Respite centers sharing the load

On the lakeside, a sparkle in twilight years

Retirement communities offering comprehensive services are springing up nationwide as more property developers delve in to a lucrative market fueled by China's aging population.

One of the most high-profile real estate projects completed this year was in the Tieshan Lake Forest Park in Xuyi county, Jiangsu province, which welcomed its first 2,000 or so residents in March.

The development, an hour's drive from Nanjing, the provincial capital, covers 48 square kilometers, half of which is made up of five- or six-floor residential buildings containing 13,000 apartments.

The other half has a nursing home and day care center for people who need regular care, with 380 beds, as well as a hospital and a fitness center with a swimming pool, badminton courts and hot spring pools.

Those who need urgent medical help or routine daily assistance can use on-site transportation services or receive home visits from a nurse.

"The advantage of such a community is that it takes into consideration the whole time span of the elderly, from when they are still very energetic to when they become dependent on caregivers," said Chen Weichi, design director at the Shanghai office of international architectural firm Perkins Eastman, which designed the project.

Sales for the high-end development have been better than expected, according to Nanjing Jinling Hotel Group Holdings, the main investor.

Most residents live in either a one-bedroom apartment of 95 square meters or a two-bedroom apartment of 116 sq m, with most enjoying a view of Tieshan Lake, according to Hua Yan, assistant to the group's general manager. Prices range from 650,000 and 850,000 yuan ($97,600 to $127,600).

"Most of our buyers are in their 60s. They are well educated and were well paid before retiring from industries such as education, medical health and technology," she said, adding that about 95 percent of residents are from Nanjing, while the rest have come from neighboring areas, such as Shanghai, or have returned from overseas.

"On average, 400 households are cared for by one licensed nurse, who is responsible for keeping track of their health and providing guidance," she said.

"The first group of residents have spontaneously formed amateur clubs, such as for calligraphy, music and dance," Hua added. "The community has become known as a fairyland among the elderly of Nanjing."