How do you want to live when you retire?

Designed for a proactive, fulfilling lifestyle, Eden at Botanica CT is an independent living community where nature, wellness, community, and peace of mind come together.

MALAYSIA is undergoing a demographic transition toward an ageing society, with its elderly population expected to reach 15% of the total population by 2030.

Against this backdrop, Malaysia has launched initiatives to improve the current care ecosystem, including the need for a dedicated labour force within the care economy.

Yet, increased life expectancy in Malaysia risks prolonging illness and dependency rather than improving quality of life.

Alongside improving care, another question comes to the front: How can older Malaysians live proactively and independently, with the support when they need it?

A changing mindset towards retirement

For generations, retirement planning has largely centred on financial preparedness and having a retirement home to go to.

Today, the conversation is shifting towards how people want to live in retirement as expectations evolve.

According to MTT Group of Companies group property and asset director Leonard Theng, many people think retirement is still a faraway thought, so they do not feel the need to think about it as they haven’t reached that point yet.

“Retirement can potentially last 20 to 30 years, so we need to think beyond finances and consider our health, lifestyle, social connections, interests and living environment,” he said.

“To me, there is a difference between simply being alive and truly living your life. It could mean being able to go hiking, cycle with friends, enjoy a round of golf or simply spend time doing things that bring you happiness or fulfilment.

Theng believes retirement should be about truly living through hobbies, social connection and health, not merely surviving.

“If we only start considering our options when our health has changed or we need additional care, some of those choices may already be more limited.

“Planning ahead gives us the opportunity to make decisions while we are still active and independent, rather than waiting until circumstances make those decisions for us.

“We want to encourage people to think about retirement as a lifestyle decision they can plan for early, rather than a last resort when additional care becomes necessary.

“It is about creating the opportunity to enjoy the years ahead with purpose, independence and the reassurance of knowing what support options may be available as needs change,” shared Theng.

This is reflected in the growing number of facilities that foster independent living in Malaysia.

One such example is Eden at Botanica CT (EABC), which aims to shift the narrative from passively waiting until care is needed to proactively choosing an active lifestyle.

Located in Balik Pulau, it is an independent living resort in Penang where you own your home, designed with an integrated retirement ecosystem that supports an independent, proactive lifestyle, rather than simply being a retirement home.

Its integrated ecosystem encourages independent living among residents, with care support across the wider Botanica CT township, including the Care Residence, which offers an additional care option for residents who later require a higher level of assistance, and the up-and-coming Selgate Specialist Hospital Penang.

Stanley Bartlett and his wife from Norwich, UK, who bought a unit for his mother-in-law, agree it is not too early.

“It’s actually the best time when your parents are still independent.

“Retirement living is not just about needing care; it’s about improving quality of life now,” they said.

Independent and connected living

At EABC, active living is at the heart of its concept. Facilities such as a gym, outdoor fitness zone, and reflexology path encourage everyday wellness. The Fun Hub also offers spaces for residents to stay active, pursue hobbies and connect with peers.

Care and support are available as needs change. Support is close by with 24/7 caregiver standby, weekly doctor visits at the clubhouse, daily wellness programmes and three emergency buttons in every apartment.

Optional services such as housekeeping and catering are subject to separate terms.

Located in Balik Pulau, Eden at Botanica CT offers a serene, nature-led lifestyle complemented by safety features such as CCTV coverage, three in-apartment emergency buttons, facial recognition lift access, and Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) at the guardhouse.

EABC forms part of the wider Botanica.CT township in Balik Pulau. The township brings together homes, education, retail and healthcare, and with more than 500 households already there, it creates an opportunity for seniors and younger generations to live and thrive in a multi-generational environment.

The green, serene setting is complemented by connectivity to the wider Penang lifestyle, including scheduled transportation services to popular malls and destinations.

Retirement planning is often a family decision, Theng notes, with adult children wanting their parents to remain independent while having care options if needs change.

Ownership as part of retirement planning

EABC’s unique ownership model lets residents own their home, rather than enter into a purely lease-based or service-based arrangement. This gives residents greater certainty over their long-term living arrangements.

Anyone can purchase a unit at Eden at Botanica CT, whether for their own retirement or as part of their family’s retirement planning.

While the residence is primarily for those aged 60 and above, it welcomes secondary residents, including adult children under 60, to create an inclusive, dual-generational environment.

Homes range from one-bedroom units of 742 sq ft to three-bedroom units of 1,097 sq ft, with prices starting from RM491,900.

The Signature Retirement Experience (SRE) is designed to make the transition simpler.

Homes come fitted and furnished, with kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, air-conditioning, selected furniture, beds, a refrigerator and a washing machine, so buyers can move in without renovating.

Through EABC’s collaboration with AIA Pension & Asset Management (APAM), eligible purchasers also receive an RM25,000 PRS Care Contribution, invested into APAM’s PRS funds and subject to applicable PRS terms and conditions.

Thinking beyond one development

Theng believes a good township should grow with the people who live there. MTT sees its role as extending beyond conventional property development, considering how the built environment can support people through different stages of life.

EABC provides an opportunity to demonstrate an integrated approach to senior living.

If EABC’s model proves successful, MTT sees potential to build on this approach in future developments, bringing its vision for integrated retirement living to more communities.

Ultimately, retirement planning is about ensuring everyone has access to community support, family care, and resources to live their later years with purpose.

Learn more about Eden at Botanica.CT on their official website .

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伊甸园 (Eden at Botanica CT) 旨在打造积极向上、充实的生活方式，是一个将自然、健康、社区和宁静融为一体的独立生活社区。

马来西亚正在经历人口结构向老龄化社会的转变，预计到 2030 年，老年人口将占总人口的 15%。

在此背景下，马来西亚已启动多项举措来改善当前的护理生态系统，其中包括护理经济领域需要一支专门的劳动力队伍。

然而，马来西亚人预期寿命的延长，反而有可能延长疾病和依赖的时间，而不是提高生活质量。

在改善护理的同时，另一个问题也浮出水面：如何让马来西亚老年人积极主动、独立自主地生活，并在需要时获得支持？

人们对退休的看法正在转变

几代人以来，退休规划主要集中在财务准备和拥有一个可以安享晚年的住所上。

如今，随着人们期望的不断变化，讨论的焦点正转向人们希望如何度过退休生活。

据 MTT 集团公司房地产及资产总监 Leonard Theng 表示，许多人认为退休还是一件很遥远的事情，所以他们觉得没有必要考虑退休，因为他们还没有到那个阶段。

“退休生活可能会持续 20 到 30 年，所以我们需要考虑的不仅仅是财务问题，还要考虑我们的健康、生活方式、社交关系、兴趣爱好和生活环境，”他说。

“对我来说，活着和真正地生活是有区别的。生活可以意味着去徒步旅行、和朋友一起骑自行车、享受打高尔夫球的乐趣，或者只是花时间去做那些能给你带来快乐或满足感的事情。”

Theng认为，退休应该是通过爱好、社交和健康来真正地生活，而不仅仅是生存。

“如果我们只有在健康状况发生变化或需要额外护理时才开始考虑各种选择，那么其中一些选择可能已经比较有限了。”

“提前做好计划，让我们有机会在仍然活跃和独立的时候做出决定，而不是等到环境迫使我们做出决定。

“我们希望鼓励人们把退休看作是一种生活方式的选择，可以尽早规划，而不是在需要额外护理时才考虑的最后选择。

“这关乎创造机会，让人们在未来的岁月里充满目标感、独立自主，并确信随着需求的变化，会有哪些支持选择可供使用，”Theng 分享道。

这一点体现在马来西亚促进独立生活的设施数量不断增加上。

其中一个例子是康涅狄格州植物园伊甸园 (EABC)，其目标是将人们的观念从被动地等待需要护理转变为主动地选择积极的生活方式。

它位于槟城浮罗山背，是一个独立生活度假村，在这里您可以拥有自己的房屋，其设计理念是打造一个综合性的退休生态系统，支持独立、积极的生活方式，而不仅仅是一个退休住所。

其一体化的生态系统鼓励居民独立生活，并在更广泛的 Botanica CT 城镇提供护理支持，包括护理院（为以后需要更高水平帮助的居民提供额外的护理选择）和即将成立的槟城塞尔盖特专科医院。

来自英国诺里奇的斯坦利·巴特利特和他的妻子为他的岳母买了一套公寓，他们一致认为现在买房还不算早。

“其实，父母经济独立的时候是最好的时机。”

“退休生活不仅仅是需要照护；它更关乎提高当下的生活质量，”他们说。

独立且互联的生活

在EABC，积极健康的生活方式是其核心理念。健身房、户外健身区和足疗步道等设施旨在促进居民的日常健康。娱乐中心也为居民提供活动空间，让他们可以培养兴趣爱好并与同伴交流。

我们会根据您的需求变化提供相应的照护和支持。我们提供全天候24小时待命的照护人员、每周在会所进行的医生巡诊、每日健康计划以及每套公寓内配备的三个紧急呼叫按钮，让您随时获得所需帮助。

客房清洁和餐饮等可选服务另有单独条款约束。

位于浮罗山背的 Eden at Botanica CT 提供宁静的自然生活方式，并配备了闭路电视监控、三个公寓内紧急按钮、人脸识别电梯门禁和保安室车牌识别 (LPR) 等安全设施。

EABC是位于浮罗山背的Botanica.CT城镇的一部分。该城镇集住宅、教育、零售和医疗保健于一体，目前已有500多户家庭入住，为老年人和年轻一代在多代同堂的环境中生活和发展创造了机会。

绿树环绕、宁静祥和的环境与槟城更广阔的生活方式相得益彰，包括前往热门商场和景点的定期交通服务。

Theng指出，退休规划通常是一个家庭决定，成年子女希望父母在保持独立生活的同时，也能在需求发生变化时获得照护选择。

将所有权作为退休计划的一部分

EABC独特的产权模式让居民拥有自己的房屋，而不是签订纯粹的租赁或服务型协议。这使居民对自己的长期居住安排更有保障。

任何人都可以购买位于康涅狄格州博塔尼卡伊甸园的一套公寓，无论是为了自己退休，还是作为家庭退休计划的一部分。

虽然该住所主要面向 60 岁及以上的老年人，但也欢迎包括 60 岁以下成年子女在内的其他居民入住，以营造包容性的两代同堂环境。

房屋面积从 742 平方英尺的一居室到 1,097 平方英尺的三居室不等，价格从 491,900 令吉起。

“尊享退休体验”（SRE）旨在让过渡过程更加轻松。

房屋配备齐全，包括橱柜、衣柜、空调、精选家具、床、冰箱和洗衣机，因此买家无需装修即可入住。

通过 EABC 与 AIA 养老金及资产管理公司 (APAM) 的合作，符合条件的购买者还将获得 25,000 令吉的 PRS 关怀供款，该供款将投资于 APAM 的 PRS 基金，并受适用的 PRS 条款和条件的约束。

超越单一发展阶段的思考

Theng认为，一个好的城镇应该与居住在那里的人们共同成长。MTT认为，其角色不应局限于传统的房地产开发，而应考虑如何通过建筑环境来支持人们度过人生的不同阶段。

EABC 提供了一个展示综合养老方法的机会。

如果 EABC 的模式被证明是成功的，MTT 认为未来发展可以以此为基础，将其对综合退休生活的愿景带到更多社区。

归根结底，退休规划是为了确保每个人都能获得社区支持、家庭关爱和资源，从而有目标地度过晚年。

访问 Botanica.CT 的官方网站，了解更多关于 Eden at Botanica.CT 的信息。

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