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SINGAPORE: Singaporeans need to change their mindsets about ageing, said Minister-in-Charge of Ageing Issues Lim Boon Heng.
And all they need to do is to step out and enjoy life and new activities.
To spread that message, the annual Senior Citizens' Week has been re-branded as the Active Ageing Festival.
And kicking off the festival was the first-ever Active Ageing Carnival on Sunday, which also happened to be Mr Lim's 60th birthday.
"I think 60 is still very young, so I don't have a big celebration for the 60th birthday. Maybe when I'm 80 – that'll be an appropriate time to celebrate the birthday. Today will be a very quiet affair for the family," said the minister.
Instead of preaching respect for the elders, the re-branded Active Ageing Festival aims to get seniors to enjoy new activities not associated with older persons.
And as Mr Lim and 81-year-old Soh Teng Wee showed, one is never too old to give rock-climbing a try.
"We have to change society's mindsets. The reality today is most of the seniors are fit and able to continue as before, and would give the young a run for their money! Therefore it's necessary to change this mindset and we're going to get more employers to be ready and open to people who are above 60," said Mr Lim.
He added that the Manpower Ministry, Employers' Federation and the unions are already promoting employment of the seniors, while the Council for Third Age –which organised the Carnival – is looking at ways to help seniors improve their social, intellectual, physical, vocational, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Dr Aline Wong, Board Member of the Council for Third Age, said: "It's not just spreading the message of active ageing, but also to link up with SMEs, enterprises in the private sector, so that our seniors will know where to go and how to form groups to pursue their interests, be it vacationing, sports, or hobby groups. The idea is to do business aggregation for these (silver industry) services and bring them to the people."
Over the next two weeks, the council will organise Grandparents' Day and Active Agers Awards to show that age is no barrier to a rich and fulfilling life.
- CNA/so
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