Creating integrated healthcare programmes, enabling older persons to be more active socially and physically, and strengthening trust and cohesion within the community are key efforts undertaken by Health District @ Queenstown (HD@QT) to promote purposeful and healthy longevity. Findings from a new study conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences reinforces HD@QT’s commitment towards a holistic and integrated approach to health and well-being.

Led by Associate Professor Jia Lile from the NUS Department of Psychology, the research team conducted the Baseline Study for Health District @ Queenstown using surveys, interviews and focus groups discussions to gain a comprehensive understanding of Queenstown residents’ well-being, health and health-related experiences. The team was also guided by Associate Professor Lim Yee Wei from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Professor Leonard Lee from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk at NUS and NUS Business School.

A major part of the Baseline Study consists of a multi-wave survey. Phase 1 of the survey was conducted from September 2023 to May 2024, engaging over 5,000 Queenstown residents from all walks of life; for example, participants are aged between 21 to 102 years old, and staying in various types of housing. Residents responded to questions pertaining to diverse domains such as productivity, physical and psychological well-being, and social cohesion.

Assoc Prof Jia said, “The Baseline Study is a pulse-taking project that adopts a bottom-up approach to engage residents, allowing us to hear their voices and gain a deeper understanding of their current needs and future aspirations. The insights gathered will serve as the foundation for future programmes. To ensure ongoing engagement, we are forming a resident panel to continuously gather insights into their evolving needs. Through this platform, we aim to co-develop programmes that best address and serve these needs.”

The results of the Baseline Study were shared by Senior Minister of State for National Development & Digital Development and Information Mr Tan Kiat How at the opening of Happy Village @ Mei Ling on 15 March 2025. This is a new community space that brings together health and social care partners, as well as volunteers, to holistically take care of health and well-being needs within the community.

At Happy Village @ Mei Ling, the National University Health System (NUHS) is piloting an innovative care model known as the Blended Care Team (BCT), which will work closely with residents to co-develop personalised care plans, seamlessly integrating health and social expertise with strong community engagement to improve the physical, mental and social well-being of residents living in the Mei Ling and Stirling neighbourhoods.

The Baseline Study and Happy Village @ Mei Ling are the latest initiatives under HD@QT, a multi-stakeholder collaboration led by NUS, NUHS and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), working closely with multiple partners from the public, private and people sectors.

Multiple well-being factors play a crucial role in shaping overall health

Based on the findings of the Baseline Study, NUS researchers deduced that overall health is influenced by various physical, mental and psychological well-being factors such as social connections, environment, productivity and engagement.

Integrated solutions in national health programmes that consider these various factors can enhance the health and well-being of individuals across their life stages, enabling them to lead more active and fulfilling lives. Notably, the multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary approach of HD@QT enables the development of sustainable solutions to increase healthy longevity, enable purposeful longevity, promote intergenerational bonding, and empower residents to age in place.

Older adults are mentally healthy but could benefit from increased social and physical activity

In the Baseline Study, most respondents above 65 years old reported that they have good mental health, while about two-thirds revealed that they do not actively participate in activities such as exercising, volunteering and learning.

To enable older persons to stay meaningfully engaged through community-led interactions, HD@QT has introduced initiatives such as the FaithActs x Ibasho Centre at Magaret Drive, a proactive effort to create a mindset change in society where older persons are valued for their potential to contribute to the community. Regular digital clinics and upcycling craft workshops have been organised for Queenstown residents of all ages to mingle and acquire new skills. In addition, students from NUS’ Residential College 4 and Queenstown Secondary have designed creative approaches such as food hunts, cooking, and mahjong sessions to encourage older persons in Queenstown and young people to bond.

Additionally, construction for the pilot Active Health Fitness Trail at Mei Ling has begun, and Build-To-Order developments in Queenstown are designed with wellness offerings to complement the existing amenities in Queenstown. A wellness hub comprising fitness equipment for circuit workouts will be built atop the multi-storey car park at Queen’s Arc, while Queensway Canopy will have roof gardens integrated with a jogging track, fitness stations and mini obstacle courses to encourage residents to incorporate exercise into their daily routines.

Holistic care for future well-being

The researchers found that among the respondents, 25 per cent of younger adults (between 21 and 34 years old) reported less than optimal health. Limited mobility and sensory impairment may also begin earlier than 50 years old.

NUHS launched Health Together in May 2023, a community initiative alongside with its partners to support the health and wellness needs of residents in the western region of Singapore by empowering them to take ownership of their well-being and stay healthy. In addition, initiatives such as Happy Village @ Mei Ling will provide social care and healthcare services to address older persons’ social and physical health holistically.

Improve employment support for mature workers

The Baseline Study found that amongst those aged 36 years old and above, more than half have sufficient savings for short-term needs, i.e. they have sufficient savings to sustain six or more months of expenses. However, the study also showed that full-time employment starts to decline from 50 years old, which indicate risks for future financial security. Community initiatives to improve financial literacy and provide better employment support could be explored.

Strengthen trust and cohesion within the community

75 per cent of respondents in the Baseline Study enjoy strong social support from family and friends. In addition, 60 per cent said they trusted most people in the neighbourhood. This highlights a strong foundation for social cohesion, which can be further reinforced through community-driven initiatives.

To further strengthen trust and cohesion within the community, residents could come together with stakeholders and researchers at community spaces such as the recently launched Come4TeaLah! community engagement hub to co-create solutions tailored to Queenstown’s unique needs, learn about healthier lifestyles and interact with people of all ages. In addition, residents could gather with the Queenstown Kakis, a community of neighbours who hope to build kampung spirit with activities and food in a safe space for residents to interact.

Findings from the Baseline Study will help the team identify the needs of residents and enable the assessment of the overall impact of HD@QT initiatives to improve physical, mental and social well-being for Queenstown residents in the future.

Phase 2 of the Baseline Study survey is currently underway and is targeted for completion by mid-2025. The researchers will be surveying the same group of respondents to monitor if there are changes to the earlier factors over time and they will also examine new factors such as financial literacy and caregiving.