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Sunday, 22 Mar, 2026
‘Super-aged’ Singapore’s secret to growing old well? Stay busy
South China Morning Post
Singapore launched its Age Well SG programme in 2023 to keep elderly citizens active and socially connected. It now operates around 235 active ageing centres, up from roughly 150 at the programme’s launch.
During the 2024 budget, the government allocated S$3.5 billion (US$2.6 billion) for the initiative over a decade. In parliament on March 8, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung indicated that spending on aged-care facilities – including elderly care centres and rehabilitation services – was set to grow further.
Ageing researcher Rahul Malhotra, executive director of the Duke-NUS Medical School’s Centre for Ageing and Education, said Singapore lacked the land to offer expansive retirement communities of the kind found in larger countries.
It would instead need to make creative use of its dense urban environment to build care models that provide adequate support through carers and community-based services, he said.
Read the full article here.