Published by Housing and Development Board HDB Hub 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh Singapore 310480 Research Team Goh Li Ping (Team Leader) William Lim Teong Wee Tan Hui Fang Wu Juan Juan Tan Tze Hui Lim E-Farn Fiona Lee Yiling Sangeetha D/O Panearselvan Amy Wong Jin Ying Esther Chua Jia Ping Phay Huai Yu Ian Lim Wei Wendy Li Xin Quek Xin Ping Cherie Lin Xinyi Max Chan Weng Kin Goh Pei Xuan Alysia Wee Wan Ting Advisor: Dr Chong Fook Loong Research Advisory Panel: Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser Associate Professor Pow Choon Piew Associate Professor Kang Soon Hock Associate Professor Nicholas Hon Hsueh Hsien Dr Ong Qiyan We also wish to acknowledge with thanks: • Dr. Lai Ah Eng for her guidance in the initial phase of the survey • Yvonne Tan Ci En, Tan Hwee Koon, Nur Asykin Ramli, Paveena Seah Chia Shih and Michelle Fong Jing Ting for their contributions to the survey Published Feb 2021 All information is correct at the time of printing. © 2021 Housing & Development Board All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording without the written permission of the Housing and Development Board. Such written permission must also be obtained before any part of this publication is stored in a retrieval system of any nature. ISBN 978-981-14-9469-7 PUBLIC HOUSING IN SINGAPORE: Social Well-Being of HDB Communities & Well-Being of the Elderly FOREWORD HDB has strived to provide a holistic living environment for HDB residents as well as serve the many who use facilities in HDB towns. This is achieved by delivering good homes in the form of affordable public housing and well-planned towns; putting people at the centre of every plan and policy. A key to better homes is undoubtedly developing a keen understanding of the people for whom we are building. As HDB celebrates its 60th anniversary, it is timely to take stock of our efforts and to obtain our residents’ feedback so as to continue to do better. An important barometer of our residents’ sentiments is the Sample Household Survey (SHS). First launched in 1968, SHS 2018 is the 11th in a series of large- scale surveys carried out every five years. SHS 2018 covered close to 8,000 HDB households across all towns/estates and flat types. The SHS has made trend analysis possible and has provided insights on residents’ views on HDB living. The findings serve as important inputs for policy reviews and improvements to the living environment. While HDB has made significant transformation to public housing, many dynamic changes continue to take place. Aspirational desires for quality living will take new shape. There are shifts in emphasis towards community-centric and liveability issues. All these will have an impact on the physical and social landscape. SHS 2018 provided residents with a platform to share their HDB living experience - from the design of their flats, ease of accessibility, to the strength of community ties. The survey also explored new evolving aspects like online shopping and unique places in their towns that hold special memories. The SHS 2018 findings have shown an improvement in satisfaction with the HDB living environment from 2013. Besides affirming HDB policies, the findings also lent support that the physical living environment is important in the building of ties, contributing to residents’ overall well-being. Gaining insights from SHS 2018, there is a greater need to engage the community to strengthen social capital and resilience, especially among the more vulnerable households. In the planning of our towns, HDB also intends to place residents’ health and wellness at the forefront. The salient findings are published in the following two monographs: i) Public Housing in Singapore: Residents' Profile, Housing Satisfaction and Preferences; and ii) Public Housing in Singapore: Social Well-Being of HDB Communities & Well-Being of the Elderly. We deeply appreciate all residents who have generously given us their time and invaluable feedback. Their responses will enable HDB to better design quality flats, meaningful communal spaces and formulate new strategies to deepen residents’ sense of belonging to their towns. Dr. Cheong Koon Hean Chief Executive Officer Housing & Development Board i Contents Page FOREWORD i CONTENTS iii LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF CHARTS xi KEY INDICATORS xv GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND DEFINITIONS xxi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 3 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Objectives 4 1.3 Sampling Design 4 1.4 Outline of Monograph 5 SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF HDB COMMUNITIES 9 CHAPTER 2 OUTLOOK ON LIFE 15 2.1 Satisfaction with Life 15 2.2 Overall Level of Happiness 23 2.3 Personal Resilience 25 2.4 Summary of Findings 27 CHAPTER 3 FAMILY TIES 33 3.1 Physical Living Arrangement 35 3.2 Social Living Arrangement 40 3.3 Depth of Interaction 41 3.4 Forms and Extent of Family Support 46 3.5 Relationship between Proximity, Frequency of Visits, 54 and Family Support 3.6 Attitudes towards Family 56 3.7 Summary of Findings 58 iii Contents Page CHAPTER 4 SOCIAL CAPITAL 65 4.1 Concept of Social Capital 65 4.2 Level of Social Capital among HDB Residents 68 4.3 Social Capital Scores by Attributes 72 4.4 Summary of Findings 76 CHAPTER 5 COMMUNITY BONDING 81 5.1 Neighbourly Relations 81 5.2 Rootedness 97 5.3 Community Engagement 106 5.4 Summary of Findings 113 CONCLUSION: SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF HDB COMMUNITIES 117 WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY 121 CHAPTER 6 WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY 125 6.1 HDB Elderly and Future Elderly Households 127 6.1.1 Demographic Characteristics 127 6.2 Personal Aspects 132 6.2.1 Outlook on Life 133 6.2.2 Health Status 137 6.3 Social Aspects 139 6.3.1 Family Ties 139 6.3.2 Community Bonding 153 6.4 Housing Aspects 166 6.4.1 Housing Mobility and Aspirations 167 6.4.2 Physical Living Experience 172 6.4.3 Satisfaction and Usage of Estate Facilities 177 6.4.4 Ideal Living Arrangement for Elderly Who Require 183 Assistance with Daily Living Activities 6.5 Summary of Findings 186 6.6 Conclusion 189 iv List of Tables Page Table 2.1 Satisfaction with Aspects of Life by Year ........................................................... 16 Table 2.2 Overall Life Satisfaction among HDB Households ................................... 17 by Attributes Table 2.3 Satisfaction with Family Relations among HDB ......................................... 19 Households by Attributes Table 2.4 Satisfaction with Neighbourly Relations among ......................................... 21 HDB Households by Attributes Table 2.5 Satisfaction with Housing Situation among HDB Households .......... 22 by Attributes Table 2.6 Overall Happiness with Life among HDB Households .......................... 24 by Attributes Table 2.7 Mean Resilience Scores among HDB Households ................................. 26 By Personal and Social Resources Table 2.8 Mean Resilience Scores among HDB Households ................................. 27 by Attributes Table 3.1 Attributes of Younger Married ................................................................................... 34 Residents and Older Residents with Married Children Table 3.2 Present and Preferred Physical Living Arrangements ........................... 36 of Younger Married Residents vis-à-vis Their Parents Table 3.3 Present and Preferred Physical Living Arrangements ........................... 38 of Younger Married Residents vis-à-vis Their Parents by Resident Life Cycle Stage Table 3.4 Present and Preferred Physical Living Arrangements ............................ 39 of Older Residents with Married Children vis-à-vis Their Married Children Table 3.5 Present and Preferred Social Living Arrangements .................................. 40 of Younger Married Residents by Year Table 3.6 Present and Preferred Social Living Arrangements .................................. 41 of Older Residents with Married Children by Year Table 3.7 Frequency of Visits between Younger Married Residents ................. 42 and Their Parents by Year Table 3.8 Frequency of Visits between Older Residents ............................................. 42 and Their Married Children by Year Table 3.9 Frequency of Visits between Younger Married Residents ................. 43 and Their Parents by Attributes Table 3.10 Frequency of Visits between Older Residents ............................................. 44 and Their Married Children by Attributes Table 3.11 Childcare Arrangements of Younger Married Residents ..................... 46 with Children Aged 12 Years Old and Below by Year Table 3.12 Regular Financial Support from Younger Married Residents .......... 47 to Parents by Year v List of Tables Page Table 3.13 Regular Financial Support from Younger Married Residents .......... 47 to Parents by Attributes Table 3.14 Amount Contributed to Parents from Younger Married ........................ 48 Residents by Attributes Table 3.15 Regular Financial Support Received by Older Residents .................. 49 with Married Children by Year Table 3.16 Regular Financial Support Received by Older Residents .................. 49 with Married Children by Attributes Table 3.17 Amount of Financial Support Received by Older Residents ............ 50 with Married Children by Attributes Table 3.18 Whether Younger Married Residents are Able to Rely on ................. 51 Family Members for Physical, Emotional and Financial Support (In Times of Need) Table 3.19 Whether Younger Married Residents are Able to Rely on ................. 51 At Least One Family Member for Support Table 3.20 Whether Older Residents with Married Children are