October 3, 2017

How does living in an HDB Studio Apartment impact the well-being of its residents? International Day of Older Persons is celebrated annually worldwide on 1 October to recognise the contributions of older persons to society. On this day, the National Council of Social Service seeks to debunk the myths of ageing by encouraging Singaporeans to interact with seniors such as by hosting them to a meal.

Within the residential landscape, there has been a shift in living arrangements for seniors, from staying with their families to living on their own in Housing Development Board (HDB) studio apartments. Launched in the late 1990s for residents aged 55 and above, these apartments are more economical and seniors have more opportunities to socialize and receive assistance at neighbourhood drop-in centres.

A/P Thang Leng Leng (Department of Japanese Studies), in Living Independently, Living Well: Seniors Living in Housing and Development Board Studio Apartments in Singapore (2014), found that elderly women have more social competence than men, with many taking advantage of the activities available in these local centres. In contrast, fewer elderly men attend these centres and some prefer to pass their time at nearby coffee shops instead. Thang contends that these apartments can help senior citizens balance their desire for independence with proximity to children and the wish to maintain close familial relationships. Thus, Thang argues that such studio apartments and their surroundings should be designed in a way that makes them appealing to visiting relatives.

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