SPEECH BY MR TAN KIAT HOW, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF SENIORS 2026, 30 OCTOBER 2026

Mr Cai Yinzhou, Grassroots Adviser for Toa Payoh Central

Mr Tan Chee Wee, Chief Executive Officer, Agency for Integrated Care

AIC Board members, community partners, ladies and gentlemen,

1.            A very good afternoon!  I wish I could parkour as well as our seniors earlier, but I think they're much fitter than me. So very happy to join all of you today at the National Celebration of Seniors 2026. And thank you to AIC, our community partners, volunteers for organising today's celebration. And most importantly to our seniors, this celebration is for you. We celebrate not only what you have contributed over the years, but also the many ways you continue to enrich our families and communities.

2.            Singapore is now a super-aged society. More than one in five of our citizens are aged 65 and above. Living longer is an achievement worth celebrating, but it raises an equally important question: How do we make sure these extra years are good years? Singaporeans can expect to live until their eighties, yet there remains a gap between the lifespan and health span, the years you spend in good health. We want to narrow that gap, narrow the gap between lifespan and health span, so that many of our seniors can have many good years ahead of them. So put simply, we want good years, not just more years.

3.            But we know that good health is more than absence of illness. Physical health, emotional well-being, mental health, and social connection reinforce one another.

4.            Exercise and good nutrition matter, so do friendships, a sense of belonging, and a reason to get up in the morning. And we know that social isolation is a real concern. Someone who rarely meets others may become less active, lose confidence, or withdraw further. Over time, this can affect well-being.

5.            Conversely, a friend to meet, an activity to enjoy, or someone who depends on us can make an enormous difference. Healthy aging is not something healthcare systems deliver alone. It is something communities make possible, and that is the thinking behind Age Well SG.

6.            We are strengthening preventive health, active aging, and community support so that seniors can remain independent and confident in the familiar surroundings. Toa Payoh, where we are here today, is Singapore's first Age Well Neighborhood, bringing these efforts closer to where people live.

7.            I personally serve residents in Bedok Town, another mature town like Toa Payoh, with many seniors. The opportunities and challenges of ageing are therefore very real to me, as I see my residents every week. We need good services and senior-friendly spaces, but equally important are neighbours who look out for one another and opportunities for people to remain part of community life, and this is also personal to me.

8.            Many years ago, I helped to set up the Pioneer Generation Office (PGO). We went out to see pioneers, listen to their concerns, explain the support available and connect them with help. I learnt very firsthand that beyond any scheme or service, the personal connection mattered. Someone taking time to listen and show that they care, and the work of the PGO has continued through the Silver Generation Office. Outreach and befriending remain important, especially for seniors who may be isolated. But I believe we can go further.

9.            When we first reached out to our pioneers, we wanted to make sure that no one was left behind. Today, we also want to create opportunities for seniors themselves to reach out and support one another.

10.         So let me share an example of someone I know personally, Ms Caroline Lim, who is 81 years old, and she is a volunteer in my constituency at Kampong Chai Chee. I see her often at our community activities, she is cheerful, full of energy, and ready to lend a helping hand.

11.         She is always out and about, accompanying seniors to flu vaccinations at SATA in Jurong, volunteering at care pack distributions to needy families, and more recently helping the mask distribution during the haze season. So wherever there is something to be done, Caroline is there.

12.         What strikes me is not only what Caroline does for others, but how much joy she finds in helping. She keeps active, meets people, and knows that she can make a difference. At 81 years old, Caroline shows us that growing old does not mean growing less useful or less involved.

13.         When we volunteer, we are not just making someone else's life better. We are enriching our own lives. We make friends, find purpose, and feel value. That matters at every age, and we see similar ideas elsewhere. For example, in Japan, the Ibasho initiative has brought older residents together to help run a community cafe, share their skills, and welcome neighbors. The important idea is not the cafe itself. It is that seniors have a meaningful role in shaping and supporting their community.

14.         That is why I am pleased to launch Age Well Kakis today. It will make it easier for people aged 50 and above to contribute to community care and support other seniors. The idea is simple: everyone has something to offer, and everyone deserves the opportunity to make a difference. There is no single way to volunteer. Some may help with activities at the Active Ageing Centre. Others may deliver meals, accompany someone to a medical appointment or lend a hand behind the scenes. Some can give a few hours now and then; others can volunteer more regularly. Participants can choose opportunities that suit their interests, abilities, availability, and receive small tokens of appreciation for completed tasks.

15.         Already, volunteering opportunities are available at more than 100 community care touchpoints across Singapore. Over the next two years, MOH and AIC aim to engage around 16,500 participants in up to 700,000 volunteering opportunities. But behind every opportunity is a person who can benefit from a little care and connection.

16.         These numbers matter, but what matters more is what each act means. A meal delivered is so a chance to check in on a neighbour, helping at an activity can be a beginning of a beautiful friendship. Accompanying someone to an appointment can turn an anxious journey into a reassuring one, and that is the spirit of Age Well Kakis – the senior receiving health benefits, the senior volunteering benefits too, and the whole community grows stronger. I hope many of you will consider becoming an Age Well Kaki.

17.         Contributing to others is one way to age well. We must also take care of our own health. Since the start of October, seniors have been able to assess a wider range of health and wellness learning courses through Active Ageing Centres, fully subsidised for Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 60 and above. There are more than 150 courses that centres can potentially bring to seniors on topics including nutrition, fall prevention, mental health, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and caregiving, they offer practical knowledge and confidence to manage our well-being.

18.         But there is also a second benefit: when we attend a workshop or join an activity, we also meet people and build friendships. So find something you enjoy, bring a friend, and make it part of your everyday routine.

19.         The third part of ageing well is to keep learning. There's a Chinese saying, "活到老，学到老". There's no limit to learning, regardless of what age you are. So our minds need stimulation just as our bodies need movement. Reading is one simple way to discover new interests, enjoy stories, and connect with others.

20.         Today, the National Library Board is launching The Next Page, a guided activity journal to help seniors explore their reading interests and make reading a regular habit. It offers curated activities and milestones along the way, so you do not need to begin with a very thick book. 15 minutes a day can be a good start. You might discover a new interest, share a story with your grandchild, or strike up a conversation with a friend. The important thing is to stay curious. There is always something new to learn, whatever our age.

21.         So let me conclude by saying that it's important that even as Singaporeans are living longer, we want to be ambitious. We want to help them live well for longer, staying healthy, connected, and able to do the things and lead the life that matters to them. That is why Age Well Kakis, the health and wellness courses, and NLB’s The Next Page belong together. They are different ways of helping people remain active participants in their own lives and in their communities.

22.         A caring community is not simply one that looks after its seniors. It is one where seniors also look out for one another. So my volunteer Caroline shows us what that means. When we give our seniors opportunities to contribute, we help them find friendship, purpose, and joy, and we make our communities stronger.

23.         So enjoy the celebrations today, explore the booths, try something new, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and perhaps discover your own next chapter. So wishing everyone good health and a wonderful afternoon and weekend.