Health District pilot project launched in ageing Queenstown

Staff Writer
·Editorial team
·2 min read
Roof garden fitness facilities and jogging loop at the multi-storey car park within Queen’s Arc, a BTO development launched in Queenstown in August 2021. (INFOGRAPHIC: HDB)
Roof garden fitness facilities and jogging loop at the multi-storey car park within Queen’s Arc, a BTO development launched in Queenstown in August 2021. (INFOGRAPHIC: HDB)

SINGAPORE — Residents of Queenstown - Singapore's oldest satellite town - can look forward to more fitness stations and green spaces, better connectivity to parks and green corridors, as well as better access to community health services and courses.

These come as part of the Health District@Queenstown pilot project, announced by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on Wednesday (20 October), to support the residents in leading healthier lives via senior-friendly designs and community programmes.

Queenstown has been chosen as the pilot site for the district as its demographics closely mirror Singapore’s projected national demographics by 2030. The town has one of the oldest populations in Singapore, with almost one out of every four Singaporeans aged 65 and above.

Health District@Queenstown. (INFOGRAPHIC: HDB)
Health District@Queenstown. (INFOGRAPHIC: HDB)

Programmes to meet four objectives

The Health District will seek to fulfil four objectives:

  • To increase residents’ healthiness for as long as possible;

  • To enable purposeful living, whereby residents' can pursue to their interests and contribute to their family and community;

  • To promote intergenerational bonding;

  • To enable the community to continue to be in familiar company and surroundings as they age.

The pilot project - which will be overseen by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the National University Health System (NUHS) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) - will implement several initial programmes meet those objectives:

  • Future town planning by HDB will incorporate designs that encourage residents to lead healthier lifestyles, such as good connectivity to the nearby Rail Corridor, jogging loops on rooftop gardens, urban farming spaces and resting areas along covered walkways;

  • NUHS will set up an enhanced My Health Map preventive health management programme via its One NUHS app, bringing health screenings on-site to residents and conducting health talks within the community;

  • There will be courses to equip residents with skills and knowledge to live a purposeful life, starting with NUS’ "Designing for a 100-Year Life" course that is scheduled to commence before the end of the year;

  • Community spaces will be designed to encourage residents interact and bond across all generations;

  • Tranquil places will be created for mental relaxation, such as park-like settings amid housing projects and pedestrianised corridors with greenery.

  • Technological solutions will be co-created with relevant industries to allow residents to remain independent, assist in disease prevention and improve healthcare delivery.

The Health District will be a long-term project that will take many years to realise its potential. If successful, the initiatives and programmes can be expanded across Singapore to meet the future needs of the population.

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