‘Super-aged’ Singapore’s secret to growing old well? Stay busy

The clack of mahjong tiles, the soft rattle of exercise bikes and the slow thrum of sewing machines are the soundtrack to Monday afternoons at the Yong-en Active Hub: a senior centre with the vibe of a social club, where new skills and friendships are the antidote to old age.At the Bukit Merah estate in central Singapore, Agnes Chen, 74, strolls through the swinging doors, declines entreaties to join a game of Rummikub – a tile-based hybrid of mahjong and rummy – and fixes herself a coffee.“People here are so friendly and happy, you’ll find yourself opening up,” the retiree said. “It’s like a private club for seniors, you can eat, cook, sit around and do what you like, even if there’s no classes.”Helping its elderly population age well has long been a national priority for Singapore. The city state crossed the threshold of being “super-aged” this year, with more than 21 per cent of its population now aged 65 or above – a demographic shift that poses challenges for its healthcare system, well-being programmes and future tax base alike.Agnes Chen, a 74-year-old retiree and carer for her elderly sister-in-law, visits the Yong-en Active Hub at least once a week to socialise and learn new skills. Photo: Kolette LimThe Yong-en Active Hub offers a revolving schedule of activities: guitar lessons on Tuesday afternoons, qigong on Wednesday and Friday mornings and occasional special outings such as a recent visit to the Singapore-state-courts" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="52030" data-entity-type="organization">Singapore State Courts.