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Singapore

Seniors in Bedok South and Marine Terrace to get more support in healthy ageing under project

By 2030, about one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above. 

Seniors in Bedok South and Marine Terrace to get more support in healthy ageing under project

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (centre) at a ceremony held at Changi General Hospital to mark the expanded partnership between SingHealth and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

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SINGAPORE: Some 1,000 residents in Bedok South and Marine Terrace, particularly seniors, can look forward to more support in areas such as healthy living and preventive care. 

The move comes as SingHealth and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) on Tuesday (Jan 16) expanded their collaboration to address issues and innovations related to ageing population.

A key part of the partnership is a Community Ageing in Place Ecosystem (Cape) project to make Singapore a better place for seniors to live in. 

ENABLING ACTIVE, HEALTHY AGEING

These include improving senior-friendly facilities and having nurses stationed at ageing centres, efforts which are increasingly important in Singapore's greying population. 

The project will also look at designing infrastructure catered to seniors.

Studies will be conducted to find out how these efforts can lead to better quality of life and health.

The goal is to bring the project to estates such as Chinatown and Bukit Merah in future. 

At a ceremony held at Changi General Hospital to mark the expanded partnership between SingHealth and SUTD, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said enabling active and healthy ageing requires various interventions. 

These include tapping new technologies to monitor seniors' health, and modifying homes and public spaces to be more senior-friendly

“Taken together, these interventions in population health will benefit not only the seniors, but also alleviate the burden on caregivers as the number of seniors grows,” said Mr Heng. 

“The wide range of intervention means that different sets of expertise will be needed to execute as well as integrate them. Partnerships, between stakeholders and across sectors, will be essential, to enable us to take a citizen-centric approach to delivering services.”

In Singapore and many other countries, people are ageing rapidly, he added.

“Singapore is one of the fastest ageing societies globally and will soon be a ‘super-aged’ society,” he said.

In 2010, only one in 10 Singaporeans were aged 65 and above. Today, that number has almost doubled to one in five Singaporeans. By 2030, it will be nearly one in four

“This demographic trend has significant social and economic implications for us,” Mr Heng noted. 

“We are already rethinking our workforce, our economy, and our provision of healthcare to adapt to an ageing population.”

MAKING SINGAPORE A BETTER PLACE FOR SENIORS

In his speech, Mr Heng highlighted Pelatok Art Farm nestled in Simei as an example of how such initiatives can benefit the community.  

At the farm, set up by Changi General Hospital and SUTD three years ago, residents, both young and old, can grow their very own greens while getting to know their neighbours better. 

“The community farm has strengthened community bonds and boosted well-being, as neighbours got to know each other better and developed a stronger appreciation for nature,” said Mr Heng. 

Resident Ling Wah Tiang said: “The best thing about this community garden is that we are able to interact with residents who volunteer and help out.”

She added: “We interact and we share about the gardening experience, because a lot of senior residents were former gardeners.”

Associate Professor Eugene Shum, director of community partnership at the SingHealth Office of Regional Health, said: “We leverage the urban environment to promote holistic well-being. In terms of physical health, we have very robust farming activities from nurturing the plants to harvest to maintaining the farm. 

“In terms of mental well-being, we have a focus on art, mindfulness and provide the residents a sense of purpose.”

Source: CNA/ca(fk)
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