IMPACT OF AGE SEGREGATION ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY IN STUDIO APARTMENTS

Abstract

Housing and Development Board (HDB) introduced studio apartment in November 1997 to resolve the housing problem of the ageing population in Singapore. This amounts to age-segregation as studio apartment is specially built for elderly who prefer independent living. Age-segregation in the West has been found to have conflicting repercussions on the quality of life of the elderly. Therefore, this study attempts to ascertain the impact of age-segregation on the quality of life of the elderly Singaporeans living in studio apartments. After a review of the relevant literature and statistical analysis of a survey of 390 elderly in studio apartments, it was found that age-segregation have a deleterious impact on the quality of life of the elderly. Furthermore, it was found that the perception of the elderly in relation to factors that are most significant to their quality of life is at variance with that of the policy makers. This implies that there is a need for the policy makers and service providers to review their existing policies, products and services so as to be more effective in providing housing options for the rapidly ageing population in Singapore.