240 community care HDB flats for seniors to be launched in Queenstown in November BTO sale

SINGAPORE — Some 240 new community care apartments located in Queenstown will be offered as part of the upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise in November. 

The Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said in a joint press release on Thursday (Oct 27) that these apartments “integrate senior-friendly housing with care services that can be scaled according to the individual’s care needs, with the aim of better supporting seniors to age in place independently”.

This will be the second time such housing is offered after the launch of the first pilot project called Harmony Village@Bukit Batok last February, where 169 units were offered. 

The take-up rate for the Bukit Batok project was 4.2 applicants for each unit. 

This second pilot project will be part of the Queensway Canopy BTO development located on Queen's Crescent — which is about a five-minute walk to Queensway Shopping Centre and Alexandra Fire Station.

It is also close to the Rail Corridor and amenities such as Alexandra Hospital, Queenstown Sports Centre and Alexandra Village Food Centre. 

The single block of community care apartments will be situated alongside other housing blocks of three-room and four-room flats within Queensway Canopy.

The various blocks will have staggered heights ranging from six to 40 storeys. 

“This deliberate integration is to encourage and promote inter-generational bonding as well as foster inclusivity and community interaction,” the two ministries and housing agency said.

Like the previous units in Bukit Batok, each community care apartment in Queensway Canopy will be 35sqm in size. 

It will also be equipped with senior-friendly fittings such as grab bars, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and slip-resistant flooring. Each unit will come with a built-in wardrobe, cabinets, and furnished kitchen.

Residents will have to pay a fee to subscribe to a basic service package, which includes services such as 24-hour emergency monitoring and response as well as basic health checks.

Seniors who require help with their activities of daily living, or household services such as meal delivery, laundry, and housekeeping, may opt for these services at an added cost.

There will also be communal spaces on every floor and a Social and Wellness Hub located beside the community care apartment block. 

The hub includes an Active Ageing Centre, ActiveSG gym and rooftop gardens with community gardening plots. 

“These facilities promote active living and provide opportunities for residents across different age groups to interact and build relationships as they participate in various social and recreational activities within a wider community,” the authorities said.

To apply for an apartment, applicants and their spouse must be 65 years old and above. The average gross monthly household income cannot be more than S$14,000.

They will have to choose a lease ranging from 15 to 35 years — available in five-year increments — as long as it covers both the applicant and spouse until they are at least 95 years old.

Those interested in these apartments may visit a physical exhibition held at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh from Friday to March 31, 2023. 

PRIVATE HOUSING OPTION IN KOVAN

Late last month, MOH and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced that a site on Parry Avenue in Kovan was launched for sale by public tender, to build a private assisted-living development.

Interested parties are invited to submit proposals of assisted-living plans that can provide a range of services that support seniors’ changing needs. 

The development will include a neighbourhood park and is located near dining and shopping amenities such as Heartland Mall. 

The tender will close at noon on March 21, 2023. Details of the tender is available at URA's website.