With the aging population set to increase by 2040, sustainable cities expert Alan Teh called on Malaysian developers to build more homes that are disabled-friendly, reported Free Malaysia Today.
He noted that the country’s building by-laws contains no provision requiring residential properties to be disabled-friendly.
“Only if you are designing a specific home for the elderly, then you have to do that,” he said. “This is in contrast to the public buildings where you have to provide disabled access and disabled toilets.”
He cited the case of Singapore, where HDB housing is built with one of the toilets having a one-meter clearance at the doorway, while the main door has a minimum floor width of one meter. “This is to facilitate the elderly and to provide wheelchair access.”
“Sustainable cities need proper planning that looks far beyond and should cater for the needs of everyone. If we are unable to develop a complete housing estate like that of Singapore and even Japan, perhaps we should look at allocating two percent of every 100 units built,” explained Teh, of Atelier Alan Teh Architect.
The Population Projection 2010-2040 of the statistics department show that the population size for the age group 0 to 14 years is expected to drop from 27.4 percent to 19.6 percent over the 30-year period.
However, the population for those aged 15 to 64 years as well as 65 years and above is expected to grow by 1.4 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.
With this, the number of Malaysians aged 65 years and above is expected to triple by 2040 from 2010.
Aside from catering to the ageing population, property developers should also strive to make homes affordable, added Teh.
Image sourced from FMT
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