Beyond ‘staying put’? Ageing in place through a relocation-based housing project in Singapore

Ageing in place (AIP) has become a central framework for planning housing and infrastructure in ageing societies. The AIP literature is dominated by the perspective of ‘staying put’. As such, there is limited evidence on whether relocation can provide a viable pathway for older people to age in place. Accordingly, this study examines Kampung Admiralty (KA) – a government-led vertical mixed-use development in Singapore that integrates senior housing, grocery shopping, healthcare, childcare, and an active ageing centre (AAC) under a single roof – to assess its potential as a strategy for promoting healthy ageing. From interviews with residents in KA and communities nearby, we find that relocating older adults to smaller, affordable housing units meets the needs of older people who want to downsize their residences. The AAC serves as a focal point for developing new social networks among both relocated residents and older adults living nearby. The ‘everything under one roof’ model is well received, especially given residents’ declining health and the challenges that Singapore’s tropical climate poses. Although KA demonstrates success in relocating people and integrating functions for older people, it has limitations, including insufficient provision for live-in helpers and constrained access to specialised healthcare. This case offers important theoretical and policy insights for AIP.