Course Code: GER508
Synopsis
GER508 Ageing Families: Multigenerational and Cultural Issues aims to stimulate students’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of social and cultural diversity among ageing populations from a sociocultural perspective. A broad perspective is encouraged so that the students can compare Singapore with other countries. As societies mature, the customized approach would bear greater gains not only for the older population, but also policy makers and service providers in terms of savings and economical usage of resources. Focus is placed on ageing families, intergenerational relationships, controversial issues that often lead to family tensions, and common situations of employed caregivers who may be from other countries and cultures. The course will enhance students’ awareness and skills in identifying strains and communication breakdowns between family members, use of the systemic framework of analysis, and solution-seeking in collaboration with family members. The practical component of the course consists of techniques of working with multigenerational ageing families and of cultural competency skills. Teaching tools such as role play and videos will be utilized.
Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JAN
Topics
- Ageing societies across the world: from the cultural lens
- Sociological perspective on ageing families: family development theory
- Concepts in Ethno-gerontology
- Caregivers of ‘other’ cultures e.g. foreign domestic workers/nurses
- Skills in cultural competency and conflict resolution
- Case study discussion
- Examining culture in policies
- Examining service delivery through the socio-cultural lens
- What are the current pressing challenges faced by Singaporean Ageing families?
- Guest lecture by an expert on sociological aspects of ageing families
- The ageing experience in multicultural social contexts
- Challenges facing professionals working with complex ageing families
Learning Outcome
- Analyse and explain the role of socially and culturally diverse populations in shaping policies and services.
- Differentiate knowledge of various cultures in the process of helping ageing families.
- Relate values, knowledge, skills of gerontological practice to ethnic competent practice.
- Improve cultural competency skills in gerontological practice.
- Design multi-cultural and intergenerational programmes.
- Apply family development theory to solve issues of multi-problem, ageing families.
Dates for 2026 January Semester
| Session | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 2 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 3 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 4 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
| 5 | 8:30am to 5:30pm | SUSS |
Who Should Attend
- Executives in eldercare sector
Relevance of Course to Employment / Upskilling / Reskilling
GER508 Ageing Families: Multigenerational and Cultural Issues equips students with critical knowledge and practical skills that are directly relevant to Singapore’s rapidly ageing and culturally diverse workforce. As ageing increasingly takes place within families and communities, professionals across healthcare, social services, counselling, community development, human resources, and policy sectors must be able to navigate complex intergenerational, cultural, and caregiving dynamics. This course strengthens students’ capacity to understand how family structures, cultural values, and intergenerational expectations shape caregiving practices, decision-making, and conflict in later life.
Through a strong sociocultural and systems-based framework, students develop competencies in identifying family strains, communication breakdowns, and culturally rooted sources of tension—especially in households involving working caregivers, transnational families, and migrant care workers. These skills are directly transferable to professional roles that require case assessment, family mediation, caregiving coordination, programme design, and policy implementation. The course also builds cultural competency and solution-focused practice through applied learning methods such as role play, case simulations, and video-based analysis, enabling students to translate theory into practice effectively.
For working professionals, GER508 supports upskilling by deepening applied skills in family engagement, intergenerational communication, and culturally responsive practice. It also enables reskilling for individuals transitioning into ageing-related sectors such as eldercare, community services, counselling, and family services. By adopting a comparative international perspective, students are also better prepared to contribute to system-level innovation and resource-efficient service design. Collectively, the course enhances employability, professional adaptability, and leadership capacity in Singapore’s evolving ageing and care ecosystem.
Admission Prerequisites
- A recognised Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is required as a prerequisite for entry into this course.
Please refer to Graduate CET Admission Eligibility Criteria for Graduate CET Modular Courses.
Schedule
| Session | Time | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 Families in Transition 21-Feb-26 | 9am to 1pm | Topic 1: Families in Transition – Demographic & Structural Change
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 2pm to 6pm | Topic 2: Global Eldercare Models & Singapore Adaptation
| |
| Session 2 Migration & Cross-Cultural Issues 28-Feb-26 | 9am to 1pm |
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 2pm to 6pm | Topic 4: Cultural Competence & Practice Application
| |
| Session 3 Gender, Family Transitions & Socioeconomics 7-Mar-26 (T02) Dr. Yu Chou Chuen 8-Mar-26 (T01) Dr. Kelvin Tan | 9am to 1pm | Topic 5: Gender, Inequality & Family Change in Later Life
|
| 1pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 2pm to 6pm | Topic 6: Policy, Support Systems & Structural Change
| |
| Session 4 GBA Presentation Day 14-Mar-26 | 8:30am to 12pm | Student Group Presentations (Compulsory Attendance)
|
| 12pm to 2pm | Lunch Break | |
| 1pm to 5:30pm | Continuation + Guest Speaker (after lunch, to be confirmed)
|
Assessments
- Assignments
About the Trainer
Dr Kelvin Tan
Dr Kelvin Tan is Head of Programme in Applied Ageing Studies and senior lecturer and Mentor/Domain Expert in Gerontology and Innovation programmes in Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
He is the President of Society for Gerontechnology Spore, honorary Research Fellow in The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Sau Po Center on Ageing, Fellow of St Luke’s CommCare Academy, and also Fellow of the Taiwan Fellowship Programme. He was Advisor to WHO Western Pacific Region for the AMR Innovations Challenge 2023.
His recent research work include Social robots and older persons was funded by the Ministry of Education (Singapore) Start-up Research Funding, Social robots for older persons and children with disabilities by Temasek Foundation, AI Tuina robot, Drumming-up with Exercise ball, Medical Grip, Intergen Coliving and IoT Ring with exercise/Music with NTNU.
He is active volunteer in community project in East Coast Singapore and ibasho SG in Health District@Queenstown. He also partners with MIDEA/Toshiba’s CSR programme in Southwest CDC as CSR give-back to the community in 2022/23. He has organised the yearly SUSS Chingay Watch Party with People’s Association (PA) and partners. In 2022, SUSS was recognised for its efforts by the People’s Association Community Spirit Award.
Kelvin leads the SUSS-NUNCHI MARINE Age Well Programme, launched in Dec 2022. He holds various advisory roles in WuWei Tumour Hospital (China), One&Co, Ageing Asia, People’s Association and Yincubator. He mentors startups in the field of social enterprise, healthcare, smart cities and sustainability.
Prior to SUSS, he was the Director for Corporate Partnerships, Innovation and Entrepreneur Division, in National University of Singapore (NUS). Concurrently, he was the Business Development Director in NUS Smart Systems Institute which translates IPs for commercialisation.
He has co-founded a startup in multimedia technologies for smart devices. His experience spanned across diverse roles in policy making, R&D, strategic alliances, business and product development in HP, AT&T, KDDI and Telecommunication Authority of Spore.
Dr. Yu Chou Chuen
Dr. Yu Chou Chuen is Deputy Head and Senior Lecturer of the Gerontology Programme at the S R Nathan School of Human Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), and a visiting consultant to the Geriatric Education and Research Institute (GERI). He is a health services researcher whose work focuses on how older adults age well through supportive systems of care.
His research spans ageing-in-place and assisted-living models, community-based care, caregiving support, dementia engagement, psychosocial well-being, advance care planning (ACP), and clinical empathy, with a particular interest in resilience, dignity, and end-of-life conversations. He has contributed to national evaluations of Community Care Apartments, informing Age-Well SG and Ministry of Health policy directions, and developed the Moral Tension Index (MTI) to examine ethical tensions in ACP. He is currently involved in the Asia Reminiscence Hub study, advancing regional research on how reminiscence supports cognitive health, dignity, and connection in later life across Asia.
He is also the co-lead developer of the Multidimensional Clinical Empathy Scale (M-CES) and has published on empathy, dementia engagement, and older adults’ mental health during COVID-19. He holds a PhD in Psychology and previously served in policy-related roles in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, and Ministry of Defence.
Course Fee
| International Participants | Singapore Citizens (below 40yrs), Permanent Residents | SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy1 (S'poreans aged 40 and above) | Enhanced Training Support for SME2 (Singaporean and PRs) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Course fee (A) | $3,168.00 | $2,640.00 | $2,640.00 | $2,640.00 |
| SSG grant (70%) (B) | - | $1,848.00 | $1,848.00 | $1,848.00 |
| Nett course fee (A) - (B) = (C) | $3,168.00 | $792.00 | $792.00 | $792.00 |
| 9% GST on nett course fee (D) | $285.12 | $71.28 | $71.28 | $71.28 |
| Total nett course fee payable, including GST (C) + (D) = (E) | $3,453.12 | $863.28 | $863.28 | $863.28 |
| Less additional funding if eligible under various schemes (F) | - | - | - | $528.00 |
| Total nett course fee payable, including GST, after additional funding from the various funding schemes (E) - (F) = (H) | $3,453.12 | $863.28 | $335.28 | $335.28 |
Singaporeans aged 40 years and above may apply to offset out-of-pocket course fees from their SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) 60 days before the programme start date, and up to 90 days after the programme start date. More information at /academics/executive-lifelong-learning/courses/grant---schemes/skillsfuture#skillsfuture-credit
For payment, please refer to /payment-modes for the various payment modes.
For Refund Policy, please refer to /admissions/financial-matters/tuition-fee-subsidy/cet-courses#refund-policy.
- A written request for a refund must be submitted and is subject to approval.
- If written notice of withdrawal is given within the cooling off period and before the course start date, a full refund of the fees paid less an administrative charge of $110.00 (exclusive of GST) will be given.
- No refund will be given for withdrawal thereafter.
- The cooling off period is defined as 7 working days after payment of course fee.
Course Completion Requirements
- Participants are required to achieve at least 75% attendance and pass any prescribed examinations/assessments or submit any course/project work (if any) under the course requirement.
- Participants are required to complete all surveys and feedbacks related to the course
- The course fees are reviewed annually and may be revised. The University reserves the right to adjust the course fees without prior notice.
- Singapore University of Social Sciences reserves the right to amend and/or revise the above schedule without prior notice.
For clarification, please contact the SUSS Academy via the following:
Telephone: +65 6248 0263
Email: [email protected]