Residents move into first assisted-living flats in Bukit Batok

In November 2024, 88-year-old Lam Shaw Ying moved into his new assisted living flat in Bukit Batok and started playing carrom again, a traditional board game he last played when he was a boy.

- Isabelle Liew

The tabletop game, which involves flicking tokens across a board, is one of the many activities offered at the active ageing centre in his block of community care apartments called Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok.

"The last time I played carrom was more than 80 years ago, when I was a young boy. I'm glad I have the chance to play this game again," said Mr Lam, who plays with the staff there.

He told The Straits Times it was a refreshing way to spend his time. Before he moved there, he lived in a condominium in Katong and spent his days at home.

Now, he also takes his wife, who uses a wheelchair, to the centre on days when there are exercise classes.

Mr Lam and his wife are among the first residents who have moved into the 169-unit project in Bukit Batok West Avenue 9.

Known as community care apartments, the flats come with senior-friendly fittings such as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and other health and community services that are meant to help seniors live independently.

Residents there began collecting the keys to their homes in October 2024, after a delay of about four months.