Ithithanam is a village on the northern edge of Changanassery, in the south of Kottayam district. Changanassery is one of Kerala's great church towns: the seat of the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Changanacherry, home to St. Berchmans College and a long-established market on the MC Road. Ithithanam itself is residential and green, with the parish church of St. Mary at its centre and houses set among coconut and rubber.
Families exploring senior living in Ithithanam are usually from the Changanassery area or have close ties to the archdiocese. The village gives a quiet setting with a strong church presence, while Changanassery's hospitals and shops, and Kottayam town to the north, remain within easy reach. Elkin lists one home here, and it is important to understand what kind of home it is before you call.
St. Joseph's Priest Home, Ithithanam
St. Joseph's Priest Home is run by the Archdiocese of Changanacherry. It was established as a residence for retired and elderly priests of the archdiocese, and it has served as home to senior clergy, including a former archbishop. Its listed care is that of an assisted living home: daily health monitoring, help with personal hygiene, nursing support from trained caregivers, palliative care, physiotherapy, planned meals and an emergency response system. Rooms are furnished and wheelchair accessible, with a garden, Wi-Fi and power backup.
Because it is a priests' home, families looking for a place for a lay parent should ask the archdiocese directly whether lay residents are accepted. Elkin's advisors can make that enquiry for you, and if the answer is no, suggest church-run homes in and around Changanassery and Kottayam that do take lay residents.
This kind of home is part of a long tradition in Kerala's church towns, where dioceses and congregations care for their own elderly priests and religious in dedicated houses. For lay families, the more relevant options are usually the parish and congregation-run homes nearby, which follow a similar routine of prayer, meals and nursing but are open to the public.
Living near Changanassery
- Hospitals. Changanassery has well-established hospitals, including mission hospitals, and Kottayam's Medical College and Caritas Hospital are reachable to the north. Ask the home which hospital it uses.
- On the MC Road. Changanassery is on the main road and railway line between Kottayam and Thiruvalla, with frequent buses and trains.
- A church town. The archdiocese, its parishes, schools and colleges give the area a strong community life and many familiar faces for residents.
- Quiet streets. Ithithanam is calmer than the Changanassery market area, with green surroundings for daily walks.
What senior care costs around Changanassery
Senior care around Changanassery is in line with the rest of Kottayam district, which is more affordable than Kochi. As a rough guide, a church-run or paid old age home in the Changanassery area costs about ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 a month, assisted living with nursing about ₹20,000 to ₹45,000, and palliative or bedridden care about ₹35,000 to ₹60,000. Medicines, consumables and specialist visits are usually extra. Each home sets its own fees, so confirm the current figures directly. Our guide on palliative and hospice care compared with assisted living explains which suits which situation.
Old age homes and other options nearby
Many families searching for an old age home in Ithithanam or Changanassery are looking for a church-run home for a lay parent. For other senior living in the district:
- Senior living in Kuzhimattom, north towards Kottayam, where Bethany Asram runs a faith-based home with visiting physicians.
- Senior living in Puthuppally, east of Kottayam, with a retirement home run by the Daughters of St. Camillus.
- Senior living in Manjathanam, near Mallappally to the east, with a small care home.
- All senior living homes in Kottayam, and assisted living homes in Kottayam.
Elkin's advisors can check admission rules with the archdiocese and suggest other homes near Changanassery. Call or WhatsApp +91 95005 10506 (10 AM to 8 PM IST).
