Singapore’s First Dementia Care Village is in the Works: Here’s What to Expect

Singapore is opening its first dementia care village, a much needed necessity given our ageing population. But if you think this is some sort of old folk’s home or hospital, you’re wrong. It’s so much more than that:

What’s going on in Sembawang?

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced yesterday that Sembawang will host Singapore’s first dementia care village. The location will be at Gibraltar Crescent, near Sembawang Park.

The site consists of two land plots, of around 26,350 square metres, and 1,756 square metres. 60 per cent of the maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) will be set aside for residential use. The rest of it can be used for retail, Food & Beverage, and related healthcare services. The location is very close to Sembawang Park, so that could provide a further amenity for any residents.

At this point, you probably realise this isn’t just some home for dementia patients; not with all that retail and dining space. You’d be right.

This is a pilot programme, with a new paradigm: communities instead of just facilities

Up till now, concepts of caring for dementia patients have been pretty narrow. They seldom go beyond “we build a facility in an ulu place, and all the patients get put in it till the end”. It makes Changi Prison sound like a charming alternative.

Now, however, the concept is to build a community rather than just a facility. Much like how we plan new towns, or “self-contained” business hubs, the dementia care village is an enclave that provides for a lifestyle. This will allow dementia patients to pursue their own activities and preferences: they can go have lunch with friends, shop for clothes, catch a movie (we hope there’s a cinema)…it’s vastly different from traditional institutions, where entertainment means a nurse pushing them around a garden at the allotted hour.

An environment of normalcy to help dementia patients

Similar dementia care villages already exist abroad, such as in Amsterdam. Medical professionals involved with these projects have said that, when dementia patients are comfortable and active (e.g. shopping for their own clothes and food), it can slow the effects of dementia. It also helps in combating related psychological problems that often accompany dementia, such as depression.

Medical professionals will be on hand throughout the village, to assist any dementia patients if it becomes necessary.

The village concept has also shown to be helpful to families of the dementia patients – it creates an environment where they can go out for a stroll with the patient, pick out a restaurant with them, go window shopping, etc. There’s no stress in the process, as they know there are professional caregivers within immediate reach.

How will it impact surrounding properties?

This particular land plot is quite contained, so we don’t see an impact on nearby property prices. But we do feel that, for future developments, these village concepts will be a bit better received by idio…uh, by people who think assisted living facilities will be bad for their property value.

It would be nice if HDB gives a proximity grant – or some broadly similar equivalent – to flat buyers who choose to live near parents in such a facility.

What do you think of the new dementia care village concept?  Voice your thoughts in our comments section or on our Facebook community page.

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