Singapore’s Community Care Apartments, an assisted-living public housing model designed for seniors, face lower-than-expected interest among older residents. Although the developments combine senior-friendly flats with integrated healthcare and social services, several factors hinder widespread adoption. Many seniors report concerns regarding mandatory service package fees, non-transferable leases, and smaller living spaces. Additionally, strong attachments to long-standing neighborhoods and existing support networks lead many older Singaporeans to prefer aging in place within their current homes rather than transitioning to specialized public housing facilities.
- Community Care Apartments pair short-lease public housing flats with mandatory service packages covering basic health monitoring, emergency response, and social programming.
- Mandatory service package fees require out-of-pocket cash payments, creating financial hesitation for retirees relying primarily on CPF savings.
- Seniors often prefer remaining in familiar surroundings with established social circles over moving to new developments.
- Lease restrictions, including non-transferability and fixed short-term durations, discourage applicants looking for long-term housing security.
- Policy experts stress the need to balance cost structures and operational support to make assisted-living options more attractive as Singapore’s population ages.
Based in Singapore, CNA (Channel News Asia) covers global developments with an Asian perspective, with correspondents based in major cities across Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing, as well as in New York, Washington D.C. and London.
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Living alone doesn't mean that we need to be confined to kennel. If you want single old folks to respond well, ask indranee to set a good example of the dwelling size she is having
Last time it's 65yo eligible but flat will be ready when u 70yo.
Now open to 55yo cos when the flat is ready, you will be 60+yo.
BTW, go n view from the actual unit and not the showroom, very tiny.
Those who downgrade to CCA unit, they will have many old things being put at the staircase n corridor.
Old people can't let go of their "sentimental" things.
My single aunt lives in short lease 2rm flexi, many of the units in her block have been rented out, which they are not allowed to do.
Short lease flexi is slightly cheaper and not the same as 2rm flexi 99 years lease.
CCA has an internal floor area of 32 square metres but a flexi Type 1 is 36 sqm.
If one who is truly alone passes on, the balance lease of CCA monies is returned. To who? This equates to renting the flat from government/HDB. Buying a CCA requires full upfront of money. Maybe it is better to pay 50%, then pay monthly rent. This may alleviate the fear of having no money in case of emergencies
I wanna book CCAs in this coming Oct, but im only 54 😮💨
I agree with with Mr Nicholas Mak, elderly should be given the option to choose the type of flat they want to live.
So, if you have children/grandchildren, CCA is too small to accommodate even 2 visitors.
cca is great for pple who have health challenges but still not yet need to be in nursing home. Plus point, they still have own house not just a bed in nursing home. With cca they have a community of their own age group to hang out with, with ready food court below their blocks if they can no longer cook too.
its a good start actually.
CCAs are a good first start , but it is still too restrictive as mentioned by the guests.
Option of buying or renting so they have more cash to spend in their twilight years.
Lol but to normal Singaporeans, property is all about dollar signs.
So I hope that the government will not let this spiral into another type of property that is easily affected by open-market forces
So annoying. We still have to work..
Pls understand apply at 55 by the time we collect key for new bto CCA we almost 60
So?
No Swiss standard of living?
As promised?
GCB?
FH landed?
No?
Either 2 rm flexi and CCA end of life housing?
Re-possess your HDB with VERS and you go there?
Sad.
But you locals DID VOTE for this, right?🤭
The CCA maintenance fee is extremely high and not for value.
In my opinion, the CCA is only suitable to elderly people who are not care for by their children and that these elderly would not wish to pass their HDB flat to their children.
As public housing, it should not have investment ability.
Futher more, the owners do not have the selection right of the maintenace service provider, though they are paying for it.
there just aren't that many choices for CCA, unlike normal HDB. and if you commit to CCA, it's difficult to switch to another CCA or back to HDB. so people are wise to adopt a wait and see approach to find out how life is like living in CCA for a few years and for government to sort out any teething problems. nobody would want to commit to CCA now. but singaporeans being singaporeans, they are sure kiasu. IF CCA gets good reviews after a few more are up and running for a some years, then demand will shoot up because singaporeans afraid they will miss out if they don't fast fast apply.
Agree that CCA should be for sales rather than just just for least for eligible citizens. The argument that younger citizens will complain holds no water if the gov has explained the rationale clearly, just like how hdb eligibility is explained.
The biggest off-putting element for me is one is not allowed to customise the apartment; 55 is too young an age to give up on wanting to design one’s sanctuary to one‘s liking
Don't forget the people aged 55yrs with disabilities. They earn less. So CCA is ideal.
They should mix CCA with 2 room flexi/lease on the same level, and allow 2 room elders to use the CCA facilities and programs too . I’m sure the two types of elders can benefit each other
If there is option of a bigger unit, 2 to 3 of my girlfriends and I will consider moving into CCA and live together.
As I mentioned my aunt lives in short- lease 2rm flexi, a lot seniors, a lot of mental illness like dementia, karang guni, trash everywhere. Seniors usually very stubborn and they will retaliate by quarrelling among neighbours when u complained.
Look at recent senior neighbours quarrels became a crime.
My aunt said it's not HOME SWEET HOME but lots of drama and sometimes scary.
If they offer the bigger type flexi as part of CCA I’m sure the uptake will be higher. As for the services, more flexibility in options.
Four experts got together and talked a bunch of stuff for an hour but did not mention about the single most important factor.
Should get stats on applicants who booked a CCA and those who lived longer enough to collect keys.
Yea we should change this cca model. The point that harmony village has a shared area to mingle is entirely different from just single unit and let them stay alone… 😢