Download 2023 Action Plan

Living Life to the Fullest - 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing

Since the first Action Plan for Successful Ageing in 2015, Singapore has seen a concerted effort to empower our seniors to age actively across multiple areas. This helps Singapore to be future-ready and continually prepared to be a place where all can be supported to age with peace of mind.

To ensure that our plans for Singapore's ageing landscape remain relevant for seniors of today and tomorrow, the Ministerial Committee on Ageing launched a refreshed Action Plan for Successful Ageing in 2023, charting further shifts in response to a greater diversity in experiences, aspirations, and needs of seniors. It also accounts for the new operating environment from COVID-19.

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Co-Creating an Updated Action Plan

Over 5,000 Singaporeans participated in more than 40 engagement sessions between 2019 and 2021 to discuss and inform the guiding principles of the refreshed Action Plan. We heard from members of the public, corporate partners, voluntary welfare organisations, ethnic-based organisations and government agencies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these engagements took place both virtually as well as in-person.

Public engagements

WHAT HAVE WE HEARD?

Singaporeans largely have a positive outlook on life. In particular, our sense of purpose improves with age.

Most Singaporeans expect to retire at 65, which is similar to the age where one is perceived to be old.

Singaporeans are also increasingly satisfied with various aspects of our lives as we age, and feel positive
and confident about ageing successfully, particularly in respect to having our needs taken care of.

That said, in comparison to younger age groups, seniors aged 65 and above tend to be less confident
about their future, their ability to be in control and are afraid of being left behind.

Key concerns associated with ageing are:


Declining physical and mental health

  • Emotional and financial stress due to caregiving responsibilities for another senior (e.g. spouse or parent) with complex needs or conditions.

  • Low awareness on mental health issues, making it difficult for seniors with such conditions to monitor themselves or seek help, especially those without social or family support.

  • Deteriorating health and age-related conditions such as dementia.

Ageist attitude

  • Fear of how perceptions of seniors as having fixed mindsets and being less open to new ideas would hinder chances of employment.

Rising cost of living

  • Coping with inflation and cost of living especially when there is less or no income during retirement.

  • Inadequate savings, especially to pay for healthcare.

  • Difficulty in projecting future costs and expenses.

Lack of familiarity with technology to stay connected and engaged

  • Inability to find jobs, leading to feelings of being left behind.

  • Uncertain about how to stay connected with friends and family.

While there are concerns, our seniors are also brimming with hope about their ageing journey. They want to:

Continue contributing

Seniors have a wide range of attitudes towards contributing meaningfully. While some prefer to stop work completely, others want to continue working but with more flexible arrangements. There are also seniors who enjoy contributing through volunteering.

  • Seniors generally want to work because they desire to, not because they need to, and they prefer interest-based, flexible jobs.

  • Most senior respondents retired earlier than they would have liked, mainly due to personal
    or spouse’s health issues.

  • The average retirement age of the respondents was 60 years old, five years earlier than what they believed to be ideal.

  • Some seniors want to volunteer or give back to society because they think it is meaningful, but are held back by mismatch of interests and lack of time.

Be financially independent and secure

  • Seniors want to be independent and self-sufficient, which gives them a strong sense of self-worth and relevance to society.

Pursue personal interests

  • Seniors desire to spend their time on hobbies, travels and activities that they enjoy.

Maintain good relationships with family and society

  • Seniors want to spend quality time with their family and witness their children’s and grandchildren’s milestones.

  • They also want to feel supported in communities, which senior-friendly homes and infrastructure can help with.

  • Seniors also like to meet and socialise with like-minded seniors to remain mentally and socially active.

Redefine ageing

  • Seniors believe that it is important to change how society views ageing and want to redefine ageing as a journey that all should play a part in, for themselves and their loved ones to age well in Singapore.

Stay healthy

  • Seniors agree that good health is key to enjoying a good quality of life. Thus, many stay active through regular exercise and social activities.


Based on the sentiments that were shared, the refreshed Action Plan will be centred around the three key themes of Care, Contribution and Connectedness, otherwise known as the 3Cs.

 

  • CARE
  • CARE for our Wellbeing

  • Empower seniors to take charge of their physical and mental wellbeing through preventive health, active ageing programmes and care services.

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  • CONTRIBUTION
  • CONTRIBUTE meaningfully

  • Enable seniors to continue contributing their knowledge and expertise by enhancing the learning, volunteerism and employment landscape.

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  • CONNECTEDNESS
  • Stay CONNECTED

  • Support seniors to age in the community within an inclusive built environment and digital landscape, while staying connected to society and their loved ones.

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2023 ACTION PLAN FOR SUCCESSFUL AGEING

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2023 ACTION PLAN FOR SUCCESSFUL AGEING

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