[Senior Trend] Singapore's 'Successful Aging' Program

South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore are collectively known as the "Four Asian Dragons or Tigers." This term refers to the emerging Asian economic powerhouses that achieved rapid economic growth during the 1980s and 1990s, aside from Japan. The only commonality these countries share today is that they have all entered an aging society. A population with 7% or more aged 65 and above is classified as an aging society, 14% or more as an aged society, and 20% or more as a super-aged society. As of 2022, the population aged 65 and above accounts for 16.8% in Taiwan, 17.5% in South Korea, 18.4% in Singapore, and 19.7% in Hong Kong.

Among them, Singapore has grown into one of the world's leading economic powers. According to the IMF (International Monetary Fund), Singapore's per capita GDP in 2023 is an impressive $91,100. Singapore is a representative city-state that gained independence from Malaysia in 1965, with a population of 5.94 million in 2023. Over 80% of its citizens live in public housing estates developed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), reflecting a government-led and systematic development approach. Leveraging these strengths, Singapore actively addresses the challenges posed by increasing life expectancy and the rising proportion of elderly people in its policy-making.

During the past six months, I visited Singapore twice. Wherever I went, I encountered many working seniors. Their roles ranged widely?from hotel reservation confirmation, cleaning, and serving to sales and office work in co-working spaces. According to a local explanation, this is a result of social consideration for jobs for the elderly and disabled, combined with a cultural mindset that people should work until they die, reflecting government policies and societal atmosphere. The government approaches aging from an integrated perspective, focusing not on unilateral welfare provision or support but on enabling the senior generation to actively participate and contribute as members of society.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore, together with various ministries, launched "The Action Plan for Successful Ageing" program in 2016. Each year, practical measures across 12 activity areas are announced, covering health and welfare, learning, employment, volunteering, transportation, respect and social participation, health and care, and public spaces, implemented throughout Singapore. This year’s focus areas include "maintaining productivity and wages at a certain level for those aged 60 and above," "systematic entry of retirees into volunteer systems," "preparation for well-dying," and "senior-friendly park design." Among these, the "use of color schemes in village design to alleviate symptoms after dementia onset" and "providing opportunities for intergenerational exchange through sports" were particularly interesting.

Additionally, supported by the Ministry of Health, the Council for Third Age (C3A) has been independently operating since 2007. It promotes and supports partnerships for lifelong learning, volunteer activities, and positive aging, enabling the senior generation to participate as essential members of society and achieve meaningful accomplishments. Due to high demand for lifelong education, the National Silver Academy (NSA) is also operated, impressively supporting seniors to build relationships not only with peers but also with younger generations, including students. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) guarantees re-employment opportunities for qualified seniors aged 62 and above, allowing contract renewals up to age 65, with plans to extend this to 67. Notably, efforts are made to improve awareness and provide support to create environments where seniors can work more stably, smartly, and with flexible working conditions. This has led to increased employment among the elderly, reducing the burden of elder care.

Whether to call it a silver town or a senior village community, "Kampung Admiralty" was remarkable. Completed in 2018 by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), "Kampung" means village in Malay, embodying a culture of mutual support among residents. To restore this "kampung" spirit, the Singapore government extended the lease period of multigenerational buildings to 30 years and allowed seniors aged 55 and above to move in. Spanning more than the size of a soccer field and consisting of 11 floors, the space includes 100 senior apartments and medical facilities, carefully designed to encourage interaction among various age groups in the community. It is directly connected to the MRT and features open-design facilities such as food courts, banks, and social activity spaces, keeping public interest in mind. For example, the 6th and 7th floors house both senior and child care centers, jointly operating some programs to foster intergenerational exchange. Designs that facilitate comfortable living for the elderly and the use of non-slip flooring are standard. To prevent seniors from staying indoors, many public facilities like green parks were created to encourage exercise and socializing with local residents. In 2018, Kampung Admiralty received the "World Architecture Award of the Year," recognizing its architectural excellence. Last year, the Mayor of Seoul, government agencies, and gerontology researchers visited to tour this "integrated residential space."

So far, no place has matched Japan in meticulously establishing senior facilities and policies during visits or explorations. However, what surprised me during the Singapore trip was the sense of reassurance I felt in Nee Soon, Singapore’s first dementia-friendly district, similar to Japan. This area uses carefully selected colors on apartment buildings, commercial buildings, and markets to aid recognition, and special markings help seniors with cognitive impairments avoid getting lost. Singapore does not view the senior generation merely as welfare recipients but moves toward enhancing their independence. Moreover, by naturally expanding intergenerational and cross-class exchanges, it fosters emotional bonds and revives a culture of mutual help, emphasizing community values. The grand and empathetic goal is to address physical aging and diseases through these efforts.

Where does South Korea stand now?

Lee Boram, CEO of Third Age