What to Check When Visiting a Retirement Home in Kerala
Must verify — documents and records
Ask to see the Form IV Certificate of Registration, displayed at the premises, and check the issue date, licensed capacity and Pay Home/Charitable Home designation against what you've been told. If you're buying or leasing a unit, separately check the project's K-RERA registration on the K-RERA portal before the visit, not just from what's shown to you on-site. See how to check registration in full for the details.
Good practice — physical checks
Walk into a resident bathroom yourself rather than viewing a model unit: check for grab rails actually installed and at a usable height, non-slip flooring especially near showers, and reasonably wide doorways. Ask to see (not just be told about) the emergency call system — a bell, intercom or panic button — and test it if possible. Note visible fire safety equipment and whether exits are clear. Cross-check the stated toilet-to-resident and bathroom-to-resident numbers against the guidelines' minimums and against what you actually see on the wing.
Questions to ask — because you can't see them
How many staff are on the premises overnight, and can you speak to one now. What's the actual hospital or ambulance response time from this location, not the straight-line distance. How has the fee structure changed over the last few years. What's the process — in writing — if you decide to leave. It's worth taking the resident-interview questions with you and speaking to current residents directly, away from staff, if the home allows it.
Site visit checklist
- Form IV certificate displayed, with issue date and licensed capacity matching what you were told
- K-RERA registration checked online in advance, if buying or leasing a unit
- Grab rails, non-slip flooring and doorway width checked in an actual resident bathroom
- Emergency call system located and tested if possible
- Fire exits and equipment visibly in place and unobstructed
- Overnight staffing numbers and roles asked directly, not assumed from daytime staffing
- Realistic (not straight-line) travel time to the nearest hospital confirmed
- Fee increase history for the last few years requested
- Written exit/refund process requested, not a verbal summary
Sources & further reading
This guide is provided for general information and research purposes. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules can depend on the specific type of property, operator, agreement and individual circumstances. Where a decision involves a substantial sum, inheritance, tax or contractual dispute, get advice from a lawyer or chartered accountant who can look at your specific documents.