Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Friends and Partners,
1. Good evening. It is a pleasure to join you at this year’s Intercontinental Alliance for Integrated Care Gala Dinner. Since its launch last year, the Alliance has grown into a strong global network, advancing research, partnerships, and innovation to shape integrated, inclusive, and human-centred care.
Ageing in Singapore: From Challenge to Opportunity
2. All around the world, populations are growing older, and Singapore is no exception. Next year, Singapore will become a super-aged society with more than one in five citizens aged 65 and above. By 2030, that proportion is expected to rise to one in four – a clear signal that we must strengthen communities and systems so that our seniors can live well and age with purpose.
3. Ageing is not a burden to be managed. It is a season of life to be respected, supported, and reimagined, where every person, regardless of age, continues to have value, voice, and belonging.
Singapore’s Commitment to Integrated Care
4. Singapore has long recognised that an ageing population requires collaboration across society. Over the years, we have built a more connected and compassionate system of care that combines healthcare, community support, and social engagement.
5. Programmes such as Healthier SG encourage individuals to take charge of their health earlier in life, supported by family doctors and community partners. The Community Networks for Seniors bring together healthcare providers, social agencies, and volunteers to help older adults stay active and socially connected. We always talk about lifespan, instead, we should start talking about healthspan.
6. We are also reshaping the spaces where we live and interact. For example, the Active Ageing Centres and integrated developments bringing together health, social, and recreational services that help seniors stay active, connected, and supported within their neighbourhoods like Kampung Admiralty and Heartbeat@Bedok. These initiatives reflect a belief that care should be local, personal, and empowering.
Personal Reflection: The Human Face of Ageing
7. As someone who is part of the Merdeka generation, I have seen how ageing changes our pace of life, yet also brings new clarity and wisdom.
8. Many older persons I meet tell me that what matters most is not only good healthcare but also a sense of being valued and included. They want opportunities to stay engaged, to share their experiences, and to remain connected with the people and causes that matter to them.
9. I have also met many caregivers who embody love, patience, and resilience. Their quiet contributions strengthen the fabric of our nation. These encounters remind me that the essence of care lies in the relationships we build and the compassion we show to one another.
SUSS: Education, Research, and Leadership for a Caring Society
10. As Singapore’s university for lifelong learning and social good, SUSS stands at the intersection of education, research, and community impact. Our Gerontology programme, a pioneer in Singapore with over a decade of experience, has trained professionals who work directly with seniors, caregivers, and communities. We are also expanding our influence through strategic partnerships, such as the collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Institut Darul Ridzuan in Malaysia, which will transform Ipoh into a city-scale Living Lab for ageing and care. This initiative will integrate innovation into daily life from interoperable care frameworks and inclusive tech platforms to inter-generational engagement and grassroots participation. By combining academic expertise, practical application, and social purpose, SUSS has become a centre of learning and a platform for national leadership in care innovation.
The IAIC: A Global Movement Rooted in Shared Humanity
11. The IAIC exemplifies this leadership. Now in its second year, it continues to grow in scope and impact, bringing together partners across Asia, Europe, and beyond to co-create new models of care.
12. As mentioned by Prof Tan earlier, the multi-region study led by SUSS, exploring how older adults in different cultures perceive ageing, is one such milestone. It reminds us that across the world, people want the same things as they age: autonomy, purpose, and respect.
Closing: Building a Future of Dignity and Hope
13. As we look to the future, the challenge of ageing will test every society’s capacity for compassion, creativity, and courage. It also offers a profound opportunity to redefine what it means to live and age well, and to reaffirm our shared humanity.
14. Recently, I read a very insightful book called “The Perennials”. The book provokes us to think how we deal with ageing. We place people in different categories such as baby boomers, millennials and Gen-Zs. We also place them in certain life cycles which passes through periods such as play, study, work and retirement. We organise education systems, career and social development, health and everything else according to these different stages.
15. Building on this, if you think about someone who is 16 years old today, the traditional mindset has always been: you must go to school, study hard, and prepare for a career. And of course, that pathway is still possible and important. But we now need far more robust and systemic support structures to guide young people through much longer lifespans and career journeys.
16. Consider this: Singapore’s retirement age is 67, and our life expectancy is around 85. That means even at 67, a person still has many meaningful years ahead. So the question becomes, what do I do with this extended period of life?
17. Now imagine a 16-year-old who is given the opportunity to continue learning, to explore, to study again if needed. For many young people, that would be tremendously exciting, because it opens up space for new ideas, new experiences, and the chance to prepare for a career that aligns with their true aspirations. If we can support individuals in planning not just for their first career, but for an entire lifetime of growth, that would be truly beneficial, not only for Singapore, but for all of us.
18. We may jumble up the sequence of play, study, work and retirement but that is precisely what we need to do. We help the different generations to think of themselves rather pigeonholing them into rigid categories and help them fulfil their aspirations and ambitions.
19. We also often think of a career as a single, linear path, but that’s no longer the case. Few people start and end their working lives in the same job. Instead, individuals move through different stages: learning, working, caregiving, transitioning, and should have the flexibility to shift between them. At any point, people should be able to pick up new skills, explore new roles, or pursue fresh interests. Well-designed systems can support these transitions, helping individuals find purpose and stay resilient.
20. Ageing, then, isn’t just about growing older. It’s about continuous renewal and self-healing. When people are supported in this journey, society becomes stronger too.
21. Let us continue this journey together to create a society where ageing is celebrated, where we integrate care to focus more on how we can enhance the health span for people and how we can ensure that every person can live with dignity, connection, and purpose. Thank you, and I wish everyone a meaningful evening ahead.