DBS Foundation X SUSS Asia Reminiscence Forum 2025: Rethinking Healthy Ageing Through Memories and Innovation

On 2 October 2025, over 180 participants joined us at the inaugural DBS Foundation X SUSS Asia Reminiscence Forum 2025, themed “From Memories to Healthspan: Rethinking Healthy Ageing Through Reminiscence and Innovation” at Oldham Theatre. 

SUSS Staff with Reminiscence Facilitators

From the full-house forum to hands-on reminiscence games and interactive booths, the participants’ energy and enthusiasm filled the space with warmth, learning, and meaningful connections.

Dedicated to memory, community partnerships and healthy ageing, this milestone event is a first-of-its-kind gathering, celebrating SUSS Gerontology’s collaboration with regional research and implementation partners, experts, practitioners, and community leaders across Asia. With Asia’s ageing population rapidly growing, forums like this provide a vital platform for sharing research, best practices, and innovative approaches to cognitive health and community engagement. Our first batch of Reminiscence Facilitator trainees actively contributed as volunteers and participants, truly embodying the spirit of co-learning and community engagement.

DBS Foundation X SUSS Asia Reminiscence Forum 2025 speakers

From L-R: Dr Thera Chia, Dr Chloe Siu, Dr Carol Ma, Dr Du Peng, Dr Yuda Turana, Dr Ang Hak Seng 

The forum featured insightful presentations from distinguished speakers, including Assoc Prof Thera Chiu (Taipei Medical University), Dr Chloe Siu (Lingnan University), Assoc Prof Carol Ma (SUSS), Prof Du Peng (Renmin University of China), Prof Yuda Turana (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia), and Prof Ang Hak Seng (SUSS).

Dr Carol Ma presenting for Asia Reminiscence Forum

Assoc Prof Carol Ma, Head of Gerontology Programme, delivered the opening presentation, while Prof Ang Hak Seng, Director, Centre of Excellence for Social Good, served as the moderator during Q&A. The speakers shared a range of perspectives on memory, cognitive health, and ageing; for a full overview of their presentation themes, please refer to the event poster.

Rediscovering Memories: Virtual Reality and Interactive Reminiscence Experiences

Representative showcasing SG1 Reminiscence Prototype developed by SUSS and TMU

The atrium activities showcased a variety of VR and non-VR tools for reminiscence, including newly developed and prototype reminiscence games that encourage sharing, as well as the intergenerational conversational game Come! Let’s Chat.

Participants trying the VR Reminiscence Programme by Vue Reality Labs

Attendees experienced how technology and creativity can promote emotional, cognitive, and social well-being in older adults through immersive Virtual Reality (VR), provided by our VR Research Partner, Vue Reality Labs. VR allowed participants to visit familiar and new environments - from hometown streets to serene nature scenes, sparking meaningful conversations, creating new topics to reminisce about, and countering isolation through shared moments. Whether revisiting a childhood market or strolling through a virtual garden, each journey offered a chance to reconnect, reflect, and strengthen bonds with loved ones.

These shared experiences highlighted how reminiscence, through stories, games, or immersive technology can enhance mental and emotional well-being, keep memories alive, and foster connections across generations.

"I really enjoyed the forum! The speakers really livened up the atmosphere with their passion and inspired me to learn more about reminiscence and how I can potentially contribute to this movement." - Attendee

 “Seniors or not, we are all human. We are social creatures. By sharing our happy, or even unhappy moments, that helps us to have some closure." - Reminiscence Facilitator

Two workshops complemented the forum’s discussions: Learn with Yan Oi Tong by Ms Constance, which explored building dementia-friendly communities, and Holistic Dementia & Healthy Ageing Ecosystem in Indonesia through ALZICare by Ms Katta from ALZI.

Reminiscence Facilitators on a curated NAS tour to learn more about Singapore archives

The forum highlights SUSS Gerontology’s dedication to turning research into real-world initiatives that support seniors’ memory, cognitive health, and social inclusion. These partnerships also advance regional aged-care practices and contribute to a collective Asia-wide vision for healthy ageing.

We are truly thankful to the National Archives of Singapore (NAS), for hosting us at Oldham Theatre and conducting an exclusive tour led by archivists, AV preservation specialists, conservators, and an oral history specialist, offering deep insights into Singapore’s rich heritage.

Together, we can foster a community where memories spark connections, stories are shared, and every encounter strengthens and nurtures memory, cognitive health, and well-being.

Explore our Graduate Diploma or PhD in Gerontology programmes where you can help innovate approaches to reminiscence, community engagement, and healthy ageing in Singapore and beyond.

Graduate diploma: https://www.suss.edu.sg/programmes/detail/graduate-diploma-in-gerontology-gdger

PhD programme: https://www.suss.edu.sg/programmes/detail/phd-in-gerontology-phger

If you are keen to get started with an introduction to reminiscence facilitation, please enrol here.