Forum: Optimise land use for eldercare facility
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I refer to the article, “All-day dining, hydrotherapy pool, hair salon bus at S’pore’s first private assisted living project” (Aug 18).
The project has 200 apartments and 100 nursing home beds. A report in 2023 said that the site allocated for the project spans about 13,000 sq m. It appears that the land-use intensity is relatively low.
At the same time, with basic packages starting at $8,000 a month, it is unclear how many ordinary Singaporeans will be able to access and benefit from this facility.
Singaporeans all agree that the country needs more quality eldercare and senior housing options as its population ages. However, should such a large tract of land be devoted to a relatively small number of high-fee units?
Could the same site serve more seniors through a mix of public, subsidised and private options, or be integrated with community facilities to increase overall utility?
I urge the relevant agencies to share more on the planning considerations behind this project and how it fits into Singapore’s broader strategy for ageing in place and efficient land use.
Ravindran Nair