Case study 3

Case Study 3 - En Bloc Redevelopment News Article

From this news article, we found out that En Bloc Redevelopment affects elderly. We realise that when elderly's HDB block undergoes en bloc redevelopment; most of the time, the elderly has nowhere to go and stay for the time being before their new flat is constructed and finished. Therefore, we will come up with a solution called Void Deck Elderly Housing. I will talk about it later in my next blog post about Chapter 3 Design Solution.  

Last person staying in entire HDB block but elderly woman refuses to move out

Posted on 9 February 2015 | 56,692 views | 24 comments

Catherine Roberts
The New Paper
6 February 2015

The 669 families living in Blocks 74 to 80 at Commonwealth Drive were notified in August 2008 that they had to eventually move to new homes nearby.
The seven blocks had been identified for redevelopment under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers).
Under the scheme, which was introduced 20 years ago to rejuvenate older estates, the displaced residents would be offered new flats near their former homes at subsidised prices.
Five years after the initial notice, all but one resident had moved out.
The last one standing, Madam Foong Chea Tai, 67, who owns a three-room flat on the third storey at Block 79, said: "I'm not being weird, I just want to stay here."
She told Shin Min Daily News: "I don't want to move out. Now it's hard to buy a new flat. The lease is not up yet, I can still continue living here."
Most of the former residents in Madam Foong's estate are now living across the road in Blocks 50 to 53 after moving out about 16 months ago.
The units in the four 40-storey blocks, which were ready in July 2013, were offered to them by HDB as options to replace their old homes under the scheme.
After their departure, Madam Foong was the only person left living in the deserted estate.
The lifts in her block stopped operating. However, water and electricity was still supplied to her home.
The staircases in the other six blocks were gated up and locked to prevent access into the buildings.
The New Paper understands that Madam Foong's sons would visit her occasionally during her solitary stay there.
On Wednesday, Shin Min Daily News reported that 10 HDB officers, accompanied by police officers, went to Madam Foong's unit at 7.30am that morning.
The report said the policemen had protective shields as they stood guard on the third storey. It did not say why the police needed protective shields.
TNP understands that the visit was yet another attempt to convince Madam Foong to leave, but she refused.
When TNP went to her block on Wednesday afternoon, the three staircases leading to the units were gated and locked.
Responding to TNP's queries, an HDB spokesman said in an e-mail reply on Wednesday evening that Madam Foong had vacated the flat that afternoon.
It did not provide details on Madam Foong's departure but said it would provide her with temporary accommodation and help her with her housing options, including the purchase of a new replacement flat.
"At the request of Madam Foong's next-of-kin, HDB has got ready the keys of suitable replacement flats," the spokesman added.
"If she is willing to take up a replacement flat and sign the documents for the purchase, we will arrange for the keys to be issued to her immediately."

COMPENSATION
Under Sers, residents will receive market compensation for their HDB flats based on a professional valuation.
The spokesman said the compensation for Madam Foong's flat was based on its prevailing market value as at Aug 8, 2008, when Sers was announced for the area.
"With the Sers compensation and price discount, Madam Foong is eligible to purchase an equivalent new three-room replacement flat without any cash outlay. She will also have cash proceeds after the purchase."
She said HDB had made numerous attempts to contact Madam Foong since 2008 but she did not respond to the letters and notices sent to her, or open the door during HDB's repeated house visits.
"HDB has tried its best to reach out to Madam Foong and to explore various ways to help her move into a new replacement flat.
"These included seeking her family's assistance and working with local grassroots leaders and social workers from the Family Service Centre," she added.
But her family could not persuade her to take up a new flat.
Then, last November, Madam Foong indicated her interest in taking up a replacement flat by signing the application form but she subsequently rejected the flat when the keys were ready for collection.
"This was despite her family members having viewed the flat and assuring her that they liked it. Madam Foong has insisted on living in the Sers flat, and reiterated that she will not consider a new flat," she said.
The spokesman added that as the only resident left in the block, Madam Foong needed to vacate the flat "for her safety, security and well-being".
Several other former residents of Blocks 74 to 80 at Commonwealth Drive approached by The New Paper also preferred their new homes, citing the views and spaciousness.

UPGRADE
Mr Pang said his family used to live in a three-room flat in the old estate, but decided to fork out about $200,000 to upgrade to a five-room flat because his wife loved the unit the moment she saw it.
The couple, who live with the wife's mother, said they enjoy the unobstructed view from the balcony of their living room on the 23rd storey.
Mr Pang said in Mandarin: "It's perpetually windy here and it's nice. I live on such a high floor now and the view is quite attractive."
Another resident on the 13th storey of Mr Pang's block said his new home is much more spacious than his old flat at Block 77.
The man in his early 20s who declined to be named said: "The layout here is more suitable for my family. We enjoy the peace and quiet of this new estate, especially at night.
"At least I know my mother, who is always busy with chores and the kids, can get a good night's rest as long as we live here."
See images related to what happened in the gallery below.

Reference:
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/this-urban-jungle/last-person-staying-in-entire-hdb-block-but-elderly-woman-still-refuses-to-move

Senior-friendly Interior Design Tips

Senior-friendly Interior Design Tips

The target audience for my group project are elderly. Thus, my groupmates and I have to consider their safety and comfort when we are designing their collective living spaces.


Here are some safety and comfort tips for creating an elderly-friendly living space:

1. Strategise the placement of the furniture. Position well major pieces so they can support the elderly for balance while they are moving through the room. Keep pathways clear, especially if they are in walkers or wheelchairs.
2. Improve Accessibility. Put frequently used items in waist-high cabinets and drawers. Keep phones near beds and sitting areas. Situate lamps for unrestricted access, and ensure switches are easy to operate. Switch dresser knobs to drawer pulls for an easier grip.
3. Decrease the Risk of Falls. Avoid unsecured scatter rugs. All rugs should be non-slip and contrast in color with the flooring beneath. Tuck electrical cords behind furniture, or use cable management products, which are available in most office supply stores.
4. Increase Visibility. Make sure that major pieces of furniture, walls, drapes and floors are clearly defined through contrasting colors. During the day, allow as much natural light as possible into living areas. At night, illuminate the path between the bed and the bathroom with motion-sensor night-lights.
5. Create a Safer Bathroom. Place seating in front of the sink and in the shower for easy, comfortable grooming. Install non-slip strips on the shower floor and grab bars near the shower, tub and toilet.

Considering that elderly have eyesight problem, it is good to:

1.  Create strong color contrasts between major pieces of furniture, walls, drapes and floors. The same applies to different pieces of bedding—and even in the bathroom, where the toilet seat should be noticeably darker or lighter than the floor.
2. Outline windows with curtain fabrics that stand out from  the walls. Add cording to couches and chairs to better  define these pieces.
3.  Natural light not only helps keep things visible—it improves  sleep cycles.
4.  Night-lights and motion-sensor lights—especially between the bedroom and bathroom—make for easier navigation and reduce the risk of falls.
5.  Position reflective furniture to minimize glare. Avoid glass-top tables, which reflect light and can also be difficult to see in  dim rooms.

Additional knowledge:

• Busy patterns can create frustration and confusion; avoid designs with dark spots that may be misinterpreted as dirt or holes.
• Primary colors enhance appetite. Solid yellow bowls and dishes contrast best with food. • Cups and bowls with two handles improve ease of use. 
• Don’t fake it—plastic fruits, vegetables, or even berries on silk plants can be confused with real food.

Another tips to encourage social interaction in the house:

1. Ensure plenty of guest seating.
2. Group furniture in a way that encourages conversation,  such as placing seating in a semicircle.
3. Display interesting art, awards, photos and other personal  items in a way that sparks conversation. Stack photo albums where visitors will feel comfortable flipping through them.

Bibliography:

The Sunrise Design Team. 'Home Design Guide'. USA: Sunrise Senior Living, Inc, 2015.

Chapter 3 Mindmap

Chapter 3 Mindmap

Chapter 3 is about our solution for our topic called 'Collective Living Spaces'. We divide our solution into two parts. Own housing(HDB falt/Landed Property) and Nursing Home/OLd Folks' Home.

The first one, we are planning to use own housing like HDB flat/Landed Property for our collective living spaces. We try to recognise all the problems associated with elderly when they live in collective living spaces. From there, we will come up with solutions to tackle them. The first problem for the elderly staying in collective living spaces in the form of HDB flat/Landed Property is falling down. Hence, we will install anti-slip floor tiles, water-absorbing floor tiles, bar handle, and put light sensor around the house especially bathroom. The second problem will be that no one to inform if there is emergency happening. The solution we come up with is emergency wrist band. The third problem is household chores. The solution will be by getting the help from volunteers, installing elder-friendly household items such as electric stove and so on. The fourth problem will be that there is no privacy for each elderly. So, the solution is by allocate one room for one elderly.

The second one, we are planning to improve on the already existing nursing home/old folks' home. We realise that elderly staying there will have a problem of not having privacy. Thus, we come up with solution of grouping them according to their similar personalities, hobbies and health conditions. Another problem we notice is loneliness. Hence, we plan to conduct programmes that will involve their family members' participation in the activities. This will make the elderly happy.

Chapter 2 Mindmap

Chapter 2 Mindmap

Chapter 2 is about research methodology. My group has decided to come out with 3 types of research methodologies. They are survey, interview and site visit.

First of all, we brainstorm and list down all the informations that we want to find out and get from the results of our interview, survey and site visit. They are:

1. Is there any collective living spaces for elderly in Singapore?
2. If there is, are people aware about the existence of collective living spaces in Sngapore?
3. If there is, is it sufficient?
4. What do they like/dislike about living in old folks hom/nursing home?
5. What problems they face in old folks home/nursing hone?
6. What do they expect from collective living spaces?
7. What do they want from collective living spaces provided for them?

Our first method is interview.

• Who? elderly 65 years old and above.
• Why? through interview, we can specifically find out about the informations we need as it is a face-to-face approach.
• Where? coffee shop, park, market, etc...

Our second method is survey.

• Why? it will give us statistics
• What? online survey & hardcopy survey (survey form)

Our third method is site visit.

• Where? Lions Home for the Elders, Orange Valley Nursing Home.
• Why? to observe & experience ourselves the elderly's daily routines.