Age well initiatives

Age Well Neighbourhoods scheme to integrate four existing initiatives

Scheme is "next level of ambition" for nation's healthcare system: Ong Ye Kung
Ang Qing
Correspondent

The Age Well Neighbourhoods national scheme will integrate four initiatives to support ageing in the community, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Sunday, July 14.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme at Jurong Spring Community Club, Mr Ong said the scheme is the "next level of ambition" for Singapore's healthcare system, and will make the biggest impact if the Government, employers, friends, and family rally to support seniors in remaining healthy, independent, and well within their communities.

Mr Ong, who is also People's Action Party's vice-chairman, said the four programmes to be integrated are: Health Promotion Board's community initiatives for seniors, People's Association's senior activity centres, Agency for Integrated Care's wellness posts, and Sport Singapore's Active Ageing Centres.

The new scheme will create a network of neighbourhood volunteers trained to check in on seniors and help those who are frail or at higher risk stay engaged and healthy, said Mr Ong.

It will also marshal resources for seniors to live active and healthy lives, through activities and services such as exercising, health screenings, and befriending services - all available within walking distance of their homes.

Addressing the crowd of about 400 residents and grassroots leaders, Mr Ong said, "It has been more than a decade of groundwork, collaboration, and experimentation, but now it is time to scale up and have a greater impact."

He noted that several current initiatives had similar goals, which is why the decision was made to integrate efforts for deeper collaboration and synergy.

"Instead of having a patchwork of different initiatives, we have decided that an integrated national scheme will be more effective," he said.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam, who leads the inter-agency task force for the scheme, said the Age Well Neighbourhoods would be piloted in 20 neighbourhoods by the end of 2024, and scaled nationwide to 100 by 2026.

She explained that the scheme is designed to make access to healthy living activities, social engagement, and health services more convenient for seniors.

The pilot project will aid in gathering feedback and fine-tuning details before the full roll-out.

The effort will require the support of family, employers, volunteers, and the wider population to succeed, she added.

She also shared her personal experience as the primary caregiver for her mother, who suffered a stroke, highlighting the importance of community support and services for caregivers.

At the event, Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon, who is also an adviser to the grassroots organisations in Jurong, said the pilot in Jurong Spring will serve as a test bed and guide the way for the national roll-out.

Having activities in familiar places within the neighbourhood will help seniors adopt healthy habits, he said.

The schemes are also aimed at encouraging seniors to broaden their social circles and to volunteer, fostering inter-generational ties and connections within communities.

For Mr Gopal, 74, a retired teacher who attended the launch event, the new scheme is much needed.

He currently spends his time alone in his flat in the afternoons after his wife goes out to work.

"With Age Well Neighbourhoods, I can join in activities and make new friends," he said, adding that he hopes the pilot will expand to more neighbourhoods soon.