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ACTION PLAN FOR SUCCESSFUL AGEING © MINISTRY OF HEALTH Published in 2016 by the Ministry of Health All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN 978-981-09-8536-3 CONTENTS Foreword 4 Chapter 1 Our Aspirations for a Silver Singapore 6 How many Singaporeans are 65 or older? 8 Public consultation: We heard you 10 Chapter 2 Action Plan for Successful Ageing 24 Chapter 3 Opportunities for All Ages 30 Chapter 4 Kampong for All Ages 52 Chapter 5 City for All Ages 62 Towards A Nation For All Ages 80 Acknowledgements 81 2 3 Let’s FOREWORD re-define ageing Last year, we celebrated a significant milestone for Singapore. Our baby boomers have grown up with our nation and the majority will turn 65 over the next two decades. There is no better time to plan for an ageing population as we progress towards SG100. This Action Plan is our blueprint to enable Singaporeans to grow older with confidence. Between June 2014 and May 2015, we engaged Singaporeans in conversations about ageing and what it means to age successfully. This Action Plan contains their ideas, suggestions and plans. We hope that Singapore will remain a good place to grow old in, where there are opportunities for Singaporeans of all ages. We want to build a cohesive “kampong” for all ages, where there is inter-generational harmony and understanding. Our city will be a city for all ages, designed sensitively and lovingly for seniors to age gracefully among family, friends and neighbours, leveraging on the potential of modern technology. I would like to thank everyone who has participated and contributed ideas, and the people and private sector organisations for working with us on the initiatives in this Action Plan. Together, we can re-define ageing and build a Nation for All Ages which we are proud to call home. Gan Kim Yong Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Ageing Issues Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Ageing 4 5 CHAPTER 1 OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR A SILVER SINGAPORE Singapore is ageing rapidly, though our society can remain dynamic and cohesive. Many Singaporeans shared with us their aspirations and ideas on how to transform the face of ageing in the next 50 years. 6 7 7 As we have fewer babies, there will be far fewer HOW MANY Singaporeans of working SINGAPOREANS age to support our elderly. ARE 65 OR OLDER1 ? 1 in 31 OUR POPULATION IS AGEING RAPIDLY. 1970 2015 2030 In 1970, 1 in 31 Singaporeans was 65 or older. YEAR In 2015, it was 1 in 8. By 2030, it will be 1 in 4. We will have over 900,000 seniors, approximately double the current 440,000. Seniors aged Working adults aged 65 and above between 20 and 64 1 in 8 Singapore Residents are also LIVING LONGER AND STAYING 1 in 4 HEALTHY FOR LONGER. Ageing need not cause worry and gloom. If we plan ahead, ageing can be a positive experience for all. 2.1 MORE LIFE YEAR 2004 79.6 YEARS AVERAGE LIFE YEARS 1970 2015 2030 EXPECTANCY YEAR 2010 81.7 YEAR YEARS Seniors aged Singaporeans 65 and above under the age of 65 YEAR 2004 3.4 72.1 MORE YEARS AVERAGE HEALTHY HEALTHY YEARS YEAR 2010 75.5 YEARS YEARS 1 Source: Department of Statistics & Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, MOH. 8 9 Public consultation WE HEARD YOU Between June 2014 and May 2015, the Ministerial Committee on Ageing and our partners engaged over 4,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life to hear their aspirations and ideas on how we can help Singaporeans age well. Almost 50 focus group discussions “Listening points” at public spaces like libraries, shopping malls and universities Online consultations EMPLOYABILITY AGED CARE SERVICES 1 Ageless workplaces, 6 Ageing-in-place, 10 lifelong employability remaining independent Participants included Singaporeans TOPICS from various walks of life – students, LIFELONG LEARNING HOUSING taxi drivers, academics, rental block THAT 2 Never too old to go 7 Supporting residents, senior volunteers, grassroots WERE back to school changing needs leaders, senior learners and human DISCUSSED resource practitioners. SENIOR VOLUNTEERISM TRANSPORT 3 Helping others, 8 Re-defining the fufilling lives travel experience HEALTH AND WELLNESS PUBLIC SPACES We also consulted union members, 4 Healthy seniors, 9 Making our urban and reached out to different communities happy seniors infrastructure more – the Islamic Religious Council of senior-friendly Singapore (MUIS) and self-help groups such as the Chinese Development SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH Assistance Council (CDAC), Mendaki 5 AND INCLUSION 10 ON AGEING and the Singapore Indian Development Connecting people Understanding needs, Association (SINDA). of all ages encouraging innovation 10 11 EMPLOYABILITY LIFELONG LEARNING 1 Ageless workplaces, lifelong employability 2 Never too old to go back to school I learnt how “ to use Facebook I want to work at a polytechnic! “ for as long as Now I train other I can. It keeps seniors to do the my mind active. same. Can we ” have more of such courses? ” Many seniors want to work beyond Promote workplace health and safety. Seniors want to keep learning, for work Bring learning to the community, the official retirement age to remain and for personal interest. Learning helps such as at Residents’ Committee financially independent and keep Review or extend retirement age – them to keep their minds active and centres and other suitable facilities. themselves active. Seniors hope to have some think it should be extended to to stay in touch with society. Seniors meaningful job opportunities to fulfil their 70, while others feel it should be cite affordability, access and entry Affordability aspirations at their stage of life; a fair and abolished entirely. requirements as some barriers to lifelong inclusive workplace to work in; and an learning. Seniors hope to see a more Help seniors to offset the cost of learning. Provide good career guidance and enabling workplace that is safe and uses diverse range of learning opportunities transition programmes a few years technology to help them excel in their jobs. that are easily accessible. They also want Adult education ahead of the re-employment age. courses tailored for their age and to be Train teachers in the art of teaching Promote mind-set change recognised for skills and experiences older learners. To make workplaces “ageless”, suggestions among employers on the value they have acquired. They also feel that from seniors and employers include: Facilitate peer learning where of older workers. more can be done to publicise learning opportunities for seniors. “seniors teach seniors”. Re-design jobs to offer older Allow older workers to try out Promote inter-generational learning. workers greater flexibility. jobs via internships or job trials. Suggestions on how to encourage more Promote new modes of learning, such as Make training accessible and Recognise employers who seniors to pursue lifelong learning as a e-learning, modular learning, interactive effective for older workers. treat older workers well. way of life include: and experiential learning. Set up a dedicated seniors-only Promote inter-generational Accessibility Awareness national job bank. workplace harmony. Increase the variety of learning options. Increase awareness of senior learning Seniors want to take courses at Institutes opportunities through a one-stop of Higher Learning but without sitting portal, distribution of flyers and for examinations. outdoor advertising. 12 13 3 SENIOR VOLUNTEERISM HEALTH AND WELLNESS Helping others, fulfilling lives 4 Healthy seniors, happy seniors I am setting the I am most worried “ example for my “ about depression children and and loneliness grandchildren. after my children I want them to have married know that giving and moved out back is the right and my husband thing to do. ” has passed on. ” Seniors can and want to give back to society. Suggestions from seniors and volunteer Seniors say that to age well, one must Access Volunteerism is a meaningful way to do so organisations on how to encourage older be healthy – physically, mentally, socially, Create one-stop wellness hubs in the while creating a positive impact. Seniors people to volunteer include: and emotionally. Seniors want to live neighbourhood which offer a range of would like to have volunteering opportunities more healthily, with access to information Recruitment health and wellness activities and services, that interest them and where they can apply on health issues for people their age, such as talks and seminars, health screening, their skills and expertise. Some prefer more Start a national movement to promote health checks and exercise opportunities and simple information and referral services. flexible arrangements, including being able senior volunteerism. near their homes or at their workplaces. to volunteer closer to where they live. Seniors Create diverse volunteerism opportunities Enhance screening packages to include would like volunteerism among older people that seniors can choose from, to best suit screening for fall risk, vision and hearing. Suggestions on how we can keep our to be promoted nationally and for recognition their interests and skills. Educate seniors with different physical seniors healthy, happy and well include: to be given to senior volunteers. They would abilities on the types of exercises that Help seniors find volunteer opportunities also like more training courses to empower they can do. near their homes. them to be effective volunteers. Awareness Provide mobile health services to Keep volunteer sign-on processes Give seniors a health journal in which they simple and provide induction training seniors living in the community. Organisations that recruit senior volunteers can keep track of their health screening for new volunteers.

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