Asian societies maintain the norm that older people should live with their children. Yet some older people live alone. This is the first study to explore social isolation, strategies of coping, and preferences about living arrangements among Chinese Singaporeans aged 65+ who live alone. Data from 19 semi-structured interviews were analyzed. The elderly people who live alone either have no other alternative, or they choose it despite opportunities to live with others. Regardless of the initial reason, solo-dwellers in Singapore succeed at living alone by developing behavioral and psychological strategies that help overcome social isolation. Their main link to the "outside" world is access to medical and social services. Despite some hardships, many prefer living alone because it has become familiar and personally comfortable.

This is a study of community-based social services for the frail elderly in China. As China is turning into an ageing society and the capacity of the family support for the frail elderly is rapidly declining, there is an urgent need to develop formal social services to support elderly persons to continue to live in their community. This paper provides a general background on the structure of the emergent community services.With the use of an example of a city in China, the operation of the community services for the elderly people would be illustrated. Finally, the strengths and limitations of community services would be discussed.