'No one has visited me in years': The quiet lives of seniors with no next of kin in nursing, welfare homes

For many seniors who first entered these eldercare facilities fearing isolation and abandonment, there is a sense of belonging and companionship still to be found in their twilight years. Beyond the numbers, what is more important are the qualitative details, that seniors in nursing homes have positive lived experiences, one expert said. Dr Andy Ho, who is professor of psychology and medicine from NTU, said: “Right now, the public perception and our innate attitude to dying alone is that it’s a horrible thing. It can be (a horrible thing), but people also can choose and like that autonomy. Even if I don’t have many family members, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have a strong support system." That is why with nursing homes as a core pillar of eldercare, there is a lot of work being done to ensure that these spaces offer a dignified home away from home, rather than just meeting the goal of providing enough bed capacity.

- Facilitated by CCO.

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