Ageing and the Study on the Lifestyle of Elderly in Singapore

contributed by Rosna Ng, Research Associate, >60 Design Centre

Since the 1980s, the Singapore government has been working to address ageing issues and the implications of how the demographic shift would affect Singapore's social and economic fabric. Accelerated policy changes in the last five years or so are bringing about noticeable shifts in employment and housing policies, aimed at prolonging the economic independence of the older resident.

Today, 1 out of every 12 Singaporeans is aged 65 or above. By 2030, this ratio will become 1 out of 5. As Singapore's population is ageing rapidly with the baby boomers reaching 65 years of age by 2012, it brings both challenges and opportunities to put in place policies and programmes to meet the emerging needs of an ageing population. This sizeable increase is anticipated to have significant impact on how Singapore's society and economy will continue to exist.

This baby boomer generation has been the cornerstone of Singapore's economic growth in the post war years and well into the 1980s. Well educated, affluent and well travelled individuals, they are also expected to live longer due to their relatively healthier lifestyles and freedon of choice for better quality of life.

Although the need for a wider range of more specialized forms of housing and care for the aged is greatly discussed [Reference 1-2], one needs to understand the ageing lifestyle in order to provide for their needs. >60 Design Centre conducted research on the ifestyle of 16 seniors to gain an insight to their daily life.

Results: 15 out of the 16 elderly are staying in HDB flats. Although 12 out of the 16 participants have more than 5 family members in the family, 6 participants out of 16 are staying together with their spouse/ child/ mother/ friend.

5 out of the 16 elderly are retired with no income while another 7 ofthe elderly have a household income of less than or equal to $2500 per month. Of the 16 elderly, 11 are staying at home for more than 12 hours per day Of the 12 elderly with no income or household income of less than or equal to $2500, 9 of the elderly are staying at home for more than 12 hours er days. The elderly would spend their time doing house work, surfing internet, read newspaper/ book/ magazine, exercise, watch T programmes, listen to radio programmes, communicate to friends/ family members/ neighbours verbally, through text messages or phoe calls, sleep/ nap and pray.

On an average, most of the participants (9 out of 16) would sleep 7-9 hours per day with 14 of the participants waking up at least oce at night to relieve themselves. 4 out of the 16 participants feel that it is of extreme importance to access electrical power in their daily life. Some of the eletrica products that the elderly woul normally use at home includes fans, fridge, microwave, heater, washing machine, boiler, toaster, air-con, cooker, crockpot, kettle, computer, radio, tv, iron, fan, foot massager, handphone charger, domestic phone, lights, clock, soya bean maker and/or karaoke.

7 of the 16 elderly communicate 1-3 tmes per week to their next-of-kin while another 6 of the elderly communicate more than 7 times per week to their next-of-kin. Most of the participants (10 out of 16) communicate by telephone. Another point to note, for the 13 married participants, most would would contact either their spouse and/or children in case of emergence. For 2 of the participants who are still single, one commented that he would contact his neighbour while another would contact her siblings. For the divorced participant, she would contact her children.

Some of the items that the elderly would take with them when they go out would be items like their wallet, a mobile phone, an umbrella, water bottle, handkerchief, lipstick, notebook, address book, pen, rosary, keys, tissue paper, shawl, sunglasses, money, identification card, handbag and/or walking stick.