TP Pioneers Campus-Based Assisted Living Model to Support Singapore’s Ageing Population
Students gain practical, hands-on training in real-life senior care settings
Post Date: 28 May 2025
Temasek Polytechnic (TP), in partnership with St Bernadette Lifestyle Village, launched Singapore’s first campus-based assisted living facility on 28 May 2025. St Bernadette Lifestyle Village@TP addresses the needs of Singapore’s ageing population while also equipping students with practical, industry-relevant skills in eldercare.
As the nation’s population ages, the demand for person-centred eldercare solutions continues to grow. At the same time, there is a pressing need for a well- prepared workforce that is not only technically trained, but also attuned to the lived experiences of seniors. By embedding senior living within an educational setting, the collaboration creates an intergenerational environment that integrates learning, wellness, and community.
This collaboration between TP and St Bernadette Lifestyle Village stems from a shared vision to meaningfully reimagine how education and eldercare can intersect. Through this transformation of the traditional senior living model, TP students are set to gain invaluable experience in eldercare, whilst seniors can now age meaningfully within the TP community.
Each year, around 300 TP students from disciplines including Gerontology, Culinary & Catering Management, Pharmaceutical Science, Nutrition, and Medical Biotechnology will undergo immersive, real-world training in eldercare through internships, projects, and practicums. Students will support residents in routines like nutrition planning, medication management, and community engagement, while gaining critical industry skills.
Situated within TP’s campus, St Bernadette Lifestyle Village@TP features four assisted living units: two for men and two for women, with each unit accommodating five residents. Eligible seniors must be able to perform at least four of the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), enabling independent living with structured support from trained students and staff.
This inter-generational pilot programme cultivates a future-ready eldercare workforce and empowers seniors to age with dignity and purpose in a socially supportive setting. For more details, please refer to the media factsheet in the Annex.
ANNEX
St Bernadette Lifestyle Village@TP Factsheet
A Living Facility Features
St Bernadette Lifestyle Village@TP includes four residential assisted living units - two for men and two for women, with each unit accommodating five residents. To qualify, residents must be able to perform at least four of the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.
Each unit is supported by live-in caregivers, while trained medical professionals from St Bernadette Lifestyle Village provide regular visits for medication management and health monitoring.
Each living space is designed with an emphasis on safety, comfort, and dignity. The following features are available in each unit:
- Safety and Accessibility: Grab bars, slip-resistant flooring, invisible grills, smoke alarms, ramps, and barrier-free access
- Twin Ensuite Rooms: Designed to balance privacy with opportunities for social interaction
- Wayfinding and Memory Support: Personalised “memory boxes” and gender- specific visual cues (e.g. a horse carriage for men, colourful parrots for women) to assist residents with cognitive impairments
- Personal Dignity: Lockable drawers empower residents to manage their belongings independently
B Real-World Eldercare Training
This facility functions as a “living lab,” offering TP students immersive, interdisciplinary training within a real-world eldercare environment.
From Academic Year 2025, students across multiple diploma programmes will participate in internships, practicums, and collaborative projects related to eldercare, nutrition, and biomedical sciences.
Students from the Diploma in Social Sciences in Gerontology at TP’s School of Humanities & Social Sciences gain immersive, hands-on experience by applying their knowledge of ageing, care models, and community engagement directly with older adults. These experiences deepen their understanding of person-centred care while nurturing empathy and communication skills in real-world contexts.
Students from the Diplomas in Food, Nutrition & Culinary Science and Culinary & Catering Management play a vital role in supporting seniors’ health through food. They help design and prepare meals that meet dietary needs, such as low-sugar, low- sodium, or soft-texture diets, bridging scientific nutrition principles with culinary creativity.
Participating Diplomas
- Diploma in Social Sciences in Gerontology
o Learning journeys to observe and understand real-world care practices in a supported residential setting (from April 2025)
o 16–20-week Student Internship Programme (from October 2025)
o Practicums in foundational nursing and therapy skills (from October 2025)
o Group projects on residents’ well-being and community integration (from October 2025)
- Diploma in Culinary and Catering Management
o Practicums in culinary, service, and baking/pastry, including meal curation and service for senior residents (from April 2025)
- Diplomas in Food, Nutrition & Culinary Science, Pharmaceutical Science and Medical Biotechnology
o Skill-based learning, projects, and practicums focused on dietary planning and age-appropriate meal design (from October 2025)
Through these experiences, students will:
- Support seniors’ physical and emotional well-being
- Curate and prepare meals tailored to dietary needs
- Learn medication management and cognitive care strategies
- Build empathy and soft skills through day-to-day interactions
C Enriching Senior Lives
Residents of St Bernadette Lifestyle Village@TP will benefit from more than just professional care. They can enjoy a vibrant, connected lifestyle through the following:
- Regular interaction with students that provides joy, companionship, and mental stimulation
- Opportunities to mentor youths and share life stories that fosters a sense of contribution and purpose
- Social activities, from shared meals to movie nights, supports emotional, cognitive and social well-being
