Retirement Home vs. Old Age Home in Kerala — What's the Difference?
Charitable Homes
Registered under the same 2016 guidelines as Pay Homes, a Charitable Home admits indigent senior citizens — as determined by an income threshold set by the state — on a free or subsidised basis. These are typically run by NGOs, religious or community organisations, and are not a commercial product in the way the other two categories are.
Pay Homes
Also registered with the Social Justice Department under the same guidelines, a Pay Home is a commercial, fee-charging care home — you pay, typically monthly, for accommodation and a defined level of support, without owning the unit. See retirement home vs. senior care home for more on what this model actually involves day to day.
Ownership-model retirement communities
This is the newer category — apartments, villas or cottages marketed to retirees, sold or long-leased as real estate, potentially falling under K-RERA if the project exceeds the 500 sq. m / 8-apartment threshold. This is a property transaction first, with care services (if offered) typically layered on as a separate, optional service contract. See is senior living in Kerala regulated for how the two regulatory frameworks intersect.
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.