Seniors play modified versions of sports like floorball, badminton as active ageing centres aim to inject fun

SINGAPORE: At the age of 82, Madam Teo Beng Eng plays floorball every week - while stationary in a wheelchair. 

She gets to enjoy the modified form of the sport at Sunlove Chai Chee Active Ageing Centre. 

The game has given her a second life, said the stroke survivor. 

"We really need this kind of exercise. If not, my body would be very stiff. I also learn new activities. Being here with everyone, I feel much happier,” Mdm Teo told CNA. 

The centre first introduced the activity to seniors this July using a toolkit developed by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and Sport Singapore.

It includes step-by-step instructions on how to modify 14 sports for seniors. Other activities include basketball, badminton and sport stacking, which involves stacking cups. 

The activities are divided into three categories to suit the different cognitive and physical abilities of seniors.

Sunlove said since it began offering floorball, interest in the sport has gone up twofold.

There are several benefits the participants get from playing, said assistant centre manager Benjamin Cheng, including exercising and making friends. 

"They're able to strategise and play the game. And by participating … they boost their morale, they're feeling that they are much better as a person. So they look forward to coming every time,” he added.

ENGAGING SENIORS BETTER

AIC and SportSG have trained more than 150 staff and volunteers in over 60 organisations to safely conduct sports activities for seniors, especially those who use wheelchairs. 

The goal is to better engage residents with activities other than the usual like tai chi or board games.

“We believe that through participation in fun activities, seniors can feel more connected and their well-being is improved and they are also able to bring out the much-needed laughter,” said AIC’s director of sector and partnerships Andy Seet.

Among other programmes funded by AIC are coding, making kombucha and drumming. 

“We hope that you know, these activities will encourage the students to come down to the activity centres to do more,” said Mr Seet. 

Robotics is another programme that has been a hit at NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre with seniors, who enjoy the company of children who join them.

“When we interact with younger kids, it helps us connect better. For instance, my own grandson is always using his tablet to surf the internet. When I tell him that I am also learning coding, it gives us some common topics to talk about," said Madam Ng Hiong Ling. 

ADDRESSING EVOLVING NEEDS

AIC is able to offer such options by tapping a S$1.35 million fund that was set up in partnership with the Community Foundation of Singapore with funds from corporate donors like Capitaland and Singapore Pools.

Since November last year, AIC has funded 13 new programmes.

The money has helped to innovate suitable activities and address the evolving needs of seniors, said Mr Seet.

He added that the agency is also looking to address issues faced by active ageing centres. 

“For example, (we want to help with) attracting male seniors to come to the centre, or even getting the socially isolated seniors out of their homes to come to the active ageing centre, or even enabling them to contribute back to the community to create a more positive and fun experience for them, he said.