Finding a better alternative to old folks homes in Singapore part 2: Exploring country clubs, surprisingly viable?
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In my previous article, I discussed the future living arrangements of older adults who do not fit the traditional Singaporean model. For example, people who do not have children to live with or do not want to live with their children — how can they create a better living environment for themselves in their old age that breaks from the old-alone-and-sad stereotype so often seen on the media?
Sad to say, retirement homes in Singapore are currently not that sophisticated and not places that one associates with a particularly high quality of life. Perhaps reflecting the fact that this is a growing segment of society, there was quite a keen interest in the article and requests for a deeper exploration of this topic.
I looked at the traditional housing options and proposed three new alternatives: staying on a cruise ship, living in a hotel or serviced apartment, and retirement villages/apartments in the UK.
Today, I want to propose another possibility, this time something more local: staying in a country club! (I'd already warned in my first article on this topic that the alternative housing arrangements proposed will involve having a certain amount of assets.
This may seem non-inclusive but I believe it's good for those who see themselves old and alone in the future to have an estimate of how much money they will need to live the kind of life they want in their golden years.)
Now, why a country club, you may wonder? Well, as highlighted in my first article, as one ages, there may come a time when one needs more support as one's faculties, abilities, and even social circle starts declining (in the last instance, particularly post-retirement.
Tragic as it sounds, a good part of our adult life is spent at work, and mingling with our colleagues forms a significant part of our social interactions.)
For those ageing actively — they're fit enough to manage on their own, but perhaps old enough that having someone around (whether it be a helper or family member) is a welcome preventative measure (to call the ambulance in case of a stroke/fall/medical emergency) — the staff of a serviced apartment, hotel, or even cruise ship can perform a similar function.
Though do keep in mind, they won't help with chores, although they may be incentivised to do so. At the very least, you can call for help if needed.
Some country clubs have hotel-like services, and offer rooms for rent. This seems like upgraded hotel or serviced apartment-living for an active senior, to me! After all, country clubs are actually social clubs, so living in one comes with a community and can improve one's social life in a way that hotel or serviced apartment living will find hard to replicate.
It's sort of like living on a cruise ship, where you can find camaraderie in the other cruise-goers (who are typically of a similar profile: elderly, active, and financially comfortable.) However, not everyone likes being on the move, or has sea legs, so staying on land in a country club may be a more enjoyable option.
Moreover, staying in a country club makes it easy to participate in the various events and courses the club may offer, without having to worry about transport — no excuse not to socialise then!
For example, some clubs have book clubs, craft groups, mahjong nights, yoga classes, balls, Quiz Nights, line dancing, bridge, and more. (Note that these are all actual activities sources from the various Country Clubs in Singapore, and not ones that I conjured out of thin air.)
Depending on the club in question, some only provide the room-booking service to members, whilst others offer them to the general public as well. Here are a few I've found in Singapore that have such facilities:
ALSO READ: Would you sell your home to retire on a cruise ship for $300k in Singapore?
This article was first published in Stackedhomes.