Old folks' homes may be built next to children's shelters in future
Posted: 26 May 2007 1735 hrs

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SINGAPORE: In future, old folks' homes may be built next to children's orphanages.

The Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry believes such co-location is synergistic and will promote greater interaction between generations.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Community Development, Youth & Sports Minister, said: "We wanted both the senior citizens and the children to have as normal a family life as possible, so in a sense what we're trying to recreate here is the extended family. For senior citizens, the fact that they are part of the community with young people, (gives them the) opportunities to transmit the lessons of life to them. Similarly, for young children, there are senior citizens to look up to."

He was speaking at the official opening of the Home@Hong San, Singapore's first residential co-location facility.

The 4-storey purpose-built facility comprises 2 homes.

Sunbeam Place is a haven for 72 children and teenagers in need of safety and protection, while Evergreen Place is a 102-bed home which caters mainly to seniors above the age of 60 and who are without alternative means of accommodation.

Construction was completed in May last year and operations commenced a month later.

Dr Balakrishnan said the new homes may well become the model for the development of future homes - both for children and senior citizens.

The Ministry is also studying using such a formula for the co-location of more community services.

It believes such an arrangement will provide for economies of scale and synergy.- CNA/ir