About 200 HDBs Designed For The Elderly Will Be Launched In Queenstown in 2022

 Website content extracted from: HDBs Designed For The Elderly Will Be Launched In Queenstown (uchify.com)

12 MARCH 2022 | BY KIMBERLY WONG

If you’ve got family members who’ve been looking forward to these CCAs, you can keep your eyes peeled for updates for HDB’s updates in the months to come.

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We all know that living alone isn’t easy, especially for those who are advancing in age. While general home maintenance and day-to-day errands can give seniors living independently purpose, we also can’t overlook the fact that simple tasks are also increasingly difficult for some older folk to manage on their own. 

In a recent announcement, HDB revealed that following a successful launch of its first few Community Care Apartments (CCAs) In Bukit Batok, a second batch of 200 CCAs are slated to be released for sale in the later part of 2022. This may be welcome news to many seniors across the island who are in need of daily assistance but are hoping to continue being self-reliant.

Shorter tenures, senior-friendly features & support services

Image credit: HDB
Image for illustration only.

For the uninitiated, Community Care Apartments was a concept HDB first teased back in 2020 featuring specialised public housing options for those aged 65 years and older in Singapore. Its purpose: to enhance the livelihoods of seniors in the community and help them continue to live independently.

Not only do these homes come with safety design features such as wheelchair-friendly entryways, safety rails and an emergency help button to aid the elderly in their daily living, the homes also come with a “Basic Service Package”. This includes health check-ups, round-the-clock assistance in cases of emergency, basic handyman services and organised activities for those in the community.

Add-on services are also available for those who need caretakers, meal delivery, and help with general cleaning and laundry. Perhaps the best part is that these CCAs start from an affordable price of $52,000 and grants are also available to help seniors afford them.

Image credit: HDB
Image for illustration only.

In addition, residents of these CCAs can also look forward to communal spaces such as roof gardens, fitness corners and community living rooms to cultivate a sense of belonging and help them interact with others. 

Second batch of Community Care Apartments in Queenstown

Image credit: HDB
Image for illustration only.

Live in a mature estate, and you’ll know that seeing old folks mingling in the void deck and market square is an everyday occurrence. And Queenstown is no exception. 

That’s probably the reason behind HDBs intention to launch the next cluster of CCAs in the area by the end of the year to assist seniors in their daily living. You can think of these CCAs as a sort of retirement village that will provide senior residents with the assistance and care they require for everyday life.

If you’ve got family members who’ve been looking forward to these CCAs, you can keep your eyes peeled for updates for HDB’s updates in the months to come.

5 Things To Know About HDB Community Care Apartments

 Website content extracted from: 5 Things To Know About HDB Community Care Apartments (dollarsandsense.sg)

Singapore’s first assisted living public housing will launch in February 2021

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• by

   Angela Koo
• December 23, 2020

The Community Care Apartments will be launched in February 2021 in Bukit Batok. This is the latest addition to HDB’s range of flats and one focused on retirement living. A joint effort by MOH, MND and HDB, the new Community Care Apartments brings together affordable public housing, senior-friendly facilities and assisted living and care services into a retirement village concept. For those who believe in aging-in-place, this pilot project is Singapore’s first assisted living public housing for seniors.

Here’s what you need to know about the new Community Care Apartments.

Read Also: Guide To HDB 2-Room Short-Lease Flexi Flat For Retirees

#1 Community Care Apartments (CCAs) Are Move-In Ready With Built-In Senior-Friendly Designs

With the intention of being a home for seniors, the CCAs are designed to be as senior-friendly as possible with built-in wardrobes and storage to minimise trip hazards, grab bars at strategic locations including the main door and toilets. They also include wheelchair manoeuvrability such as extra-wide doors and extra space in the toilet. Features such as an easy to slide partition separating the living and bedroom spaces and a bench at the main door for putting on shoes are all carefully thought out to make life easier for the intended resident: a retiree who wants to age in place.

Unlike BTO flats, the CCAs are fully fitted and furnished with little to no need for further renovations. Aside from appliances and furniture such as a bed and sofa, the flat is in move-in condition with built-in cabinets in the kitchen and wardrobes in the bedroom.

If you opted for the optional component scheme for a 2-room Flexi BTO, you could achieve the same level of move-in readiness, but this is an add-on. Whereas for the CCA, the renovations and built-in furnishings are already included in the price of the flat.

Additionally, every CCA block will have a furnished communal space on every floor for residents to catch up with their neighbours, share meals, or engage in social activities.

#2 Residents Must Subscribe To The Basic Service Package

As part of the overall assisted living concept, the infrastructure and design of the Community Care Apartments are complemented with the service and support from the Basic Service Package.

Regardless of whether you use the service or not, all residents will have to subscribe to the Basic Service Package when you purchase a Community Care Apartment (CCA).

The basic service package will include:

• care and support services,
• simple home fixes,
• activities at the communal spaces,
• basic health checks,
• 24-hour emergency response and
• key card access to individual flats

This is to ensure residents have access to the support of an onsite community manager as well as to maintain the community aspect of the CCAs.

For the pilot launch at Bukit Batok, the estimated price of the basic service package ranges from $22,000 for 15 years to $59,000 for 35 years for full upfront payment. This breaks down to approximately $1,500 a year or $125 a month.

Additionally, residents will also enjoy access to wellness and social activities at the activity centre located within the same block, access to a community gym at Bukit Batok Care Home and priority admission to Bukit Batok Care Home.

Residents can also sign up for additional optional services:

Source: HDB

Based on the indicative prices, these services look to be reasonably priced and on the lower end of the price range based on what is available on the market.

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Hire Part-Time Cleaners/ Maids/ Housekeepers In Singapore?

#3 Those Who Have Bought 2 Flats Previously From HDB Are Still Eligible

To be eligible to purchase a Community Care Apartment, you (and your co-applicants) must be aged 65 and above at the point of application.

The shortest lease allowed needs to cover you (or your youngest co-applicant) to the age of 95. This means that if you are 70 but your spouse is 65, you must chose a lease of 30 years instead of 25.

Similar to the 2-room Flexi flat, you can still apply for a short-lease 2-room flat, even if you have previously sold two flats purchased with housing subsidies, as long as you have not already purchased a Studio Apartment or short-lease 2-room Flexi flat.

As the CCA is intended to be affordable public housing, your average gross monthly household income cannot exceed $14,000 to be eligible.

Read Also: 4 Things You Need To Know Before Buying And Upgrading To Your Second HDB Flat

#4 You Must Pay Upfront For The Flat

A departure from general housing purchase options, you must pay upfront for the cost of flat in full.

Unlike the typical housing purchase, where the mortgage is spread over the lease tenure, the Community Care Apartments is targeted at seniors who are downsizing – those who want to age at home but find their existing homes too large to manage on their own.

By paying for the CCA in full, seniors would not have to worry about future mortgage payments (or rising interest rates). Furthermore, if they had downsized from a larger home, the proceeds from the sale are likely to fully cover the cost of a CCA.

Similarly, by paying for the basic service package upfront in full, you can circumvent future fee increases. Whereas if you paid only partially upfront, the remaining monthly payment will be subject to future fee increases (capped at 5% every five years).

Source: HDB

#5 You Can’t Sell Or Rent Out Your Community Care Apartment But You Can Buy Private Property After The Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)

As expected of HDB’s subsidised housing, you will have to sell your existing flat and/ or private property (within 6 months) of taking the keys to the Community Care Apartment.

As the Community Care Apartments are intended for seniors to stay and grow old in (and are subsidised accordingly), they cannot be sold in the resale market or rented out.

If you wish to move out of the Community Care Apartment or are no longer eligible to stay in one, you must return the flat to HDB. HDB will return you the value of the remaining lease and this will be calculated based on linear depreciation.

If you wish to purchase a new property (HDB or private property), you are subject to a 5-year minimum occupation period (MOP). For HDB flats, you will have to return your CCA as HDB does not allow you to own more than one HDB flat. For private property, you can own both your CCA and an investment private property, if you continue to stay in your CCA and only purchase the private property after MOP.

Read Also: [2020 Edition] Seniors’ Guide To Healthcare Schemes, Grants And Subsidies In Singapore

While we all want to imagine that we would live and die happily and preferably in old age and peacefully in our sleep, there is that nagging thought that we could die alone and undiscovered. The one value proposition of the Community Care Apartments is that there will be someone who cares for you, even if it is the onsite community manager who checks on you as part of his or her job. Additionally, the promised community aspect would mitigate many of the negative mental health issues that seniors face after retirement, such as depression and social isolation.

Overall, the Community Care Apartments do appear to be a viable housing option for our aging population and only time will tell if this assisted living concept will appeal to our seniors.

Cover image from HDB

Fisetin: A Senolytic Antioxidant for Healthy Aging & More

 Website extracted from: Fisetin: A Senolytic Antioxidant for Healthy Aging and More - Dr. Axe (draxe.com)

By Christine Ruggeri, CHHC

September 26, 2020

Fisetin is a flavonoid that’s found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables. Recent research suggests that the antioxidant has potent senolytic activity that may work to prevent the replication of damaged DNA.

This means that fisetin supports healthy aging and fights chronic disease — so if you needed an excuse to snack on strawberries every day, here it is!

As a fat-soluble antioxidant, it can be safely consumed in a smoothie with strawberries and coconut milk, for instance.

Want to learn more about this health-promoting plant pigment? You’ll be impressed by its potential.

What Is Fisetin?

Fisetin is an antioxidant that’s found in fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, apples and cucumbers. According to research published in Frontiers in Chemistry, the flavonoid shows “potential as an anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, chemotherapeutic and senotherapeutic agent.”

It’s getting a lot of attention because of its senolytic properties. A senolytic is a class of small molecules that are able to induce death of senescent (or deteriorating) cells and promote human health.

Fisetin Foods

Fisetin is a yellow plant pigment and chemical that’s found naturally in foods, especially fruits and vegetables. You consume the antioxidant when eating the following foods:

• strawberries
• apples
• persimmons
• grapes
• onions
• cucumbers
• kiwi
• kale
• peach
• lotus root
• mangoes

Benefits/Uses

1. Works as an Antioxidant

Research shows that fisetin has the ability to scavenge free radicals that have significant biological effects. These oxygen radicals can damage lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.

When we don’t consume enough antioxidant foods, there’s an imbalance of oxygen species that can inhibit the body’s ability to defend itself.

2. Has Senolytic Activity

Research published in The Lancet found that fisetin is a flavonoid with potent senolytic activity in both mice and human tissues. This means that the antioxidant works to prevent the replication of damaged DNA, potentially playing a role in aging and age-related diseases.

When researchers tested 10 flavonoids — including resveratrol, rutin, luteolin, curcumin and fisetin — they found that fisetin was the most potent senolytic.

3. Holds Anti-Cancer Properties

Data suggests that fisetin possesses antiproliferative properties against several cancers, which means that it may inhibit tumor cell growth. Researchers believe that it has potential value in cancer prevention and treatment, as it may reduce angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels) and suppress tumor growth.

4. Reduces Inflammation

If you’re looking to increase your consumption of anti-inflammatory foods, start reaching for those strawberries. Fisetin has proved to possess strong anti-inflammatory effects in cell culture and in animal models relevant to human diseases, according to research published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.

5. Promotes Healthy Aging

Because fisetin is a senotherapeutic, it may extend your health and life span. Research indicates that it promotes healthy aging by reducing oxidative stress and increasing glutathione levels, a major intracellular antioxidant.

It also reduces the production of pro-inflammatory molecules and activate key neurotrophic factor signaling pathways that support growth, survival and healthy aging.

6. Boosts Heart Health

Research shows that fisetin may help promote cardiovascular health in a number of ways.

One analysis reports that the antioxidant can induce cardiac regeneration by activating genes involved in cell proliferation. Researchers believe that it may protect from ischemic damage following a heart attack.

There’s some evidence that fisetin may help prevent stroke as well. An animal study found that fisetin, quercetin and aspirin showed significant prolongation of clotting time and thrombin time.

Supplement and Dosage

The amount of fisetin consumed in clinical trials vary greatly, with participants taking doses ranging from 100 milligrams per day to 1,400 milligrams daily. Recommendations on fisetin supplement labels vary as well, with doses ranging from 100–500 milligrams per day.

There isn’t enough research to make an educated recommendation on an appropriate fisetin dosage. Researchers do know that the antioxidant is fat-soluble, so consuming it with fats promotes better absorption.

Risks and Side Effects

The safety profile of fisetin in high doses is relatively unknown. Many studies involve cell cultures or animal tissues, while a limited number involve human tissues.

To boost your health with antioxidants, the safest method is eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating organic strawberries is the best way to increase your fisetin intake.

Conclusion

• Fisetin is a plant pigment and antioxidant that has gained attention because of its senolytic properties.
• The flavonoid is known for its ability to prevent the replication of damaged DNA, thereby reducing the risk of aging, degenerative disease, heart disease and cancer.
• It is found in fruits and vegetables like strawberries, cucumber, apples and onions. The antioxidant is also available in supplement form, but there is no recommended dosage, as there isn’t enough evidence to pinpoint how much is safe and effective.

A longevity expert shares the diet, exercise and sleep rules he lives by for a longer, stronger life: These are ‘non-negotiable’

 Website content extracted from: 'Non-negotiable' diet, sleep and exercise routines for a longer life (cnbc.com)

Published Wed, Aug 25 202111:18 AM EDTUpdated Thu, Aug 26 202112:34 PM EDT

Sergey Young, Contributor@SERGEYYOUNG200

Thanks to today’s advanced research and new innovations, it’s more than possible for us to live longer, stronger and healthier lives.

While life expectancy in the U.S. dropped one full year during the first half of 2020, according to a CDC report, much of that was attributed to the pandemic. Prior to Covid, however, life expectancy in the U.S. was 78.8 years in 2019, up a tenth of a year over 2018.

As a longevity researcher, I’ve spent the bulk of my career gathering insights from world-leading health experts, doctors, scientists and nutritionists from all over the world. Here’s what I tell people when they ask about the non-negotiable rules I live by for a longer life:

1. Get regular checkups

Early diagnosis is critical for the prevention of disease and age-related decline, so it’s important to get yourself checked regularly, and as comprehensively as possible.

At the very least, I make it a point to have a complete annual physical exam that includes blood count and metabolic blood chemistry panels, a thyroid panel and testing to reveal potential deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B, iron and magnesium (all nutrients that our body needs to perform a variety of essential functions).

2. Let food be thy medicine

Poor diet is the top driver of noncommunicable diseases worldwide, killing at least 11 million people every year.

Here are some of my diet rules for a longer life:

• Eat more plants: To reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, try to have every meal include at least one plant-based dish. I typically have broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus or zucchini as a side for lunch and dinner. When I snack, I opt for berries, nuts or fresh veggies.
• Avoid processed foods: Many products you find in grocery stores today are loaded with salt, sugar, saturated fats and chemical preservatives. A 2019 study of 20,000 men and women aged 21 to 90 found that a diet high in processed foods resulted in an 18% increased risk of death by all causes.
• Drink more water: Most of us drink far too little water for our optimal health. I keep a bottle of water with lemon slices at hand wherever I spent most of my day.
• Include healthy fats: Not all fats are bad. High-density lipids (HDL), including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, are considered “good fats,” and are essential to a healthy heart, blood flow and blood pressure.

3. Get moving (yes, walking counts)

Just 15 to 25 minutes of moderate exercise a day can prolong your life by up to three years if you are obese, and seven years if you are in good shape, one study found.

I try not to focus on the specific type of exercise you do. Anything that gets you up out of the chair, moving and breathing more intensely on a regular basis is going to help.

That’s why the method I practice and recommend the most is extremely simple: Walking. Brisk walking can improve cardiovascular health and reduce risk of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. It can even ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.

4. Eat early, and less often

Clinical data shows that intermittent fasting — an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting — can improve insulin stability, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, mental alertness and energy.

To ease into the “eat early, and less often” diet, I started with a 16:8-hour intermittent fasting regimen. This is where you eat all of your meals within one eight-hour period — for instance, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

But keep in mind that a fasting or caloric-restricted diet isn’t for everyone; always talk to your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet and eating routine.

5. Constantly work on quitting bad habits

One of the biggest toxic habits is excessive use of alcohol. Studies show that high and regular use can contribute to damages your liver and pancreas, high blood pressure and the immune system.

Large amounts of sugar consumption is another bad habit. Sure, in the right doses, sugars from fruits, vegetables and even grains play an important role in a healthy diet. I eat fruits and treat myself to some ice cream once in a while. But make no mistake: Excess sugar in all its forms is poison. To lessen my intake, I avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.

Lastly, I don’t smoke — but for anyone who does, I recommend quitting as soon as possible. According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is behind 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

6. Make sleep your superpower

A handful of studies of millions of sleepers show that less sleep can lead to a shorter life. Newer studies are strengthening known and suspected relationships between inadequate sleep and a wide range of disorders, including hypertension, obesity and diabetes and impaired immune functioning.

I aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night. For me, an essential ingredient for getting quality sleep is darkness; I make sure there’s no light and no electronic devices in my room before bedtime.

Sergey Young is a longevity researcher, investor and the founder of Longevity Vision Fund. He is also the author of “The Science and Technology of Growing Young: An Insider’s Guide to the Breakthroughs That Will Dramatically Extend Our Lifespan.” Sergey is on the Board of Directors of the American Federation of Aging Research and the Development Sponsor of Age Reversal XPRIZE global competition, designed to cure aging. Follow him on Twitter @SergeyYoung200.