to commence this September 2024. By then, about 100 units are expected to be operational, with the entire 240 units to be completed and services started by the following September. The property also includes a 30,000 sq. ft. clubhouse with all necessary services.

Furthermore, Manasum Senior Living has partnered with a company in Mysore for a 2-acre property with approximately 240 units, which is currently in the planning stage. More announcements regarding this will be made soon. Additionally, the company is discussing a few more proposals in Bangalore, which will be announced in due time. The goal is to have 2500 units by December 31, 2025. Manasum aims to see many happy faces enjoying their lives and the services offered by it. The company aspires to be recognized as one of the best luxury retirement homes in India, offering affordable prices and the best quality. The company has received Best Retirement Homes 2019 by Quikr Homes, Premium Retirement Homes of the Year by Economic Times Power Icon 2020, Best Senior Living Homes by Nationwide Awards 2023 hosted by Business Mint, Best Senior Living Project by Realty conclave south awards by Realty+ South Conclave 2023.