THE new perception of a retirement village is not of a nursing
home for the elderly sickly and poor, but of a bustling residential
centre for the new generation of active, elderly Singaporeans.
Their profile will be different from previous generations. They
are likely to be in their 50s and form the bulk of Singapore's
changing elderly population.
The new silver generation will mostly be well-educated and
relatively financially independent when they retire. They are also
likely to be healthy enough not to require round-the-clock nursing
home care.
Their key concern, be they married or single, childless or
otherwise, is to grow old gracefully and aspire to quality,
individual living. They do not want to be dependent on their
children and understand their children's need for their own
space.
This new aged generation will reshape the traditional notions of
ageing.
So, their concept of a retirement village is not a nursing or
sheltered home, or for that matter a 30-year lease HDB studio
flat.
Having travelled more and sampled more of life's pleasures, they
will expect a finer lifestyle. What they are likely to expect of a
retirement village will be a menu of homes, tailored to price and
affordability. Facilities they expect may include a well-being
centre, exercise facilities, library, swimming pool, hairdressing
salon, bistro, security, emergency back-up, communal lounge,
gardens and guest suites where relatives can stay for a fee.
Retirement developments should be in a high-growth area in
Singapore. The social interactions possible within such a village
concept would provide an ideal environment for continued active
retirement. The families of these senior citizens would desire to
visit too - with the grandchildren having a swim and then lunch or
dinner with their grandparents.
Such retirement villages will not become cut off from society at
all and older people will unlikely end up alone.
I hope the authorities and developers will embrace such a
concept for new ageing citizens and not wait until it is too late
to discover that the bulk of us have happily and actively retired
to neighbouring countries.
Julia Ng (Ms)
