The special report in Saturday's Straits Times is of interest to retirees. The report which spreads over eight broadsheet pages centres on retirement living, and gives readers an insight into the advances made in retirement living in the Netherlands, the US and the UK.
Watching telly (or dozing off) in an.old folks home. |
However, the distinction must be made between these establishments and retirement homes. The latter, as these pictures below show (taken by Radha Basu of Straits Times), are for retirees who are still active and independent. It is an example of communal living with all the comforts of home.
GROUP LUNCH: Residents in Hampstead House, an Abbeyfield Society home, tucking into a meal prepared by an in-house cook. |
Residents at Humanitas facilities enjoy amenities such as a hair salon, gym and supermarket. They can also take part in 40 different activities spread out across the week. (Photo: Straits Times) |
For a myriad of personal reasons, there are elderly parents who would rather live on their own than move in with their adult children. But living on their own at that age puts them at risk. What if something happens to them?
Communal living offers the ideal solution. It can be in an apartment block, in a housing enclave, or in a huge bungalow. The residents enjoy the comfort and privacy of their own room. And if they want some company, there are friends in the next room or on the same floor. There are activities to keep them engaged, if they are interested. Or they can choose to go out alone or with friends. They have the freedom to come and go, to mingle with others or be left alone.
Putrajaya is an ideal location for a retirement home. But getting the land for it is an impossible dream. |
Unfortunately, housing developers in Singapore and Malaysia are hesitant about investing billions in such ventures. They still hold to the view that Asian culture and values do not encourage such living arrangements, and therefore, there is no market for such independent housing for the elderly.
So the wait for a retirement home here continues...
Related articles:
A Retirement Home Or A Retirement Village?
Housing Options for the Retirement Years
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