Immigrate to Singapore focus on Singapore Immigration Guide: Home-based care and free services are the two keywords of Singapore's elderly care system. The government-led model is primarily free, characterized by a 'de-industrialized' approach, and supported by a coordinated and mutually reinforcing working mechanism among all departments related to elderly care. Singapore's social security network for an aging society has become increasingly mature. The combination of Studio Apartments and hospice care can basically ensure that the elderly enjoy their later years without additional expenses.
The former Four Asian Tigers have gradually entered an aging society. Currently, for every 9 Singaporeans, 1 is over 65 years old. This ratio will reach 3:1 by 2030. By then, Singapore will have approximately 900,000 elderly people, which is double the 440,000 in 2015. In other words, by 2030, every two working-age Singaporean adults will need to support 1 elderly person.
To address this situation, since the 1990s, the Singaporean government has begun to comprehensively build a social security network for an aging society across multiple dimensions, including pensions, medical care, nursing, employment, children, urban planning, and infrastructure. Among these, Studio Apartments and hospice care span the entire later life of the elderly.
Studio Apartments are a home-based elderly care model promoted by Singapore since 1998: Singaporean citizens sell their larger properties to cash out, using part of the money to purchase a Studio Apartment and the rest as supplementary funds beyond their pension. Currently, Studio Apartments have become an important way for Singapore to solve the issues of 'housing for the elderly' and 'care for the elderly'.
Studio Apartments are generally 'slab-style' buildings with over 10 floors. The unit layouts are primarily designed to meet the needs of one or two elderly people, including two types: 35 m2 and 45 m2 (usable area). The ground floor of the apartment is elevated and equipped with rest areas and convenience facilities. The second floor provides elderly care services and essential facilities, such as medical clinics, activity centers, and psychological counseling rooms.
To make Studio Apartments more suitable for the elderly, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) not only selects locations in communities with complete supporting facilities but also specifically renovates and adds numerous convenient facilities and services, which has become an important factor for the elderly to choose to settle here.
The internal and external facilities of Studio Apartments are designed according to the needs of the elderly. For example, wider doors and elevator lobbies facilitate wheelchair access, larger buttons for gas and water heaters, brighter room lighting, and countless handrails, rest areas, and customized fitness equipment.
In addition, there are targeted, meticulous designs in some details. For instance, the heights of switches, doorbells, and window handles are lowered to accommodate elderly people with stooped postures. Considering that the elderly may suffer from incontinence, toilets are located close to bedrooms and equipped with night lights. The areas under kitchen counters, sinks, and bathroom vanities are designed to be concave so that the elderly can sit while using them if needed. Each unit is equipped with 4 emergency pull cords in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room to facilitate emergency calls if the elderly encounter danger.
Another reason attracting the elderly to live here is the Senior Activity Center located downstairs. The service center is not only equipped with professional medical and nursing staff to assist the elderly physically and mentally but also frequently organizes various entertainment activities to enrich their later years.
Not everyone living in Singapore can apply for a Studio Apartment. It is reported that applicants must be HDB flat owners aged 55 or above and must be Singaporean citizens. Couples must apply for purchase together; single, divorced, or widowed HDB flat owners are all eligible to apply. Considering the desire to reunite with children, the HDB will assign the elderly to the Studio Apartment closest to their children.
The leasehold of Studio Apartments is shorter than that of general HDB flats. According to the person in charge of the HDB's Studio Apartment unit, 'The leasehold is generally 30 years, which can be extended appropriately afterward, but they cannot be resold; they can only be sold back to the HDB. If the owner does not want to keep the Studio Apartment or passes away, the government will refund the balance based on the proportion of the property price.'
Out of consideration for reducing elderly care costs, the Singaporean government has set relatively low prices. The average selling price for a 35-square-meter unit is about 50,000 Singapore dollars, and 70,000 Singapore dollars for a 45-square-meter unit. However, by 2015, this price also rose to about 100,000 Singapore dollars due to the increase in construction and installation costs.