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Singapore to build village for dementia patients

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Located near Sembawang Park, it will provide tailored programmes and encourage independence

A special village, the first of its kind in Singapore, will be built to care for dementia patients and improve their quality of life and the residential options available to them.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said yesterday that a site in Gibraltar Crescent has been put up for sale by public tender for the village.

Dementia care villages encourage residents to pursue their own lives as much as possible despite their age and condition, as opposed to nursing homes, which have sometimes been criticised for being too institutionalised.

GROWING INCIDENCE

The move comes amid the growing incidence of dementia.

A 2015 study by the Institute of Mental Health found that one in 10 of those aged 60 and above here has dementia.

According to the Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA), there were almost 82,000 people with dementia in Singapore last year. This number is expected to hit 103,000 in 2030.

MOH and URA said the planned village will be specially designed to provide a safe, home-like environment where residents are assisted to live independently.

It will provide tailored services and programmes to create meaningful participation and social interaction among residents.

"We hope that (it) will offer insights into market demand for such facilities and the community needs of persons with dementia, which will contribute to the development of suitable dementia care models in the future," MOH said.

The site for the village comes with a 30-year lease. It is located near Sembawang Park and comprises a cluster of 10 state bungalows on two plots.

The larger plot is 26,350 sq m, while the other plot is 1,756 sq m.

The maximum permissible gross floor area is 9,170 sq m, with another 900 sq m for extensions to the 10 buildings.

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Joan Pereira, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, called the concept of a dementia village "an ideal model of care for persons with dementia", as it encourages independence in a safe environment.

"Together with other assisted living options, such facilities will reform the way we care for Singaporeans and allow our elderly greater flexibility in choosing how they want to live their golden years," she said.

The village will complement available home-based care and dementia daycare services.

ADA's chief executive officer Jason Foo backed plans for the village as an alternative to residential care for patients who wish to be more independent.

However, he added that ageing in place is still possible with dementia-friendly communities and an inclusive society.

"We should give persons with dementia and their caregivers the choice of the best option suited to their needs," he said.

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