When a 102-yearold Malaysian retiree was first sent to the ReU Living retirement and post-operative care facility in July 2022, it was meant only to be a short stay during a brief illness.
But she enjoyed the luxury digs so much, she decided to stay for good.
The daughter of the centenarian told The Straits Times, as they had lunch at the centre in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur: "After two weeks, she didn't want to go home.
She said it's too lonely at home." Both women declined to be named.
"There are a lot of people here, and she likes the atmosphere," added the 78-year-old daughter.
Some 50 residents, most of whom are short-term guests recovering from surgery, are staying at the ReU Living centre, opened in February 2022 within the resortstyle MiCasa Hotel, just a stone's throw away from the Petronas Twin Towers in downtown KL.
The facility is as far from the stereotype of the drab and depressing old age home as it can get.
As increasingly affluent Malaysians enter their twilight years, upscale retirement homes have started to come up, offering an option to active seniors who are downsizing, as well as those requiring a little more support with their day-today living.
At least four such developments have sprung up in Klang Valley in the last few years alone.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, hotels that lost business or had to close altogether saw other opportunities for their properties.
ReU Living's chief executive Anna Chew said she was inspired during the pandemic to build communities for senior living and posthospitalisation recovery that provide comfort and luxury.
"We renovated during the lockdown as I saw an opportunity to work with property developers in the hospitality space then, as hotels were empty," she said.
This story is from the March 11, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 11, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FURIOUS FURY BLOODIED IN SAUDI
Tyson’s father hurt after headbutting Usyk’s team member ahead of heavyweight bout
Celtics 'figure' a way out against depleted Cavs
The Boston Celtics were not \"perfect\" but they still fought off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers to take a stranglehold in their National Basketball Association (NBA) semi-final play-offs on May 13, as the Oklahoma City Thunder levelled their series with the Dallas Mavericks.
COMING UP BIG FOR NYJC
Renfred plays no small role as Nanyang beat HCI to retain boys’ A Div volleyball crown
UNBEATEN PACIFIC VAMPIRE UNVEILS SCARY WARNING
Trainer Ong’s latest find leaves nothing to imagination, baring fangs in dazzling hitout
Nearly 2 in 3 Singapore workers ready to relocate abroad
Survey shows 72% of them are professionals below age 30; Australia most popular location
Life insurance sales in Singapore surge 32.2% to $1.37 billion in Ql
It is the industry’s strongest performance since 2020; LIA says outlook remains bright
GameStop shares soar on resurfacing of Roaring Kitty’
Post by Keith Gill, who drove meme-stock mania of 2021, attracts more than 12m views
Fraud concerns raise red flags for India’s booming tiny IPOs
A string of accounting frauds unearthed by India's securities regulator in May poses another risk to the blistering rally in shares of tiny businesses.
Retail traders sitting out Bitcoin rally
Latest revival more an institutional affair propelled by birth of Bitcoin ETFs in the US
Man with most number of charges forfeits 180 million in assets seize
Vang Shuiming jailed after pleading guilty; he will be deported after serving sentence