Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and the Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration
Ms Carrie Tan, Grassroots Adviser of Nee Soon South
Ms Ang Bee Lian, Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (and SUSS Board Member)
Mr Adrian Tan and Mr Greg Tan, Co-founders of SG Assist and Caregiver Resource Centre
Distinguished guests, colleagues from SUSS, members of the community
Welcome to the opening ceremony of the Age+ Living Lab, an exciting new community-driven initiative spearheaded by the Singapore University of Social Sciences or SUSS. We are delighted to have you join us today as we embark on this journey to empower seniors and caregivers in our community to age better.
2. As many of you know, Singapore was recently named the sixth Blue Zone in the world in a Netflix series, meaning it is a city with one of the highest life expectancies globally. By 2026, more than 20 per cent of the population will be aged 65 and above. Whenever I go to our Gerontology programmes, and they cite the statistics, I keep thinking about where I would stand when I age as well. I will just be outside that age of 65 by that time.
3. By 2030, 25 per cent, or 1 in 4, would be aged 65 and above. By then, I would be in that number as well. Ageing is something which I always say affects all of us – whether we will reach there or whether we are caregivers or supporters; or whether it is our loved ones – it is something that happens to all of us.
4. One of the implications of becoming a super-aged society is that senior care becomes extremely important, and we need to find innovative ways to ensure senior well-being. This is where the importance of ageing in place becomes paramount. It is crucial not only for individual well-being but also for addressing the challenges posed by our ageing population.
5. By enabling seniors to stay in their own homes, we alleviate the strain on healthcare systems, maintain their social connections and preserve the invaluable contributions seniors make to our society. Investing in ageing-in-place initiatives is both empathetic and pragmatic, ensuring our communities remain vibrant and sustainable amidst demographic shifts.
Introducing the Age+ Living Lab
6. The Age+ Living Lab represents a significant step forward in this effort. In partnership with SG Assist, operator of the Caregiver Resource Centre here in Yishun, SUSS has co-created this Living Lab to simulate a typical home environment equipped with innovative products and solutions tailored to the needs of seniors.
7. This Living Lab is a platform for experiential learning activities and tours, allowing seniors, caregivers and the public to explore and gain a deeper understanding of assistive products. The displays in this one-stop ‘live’ lab will continue to be refreshed regularly, supporting the evolving needs of our ageing population and promoting lifelong learning.
8. You might also wonder what the “plus” in Age+ represents. It holds multiple meanings, signifying our aspiration to age better, promote confident ageing in place, foster inclusive collaboration and co-creation, provide caregivers with reassurance and support, and remind individuals that they are not alone on their ageing journeys. The “plus” is thus open-ended and aspirational, signalling the need to continually innovate and create in terms of our positive ageing solutions and measures.
9. I did a quick tour before we started and looking at the range of assistive products on display, I am really moved by how innovative technology has become in recent years and I think we just need to continue doing those things.
10. For a start, we have chosen to showcase products and solutions that focus on four essential aspects of daily living: medical, dining, living, and mobility, or 医食住行 (yī shí zhù xíng) in Chinese. These displays are carefully selected to inspire ideas on how living spaces can be equipped to maintain and improve seniors’ quality of life while easing the burden on caregivers by promoting independence. Our GeronTech Senior Ambassadors, whom you see around wearing blue T-shirts, trained by SUSS Gerontology experts, will be on hand to guide visitors through the lab and share insights on how these products can enhance the daily lives of seniors and caregivers.
11. Beyond showcasing assistive products, the Age+ Living Lab also aims to serve as a community hub, fostering collaboration among seniors, caregivers, community partners and solutions providers. Through knowledge sharing and co-designing, we hope to see more innovative and affordable products and solutions that address the evolving needs of our ageing population.
12. The Living Lab you see today will be our pilot sandbox. We have identified a group of organisations and companies to collaborate with us and to reach out and serve an estimated 800 seniors and caregivers. This marks the beginning of a multi-year initiative that we believe will have a lasting impact on our ageing community.
13. This initiative is also a testament to SUSS’ dedication to building the capability and confidence of seniors and caregivers, enabling them to age in place and thrive in their homes and communities with the help of assistive products and technology. It aligns with SUSS’ larger mission to achieve social good through purposeful continuous learning, applied research and impactful partnerships. It also reflects our commitment to championing forward-thinking national endeavours like Age Well SG and the 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing.
14. I would like to express my gratitude to SG Assist for their partnership, and to acknowledge the Ngee Ann Kongsi Social Impact Fund for supporting this meaningful project. I also want to record my appreciation for my dedicated and passionate Gerontology colleagues, particularly Associate Professor Carol Ma who has worked tirelessly to make initiatives like this possible.
15. I look forward to more collaborations between SUSS and government agencies, community partners, and volunteers, in order to create a more inclusive and age-friendly environment for all.
16. Thank you.