THE ROLE OF NURSING HOMES IN FORMING A HOLISTIC ELDERLY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

As Singapore undergoes unprecedented age shifts, nursing homes started to emerge as one of the solutions for aging-in-place. While research studies have discussed the nursing home elderly’s wellbeing from the caregiving, medical, technology aspects, very little discussion focuses on the build environment aspects. As people ages, the meaning of home and built environment become increasingly important and directly affect the wellbeing of the elderly.

In Singapore, considerably high depression level among the elderlies in nursing homes indicates the potential failure of the current nursing home typology in creating a wholesome living environment to support elderly’s health and wellbeing. The nursing homes are generally designed under the influence of the institutional-centric model which focused on the cost-efficient facilities and infrastructures rather than building qualitative space and lifestyle within the nursing homes.

This dissertation seeks to understand the complex relationship between the nursing home built environment and the wellbeing of the elderly residents. With detailed study of the existing nursing home typologies available in Singapore, this dissertation aims to identify the pitfalls in the design. Through a set of cross comparative studies in China, which also faces aging issues and with comparable cultural context to Singapore, other possible eldercare facility design strategies are introduced and analyzed. These strategies are then evaluated based on their relevance and capacity for implementation in the Singaporean context. In conclusion, this dissertation hopes to provide insights and possible suggestions for the future eldercare facilities to produce a healthier and more holistic living environment for the elderly community.