But what began as a difficult period of loneliness soon evolved into a new chapter of independence, as the former corporate secretary chose to move into Sukha Senior Resort.
Samantha said what stood out for her was the social interaction at the facility, which she described as “peaceful and spacious”.
“I do a lot of painting here. I get to interact with people my age.
“Two years of being alone made me sick. I felt isolated, depressed. Friends would call, but everyone had their own things going on,” the 67-year-old widow told FMT.
Malaysia is set to become an aged nation by 2040. According to the statistics department, more than 17% of its population will be aged 60 and above by then.
Filling the gap with ageing care
Sukha group chairman N Raaj Selvarajan said many seniors were stuck at home with no physical activity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“After the pandemic, people started looking for community lifestyle options. Seniors wanted to be with people of their age — doing various activities and socialising,” he said.
Raaj said the resort caters mainly to the middle- and upper-middle-income group.
“Nursing homes in Malaysia are either for the low-income group or super rich, costing anywhere between RM1,000 to RM20,000 a month. We wanted to serve the (segment) in-between,” he said.
Located in the heart of Petaling Jaya, the historic Shah Village Hotel has been given a new lease of life following its transformation into a senior living facility.
With over 5,600 sq m of built-up space and 100 rooms, the facility has been in operation since March this year, offering flexible stays from just one day to long-term residencies.
The minimal fee is RM3,500 a month, inclusive of meals, laundry and access to all clubhouse activities.
Raaj said up to half of the residents pay their own way, while the rest are supported by their next of kin.
“Many rent out or sell their properties to live their old age in a community instead of being home alone,” he said.
Most seniors at the resort wake up at 6am and start group activities — ranging from stretching and yoga to qi gong and swimming — at 7am.
“We don’t force anyone to join in the activities, but the majority do. On some days, they may prefer to read or watch TV, and that’s okay,” Raaj said.
Dason Nair, head of Sukha’s kitchen, said residents enjoy a mix of Malaysian and Western-style food daily.
“They need more protein and iron as they age. Our kitchen is halal and we serve vegetarian food too,” he told FMT.
A similar facility in Negeri Sembilan has just celebrated its first anniversary.
Co-founder Diane Chia said Millennia Village welcomes seniors from their 50s to 80s, for both short retreats and long-term living.
“Many of our occupants are single or with kids overseas,” she said.
Millennia Village has 344 units, 180 of which are currently in use. Residents have access to amenities like saltwater pools, hiking trails, yoga, pilates, massage, and even a rooftop bar.
“There’s arts and crafts, storytelling and posture exercises, all curated by experts. It’s resort living with senior-living features,” Chia said.
Long-term residents pay around RM6,000 per month for two, with two meals — breakfast and dinner — included.
“We want to make it affordable but comfortable. Many of our residents come from Singapore, Johor, the Klang Valley, and even China. They have the funds and they want peace of mind,” she said. - FMT
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