# Where private senior living fits in Singapore's ageing landscape - **Source:** EdgeProp Singapore - **Published:** 2026-08-25T07:22:29.000Z - **Author:** Fiona Lam and Kalynskye Adrian - **Original:** https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/where-private-senior-living-fits-singapores-ageing-landscape - **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Private Residential ## Featured rationale Ageing-driven demand may create conversion and development opportunities, but price sensitivity, recurring fees, labour intensity and high property costs could keep private senior housing niche. ## AI summary Singapore’s emerging private senior-living market spans $2,400-plus shared-care options to $8,000 luxury accommodation, with analysts identifying $2,500 to $4,500 as a viable mid-market range. ## Original article "When I lived alone, life was very quiet," says a resident who has stayed at Red Crowns Senior Living for more than three years. Today, meals are shared with other residents, along with exercise, walks, games and activities. "Life is more lively, and with a routine now. Big difference," the resident adds. The change has helped socially, mentally and physically. "I have new kaki (friends) to chat and play games with. Mentally, I feel happier and think less of negative things now," the resident shares. Read also: Perennial Living, Singapore's first private assisted living development, opens its doors Experiences such as these offer a glimpse into one role that specialised senior living can play as Singapore's population ages: providing companionship and day-to-day support while enabling seniors to retain a degree of independence. Private senior living takes different forms in Singapore, catering to varying levels of independence, budgets, lifestyle preferences and care needs. These range from purpose-built assisted-living developments to smaller residences housed within existing HDB flats, private apartments and landed homes. Analysts expect private senior living options to develop further, although operating costs, manpower requirements and consumers’ sensitivity to recurring fees could keep the segment relatively niche. Luxury developments and shared caregiving models At the premium end of the private senior living market is the newly opened, purpose-built Perennial Living at 28 Parry Avenue. The 195,000 sq ft assisted-living facility by healthcare and real estate company Perennial Holdings offers luxury accommodation, alongside a wide range of elder care services and amenities. Read also: Home, through every stage of life: A National Day 2026 special It includes 200 assisted-living apartments, 100 nursing beds, a wellness centre, memory-care living spaces for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s, personal and medical concierges, and an adjoining 1.5ha therapeutic park. Monthly rates start from $8,000 for the basic package for the assisted living apartments, and from around $7,600 for the nursing suites, Perennial Holdings announced on Aug 18. Other private operators have also set up senior housing and caregiving offerings in Singapore. St Bernadette Lifestyle Village, which started its assisted-living model in 2015, has more than 100 beds islandwide across several facilities. These include landed houses in Bukit Timah, Sembawang, Trevose and Adam Road; a conservation shophouse that also features an intergenerational community space, Joo Chiat Social Club; and a campus-based facility at Temasek Polytechnic. Other players include Grow Singapore and St Bernadette franchisees BlueAtria and Muein. Along with Red Crowns and St Bernadette, they took part in the Ministry of Health’s Shared Stay-in Senior Caregiving Services sandbox, where groups of seniors staying in the same residence share caregivers who provide basic support with daily living tasks, meals, housekeeping and social activities. The model was made a mainstream service last December. Red Crowns runs senior co-living units across HDB flats, private condos and apartments, where residents typically stay in twin- or triple-sharing rooms. The social enterprise offers assisted living, independent living and memory care. Fees generally range from $2,400 to more than $3,500 per month, depending on room type, location and level of care required. Read also: A more expansive life: Why Singaporeans are eyeing retirement in Johor Bahru About 95% of its residents are Singaporeans or permanent residents. They are typically aged 70 to 95, although Red Crowns also supports younger adults with long-term care needs. Another entrant is Minmed Homes — a new initiative by healthcare provider Minmed Group — which will offer senior co-living with shared stay-in senior caregiving services. Its first residence is slated to debut in the coming months at 8 Beng Wan Road, a three-storey detached house with lift access, and will be able to accommodate about 10 seniors in private and twin-sharing rooms. Fees are expected to range from about $3,500 to $8,000 a month. They will include accommodation, meals, housekeeping, activities and daily caregiving support. Healthcare services will also be available through the wider Minmed network. While its first residence is a landed home, Minmed Homes says it may also use suitable spacious condos and larger HDB flats for future locations. From companionship to daily care The point at which seniors consider specialised living arrangements can differ considerably depending on their health, family circumstances and level of support at home. "Most residents move in when living alone is no longer safe or sustainable," says Joshua Goh, founder of Red Crowns. Some face increasing frailty, fall risk or cognitive decline, while others need help with daily activities or have family members who can no longer provide round-the-clock care. Social isolation, loneliness and recovery after hospitalisation are other common reasons. "Many residents are still relatively active and value companionship and community, while others require higher levels of daily support," Goh adds. At Red Crowns, the caregiver-to-resident ratio is low at about 1:2 to 1:3. Residents also have personalised care plans, while their families receive regular updates. The social enterprise also collaborates with healthcare providers and Active Ageing Centres. Daily routines can include exercise, cognitive games, music, crafts, gardening, community outings and visits to nearby parks and cafes, alongside therapy and family visits. These depend on each individual’s preferences and abilities, Goh says. Meanwhile, Minmed Homes, which is set to open its first residence, expects to cater mainly to seniors aged 60 and above who are fairly independent but would appreciate additional support with areas such as medication reminders, mobility or personal care. "Some may be living alone after losing a spouse. Others may have children who live overseas or are busy with work," a Minmed Homes spokesperson says. "Many simply want companionship, security and peace of mind." The firm describes this group as a "missing middle" — between those who are ageing at home and those requiring institutional care. It acknowledges that ageing in place may remain ideal for seniors with sufficient support and a safe home environment, while institutional care is still essential for individuals with complex medical or nursing needs. Independence, familiarity and connection Seniors considering specialised living arrangements vary in their independence, care needs and preferences. Their choice of living environment will depend on these individual circumstances. Maintaining independence is a primary concern, says Catherine He, head of research at Colliers Singapore. Staying close to family and familiar neighbourhoods, having peace of mind regarding immediate access to emergency medical help, and opportunities to remain socially active also matter, she adds. Minmed Homes says a major benefit is that people can still be surrounded by everyday neighbourhood life. "They see families walking their dogs, children cycling past, neighbours gardening and familiar residential streets that feel vibrant and alive," its spokesperson notes. Leonard Tay, head of research at Knight Frank Singapore, similarly highlights the importance of familiar surroundings and existing communities, including nearby food centres and places of worship. Reliable housekeeping and meals, continuity of care and the ability to socialise when they choose are also key. "Senior preferences in Singapore tend to be pragmatic rather than aspirational," Tay says, adding that most middle-class seniors place less emphasis on resort-style living. Convenience and companionship were among the reasons the Red Crowns resident chose the co-living arrangement. "Everything is nearby, facilities are good, and the price is affordable for retirees like me," the resident says. "I also have people to talk to, so it’s not so lonely." Universal design helps support independence and daily living too. Colliers' He cites features such as barrier-free layouts, anti-slip flooring and smart-sensor monitoring. Potential for mid-market options Colliers’ He identifies the mid-market segment as a potential "sweet spot" for future market entry. This comprises middle-income seniors who do not qualify for heavy government subsidies but find the premium monthly fees of higher-end private facilities beyond their budgets. They favour communal shared spaces and functional care over upscale amenities and bespoke lifestyle programmes, and may actively seek facilities and programmes that qualify for government subsidies. "Developers who can leverage public-private partnerships to lower land costs, or utilise smart technology to optimise labour efficiency, will capture a massive, untapped demand pool of middle-class Singaporeans looking to age actively and independently," He opines. Recurring costs are likely to be an important factor in their choice of senior living. Most Singaporean seniors are on fixed retirement incomes from sources such as CPF and savings, and would be reluctant to deplete these funds through monthly service and care fees. "They prioritise sheer financial predictability to ensure they do not outlive their retirement funds," she notes. A viable mid-market price could fall between $2,500 and $4,500 a month, covering housing and basic care, per her estimates. Tay from Knight Frank likewise observes that the average middle-class senior tends to be price-sensitive, while even wealthier seniors in the group can be "asset-rich but cash-flow cautious". "The idea of paying recurring monthly fees indefinitely is psychologically difficult in a culture conditioned around property ownership and capital preservation," he continues. Serving this segment also comes with cost and operational complexities for private operators, which could affect how widely such options are offered. Tay notes that care is labour-intensive, margins can be thin and residents may require greater levels of support as they age. Other potential hurdles include the manpower crunch, foreign labour restrictions and care labour costs. In addition, there are capital expenditures on senior-friendly facilities, high land and construction costs and regulatory requirements, according to He. "The rigorous compliance standards for safety, space and care protocols also increase the administrative and operational burden on smaller, private operators," she says. Complementary role for private senior living Both analysts expect specialised senior living to grow, though they do not see private senior housing becoming a mainstream residential category in the near term. "While Singapore's ageing population demands diverse eldercare options, several factors restrict its mainstream scalability," says He, adding that private specialised senior housing will likely remain a niche segment. Besides, she points out that many Singaporeans still prefer to age in place at home, and there is a "heavy reliance" on relatively affordable, foreign domestic live-in helpers, which present strong competition to dedicated facilities. Tay of Knight Frank likewise foresees private developments remaining complementary to the wider range of ways seniors are housed and cared for in Singapore. The preference for ageing in place is supported by family, community care, as well as the government’s Enhancement for Active Seniors, or Ease, programme for both HDB flats and private housing. "Undoubtedly, specialised senior living will grow in Singapore, but in a constrained, uneven trajectory, remaining boutique in the foreseeable future," Tay notes. He also believes public provision would play a significant role if senior living is eventually offered on a much larger scale, with private operators catering to specific segments of the market. "Enhancements to Community Care Apartments [in HDB estates], subsidies, and integrated care services make senior-friendly housing accessible to a much broader population than any private-sector model could achieve," Tay adds. One of St Bernadette Lifestyle Village’s assisted-living facilities is a bungalow at 17 Jalan Shaer, featuring barrier-free access and a gym. (Photo: St Bernadette Lifestyle Village website) 'Like a family' There may still be ways for the sector to develop further. For example, underused existing properties — such as vacant schools or community centres — could be converted into senior housing, according to He. Private operators and voluntary welfare organisations can then handle the day-to-day management to maintain operational efficiency and keep service standards high, she adds. For now, the private market is likely to comprise a range of options catering to different care needs, lifestyle preferences and budgets. The Red Crowns resident says the difference has been clearest in simple daily routines and being part of a community. At a karaoke session held with other elderly at another Red Crowns house, the group celebrated a birthday and sang nostalgic songs. "Everybody danced till they dropped," the resident says. "It felt like a family." ---------- Healthy ageing: What helps seniors thrive While a senior living environment can provide care and companionship, whether it supports healthy ageing will also depend on what it enables people to do each day. Assistant Professor Vivien Wu of the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, has found through her research that older adults thrive when they remain socially connected, physically active and mentally engaged. Sustained engagement across multiple aspects of daily life — rather than any single activity — supports both healthy ageing and cognitive function. In a study involving older adults in long-term care, loneliness was found to be strongly associated with poorer quality of life, while resilience and a sense of coherence — the feeling that life remains meaningful and manageable — were linked to better well-being. Translating these findings into practice, Wu says senior living environments need to do more than providing care. They must "create opportunities for residents to build relationships, make choices, contribute to the community and continue pursuing activities that give them purpose". While senior living environments can help residents form communities and reduce loneliness, Wu cautions that living among other people does not automatically mean someone feels connected. The quality of relationships matters far more than the quantity of activities on offer, she says. Communities that encourage residents to develop friendships, pursue shared interests, volunteer or interact with younger generations are likely to have a much greater impact than programmes that simply fill up the daily schedule. Activities should also be personalised to residents' interests, life experiences and cultural backgrounds. Maintaining connections with family and the wider community is equally important, as healthy ageing involves staying connected to society outside the residential setting. How and when seniors make the move can matter too. Wu notes that while perceptions surrounding senior living environments are slowly shifting, her qualitative research shows older adults still place a high value on retaining their sense of independence. Being involved in choosing where and when they move allows for a greater sense of control and lets them adjust more positively to the transition. Wu does not think there is a universal age at which someone is "ready" to move into senior living. "The better question is whether their living environment — wherever it may be — continues to support their independence, social connections, health and overall well-being," she adds. ## Chinese translation > Translation model: openai_codex_cli ### 私人乐龄居住在新加坡老龄化格局中的定位 在面向长者的多样模式中，例如共享照护、共居和豪华辅助生活，中端市场潜力正在显现。 “我一个人住的时候，生活很安静，”一名在Red Crowns Senior Living居住超过三年的居民说。 如今，居民会与其他住户一起用餐，也一起运动、散步、玩游戏和参加活动。“生活更热闹了，现在也有规律。差别很大，”这名居民补充道。 这种改变在社交、心理和身体方面都有帮助。“我有新的kaki（朋友）可以聊天、一起玩游戏。心理上，我感觉更开心，现在也少想负面的事情，”这名居民分享道。 另读：新加坡首个私人辅助生活发展项目Perennial Living开门迎客 这样的经历让人得以一窥专门乐龄居住在新加坡人口老龄化过程中可发挥的一项作用：在让长者保有一定独立性的同时，提供陪伴和日常支持。 私人乐龄居住在新加坡有不同形式，面向不同程度的独立性、预算、生活方式偏好和照护需求。 这些形式包括专门建造的辅助生活发展项目，也包括设于现有HDB组屋、私人公寓和有地住宅内的较小型住所。 分析师预计，私人乐龄居住选项将进一步发展，尽管运营成本、人力需求以及消费者对经常性费用的敏感度，可能使该板块仍相对小众。 豪华发展项目与共享照护模式 私人乐龄居住市场的高端部分，是新近开业、专门建造的Perennial Living，地址为Parry Avenue 28号。 这座由医疗保健和房地产公司Perennial Holdings打造、面积195,000平方英尺的辅助生活设施，提供豪华住宿，并配备广泛的长者护理服务和便利设施。 另读：贯穿人生每个阶段的家：2026年国庆特别报道 它包括200套辅助生活公寓、100张护理床位、一个康养中心、面向失智症和阿尔茨海默病居民的记忆护理生活空间、个人和医疗礼宾服务，以及相邻的1.5公顷疗愈公园。 Perennial Holdings于8月18日宣布，辅助生活公寓基本配套的月费从新币8,000元起，护理套房则从约新币7,600元起。 其他私人运营商也已在新加坡设立乐龄住房和照护服务。 St Bernadette Lifestyle Village于2015年启动其辅助生活模式，目前在全岛多个设施拥有超过100张床位。这些设施包括位于武吉知马、三巴旺、Trevose和Adam Road的有地住宅；一间也设有跨代社区空间Joo Chiat Social Club的保留店屋；以及位于淡马锡理工学院的校园式设施。 其他业者包括Grow Singapore以及St Bernadette特许经营方BlueAtria和Muein。 它们与Red Crowns和St Bernadette一起，参与了卫生部的共享住家式乐龄照护服务沙盒计划。在该模式下，住在同一住所的一组长者共享照护人员，由照护人员提供日常生活任务、餐食、家务和社交活动方面的基本支持。该模式已于去年12月成为主流服务。 Red Crowns在HDB组屋、私人共管公寓和公寓内运营乐龄共居单位，居民通常住在双人或三人合住房间。这家社会企业提供辅助生活、独立生活和记忆护理。 费用通常每月介于新币2,400元至超过新币3,500元，取决于房型、地点和所需照护水平。 另读：更广阔的生活：为什么新加坡人正考虑在柔佛巴鲁退休 其约95%的居民是新加坡公民或永久居民。他们通常年龄在70至95岁之间，尽管Red Crowns也支持有长期照护需求的较年轻成年人。 另一个新进入者是Minmed Homes，这是医疗保健提供商Minmed Group推出的新计划，将提供带共享住家式乐龄照护服务的乐龄共居。 其首个住所预计将在未来数月于Beng Wan Road 8号推出，这是一栋三层独立式住宅，设有电梯，可在私人房和双人合住房间内容纳约10名长者。 费用预计每月约新币3,500元至新币8,000元。费用将包括住宿、餐食、家务、活动和日常照护支持。医疗保健服务也将通过更广泛的Minmed网络提供。 虽然其首个住所是一栋有地住宅，Minmed Homes表示，未来地点也可能使用合适的宽敞共管公寓和较大型HDB组屋。 从陪伴到日常照护 长者考虑专门居住安排的时间点，可能因健康状况、家庭情况和家中支持水平而大不相同。 “多数居民是在独自生活不再安全或不可持续时搬进来，”Red Crowns创办人Joshua Goh说。 有些人面临日益增加的虚弱、跌倒风险或认知退化，另一些人则需要日常活动方面的帮助，或有家庭成员已无法提供全天候照护。社会隔离、孤独以及住院后康复也是常见原因。 “许多居民仍相对活跃，并重视陪伴和社区，而另一些居民则需要更高水平的日常支持，”Goh补充道。 在Red Crowns，照护人员与居民的比例较低，约为1:2至1:3。居民也有个性化照护计划，其家人会定期收到更新。这家社会企业还与医疗保健提供者和乐龄活动中心合作。 日常安排可包括运动、认知游戏、音乐、手工、园艺、社区外出以及到附近公园和咖啡馆的走访，同时也包括治疗和家人探访。Goh说，这些取决于每个人的偏好和能力。 与此同时，即将开放首个住所的Minmed Homes预计主要服务60岁及以上、相当独立但希望在用药提醒、行动能力或个人护理等方面获得额外支持的长者。 “有些人可能是在失去配偶后独居。另一些人的孩子可能住在海外，或工作繁忙，”Minmed Homes发言人说。“许多人只是想要陪伴、安全感和安心。” 该公司将这一群体描述为“缺失的中间层”，介于在家养老者与需要机构照护者之间。 它承认，对于拥有足够支持和安全居家环境的长者而言，原居安老可能仍是理想选择，而对于有复杂医疗或护理需求的人士，机构照护仍然必不可少。 独立性、熟悉感和连接 考虑专门居住安排的长者在独立性、照护需求和偏好方面各不相同。他们对居住环境的选择将取决于这些个体情况。 Colliers Singapore研究主管Catherine He表示，保持独立性是首要关切。 她补充说，靠近家人和熟悉社区、在紧急医疗帮助可即时获得方面拥有安心感，以及继续保持社交活跃的机会，也同样重要。 Minmed Homes表示，一大好处是人们仍可以被日常社区生活所围绕。 “他们看到家庭遛狗、孩子骑车经过、邻居园艺，以及熟悉且充满活力的住宅街道，”其发言人指出。 Knight Frank Singapore研究主管Leonard Tay也同样强调熟悉环境和现有社区的重要性，包括附近的熟食中心和宗教场所。 可靠的家务和餐食服务、照护连续性，以及在他们愿意时能够社交，也都是关键。 “新加坡长者的偏好往往务实，而不是抱负式的，”Tay说，并补充说，多数中产长者对度假村式生活的重视程度较低。 便利和陪伴是这名Red Crowns居民选择共居安排的原因之一。 “所有东西都在附近，设施很好，价格也适合像我这样的退休人士，”这名居民说。“我也有人可以说话，所以没那么孤单。” 通用设计也有助于支持独立性和日常生活。Colliers的He举例称，包括无障碍布局、防滑地板和智能传感器监测等功能。 中端选项的潜力 Colliers的He将中端市场确定为未来市场进入的潜在“甜蜜点”。 这包括不符合大量政府补贴资格、但又觉得较高端私人设施的高额月费超出预算的中等收入长者。 他们偏好公共共享空间和功能性照护，而非高档设施和定制生活方式项目，并可能积极寻找符合政府补贴条件的设施和项目。 “能够利用公私合作来降低土地成本，或利用智能科技优化劳动力效率的发展商，将能抓住一大批尚未开发、希望积极且独立养老的中产新加坡人的需求，”He认为。 经常性成本可能是他们选择乐龄居住时的重要因素。 多数新加坡长者依靠CPF和储蓄等来源获得固定退休收入，会不愿意通过每月服务和照护费用耗尽这些资金。 “他们优先考虑纯粹的财务可预测性，以确保自己不会在退休资金耗尽后仍然在世，”她指出。根据她的估计，一个可行的中端价格可能介于每月新币2,500元至新币4,500元，覆盖住房和基本照护。 Knight Frank的Tay同样观察到，普通中产长者往往对价格敏感，而该群体中即使较富裕的长者也可能“资产丰厚但现金流谨慎”。 “在一种围绕房产拥有和资本保值而形成的文化中，无限期支付每月经常性费用这一想法，在心理上很难接受，”他继续说道。 服务这一群体也给私人运营商带来成本和运营复杂性，这可能影响此类选项的供应范围。 Tay指出，照护属于劳动密集型，利润率可能较薄，而居民随着年龄增长可能需要更高水平的支持。 He表示，其他潜在障碍包括人力短缺、外籍劳工限制和照护劳动力成本。此外，还有乐龄友好设施的资本开支、高土地和建筑成本以及监管要求。 “针对安全、空间和照护规程的严格合规标准，也增加了较小型私人运营商的行政和运营负担，”她说。 私人乐龄居住的补充角色 两位分析师都预计专门乐龄居住会增长，不过他们并不认为私人乐龄住房会在短期内成为主流住宅类别。 “虽然新加坡老龄化人口需要多样化的养老选项，但若干因素限制了其主流化规模扩张，”He说，并补充说，私人专门乐龄住房可能仍将是一个小众板块。 此外，她指出，许多新加坡人仍偏好在家中原居安老，并且“高度依赖”相对负担得起的外籍住家帮佣，这对专门设施构成强有力竞争。 Knight Frank的Tay同样预计，在新加坡更广泛的长者居住和照护方式中，私人发展项目仍将扮演补充角色。 原居安老的偏好受到家庭、社区照护，以及政府面向HDB组屋和私人住宅的乐龄易计划（Enhancement for Active Seniors，简称Ease）的支持。 “毫无疑问，专门乐龄居住将在新加坡增长，但其轨迹会受限且不均衡，在可预见的未来仍保持精品化，”Tay指出。 He也认为，如果乐龄居住最终以更大规模提供，公共供应将发挥重要作用，而私人运营商则服务市场的特定板块。 “对社区关爱组屋[位于HDB市镇]的增强、补贴以及整合照护服务，使乐龄友好住房能够惠及远比任何私营部门模式所能实现更广泛的人群，”Tay补充道。 St Bernadette Lifestyle Village的一处辅助生活设施是位于Jalan Shaer 17号的一栋洋房，设有无障碍通道和健身房。（照片：St Bernadette Lifestyle Village网站） “像一家人” 该行业或许仍有进一步发展的方式。例如，He表示，可将闲置的现有物业，如空置学校或社区中心，改建为乐龄住房。 她补充说，私人运营商和志愿福利组织随后可负责日常管理，以保持运营效率并维持高服务标准。 目前，私人市场很可能由一系列选项组成，以满足不同照护需求、生活方式偏好和预算。 这名Red Crowns居民说，最明显的差别体现在简单的日常安排以及成为社区一分子。 在另一间Red Crowns住所与其他长者共同举行的卡拉OK活动中，这群人庆祝了生日，并唱起怀旧歌曲。 “大家跳舞跳到尽兴，”这名居民说。“感觉就像一家人。” ---------- 健康老龄化：什么有助于长者蓬勃生活 虽然乐龄居住环境可以提供照护和陪伴，但它是否支持健康老龄化，也取决于它让人们每天能够做些什么。 新加坡国立大学杨潞龄医学院Alice Lee护理研究中心助理教授Vivien Wu通过研究发现，老年人在保持社会连接、身体活跃和心理参与时能够蓬勃生活。持续参与日常生活的多个方面，而非任何单一活动，支持健康老龄化和认知功能。 在一项涉及长期护理中老年人的研究中，孤独被发现与较差的生活质量高度相关，而韧性和连贯感，即感觉生活仍有意义且可管理，则与更好的福祉相关。 Wu表示，将这些发现转化为实践，乐龄居住环境需要做的不只是提供照护。 它们必须“创造机会，让居民建立关系、作出选择、为社区作贡献，并继续从事赋予他们目标感的活动”。 虽然乐龄居住环境可以帮助居民形成社区并减少孤独，Wu提醒，与其他人共同生活并不自动意味着某人感到有连接。 她说，关系的质量远比所提供活动的数量重要。 鼓励居民发展友谊、追求共同兴趣、参与志愿服务或与年轻一代互动的社区，可能比只是填满每日时间表的项目产生大得多的影响。 活动也应根据居民的兴趣、人生经历和文化背景进行个性化安排。 保持与家庭和更广泛社区的联系同样重要，因为健康老龄化涉及与居住环境之外的社会保持连接。 长者如何以及何时搬迁也可能很重要。 Wu指出，虽然围绕乐龄居住环境的观念正在慢慢转变，但她的定性研究显示，老年人仍非常重视保有独立感。 参与选择搬到哪里以及何时搬迁，能带来更大的掌控感，并让他们更积极地适应转变。 Wu并不认为存在一个普遍适用的年龄，说明某人已经“准备好”搬入乐龄居住。 “更好的问题是，他们的生活环境，无论在哪里，是否仍继续支持他们的独立性、社会连接、健康和整体福祉，”她补充道。