The AWWA Senior Home community article in the Sunday Times (26/6) is an eye-opener on how it operates. There is a lot of freedom of movement for the residents. I think this is a good model for a retirement village, Sg style.
The studio apartment blocks can easily be adapted to a retirement community by following the AWWA Senior Home model. As the occupants of the studio apartments are owners of the apartments, they would need to pay a fee for the services provided, hence it is important that the retirement community of studio apartments be managed by a govt. department to keep costs affordable for the residents.
Recently I visited a friend who got a studio apartment in Hougang. She told me her neighbouring units are taken but the occupants are seldom at home. This implies that these elderly buyers of the studio apartments have a place to stay but thought it a good measure to buy a studio apartment. These early birds.
Now my friend, flushed with cash by downgrading to a studio apartment, is going on a tour of Europe. Life is good. :)