More than 16,000 seniors to benefit from new active ageing framework

The initiative will guide programmes across Methodist Welfare Services’ seven Active Ageing Centres, with a focus on keeping seniors socially connected.

Seniors taking part in bocce bowls at Methodist Welfare Services’ inaugural Senior Olympics Day on Oct 1, 2026. (Photo: Facebook/Methodist Welfare Services)

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SINGAPORE: More than 16,000 seniors will be able to take part in activities ranging from adaptive sports to drone flying and digital skills under a new active ageing framework by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS).

Called Harmony, the initiative will guide programmes across the charity’s seven Active Ageing Centres in Singapore. It will focus on areas such as social connectedness, physical activity, cognition and senior empowerment.

Dr Raymond Leong, MWS’ group director of healthcare services, said the framework was designed to provide a consistent approach that could be scaled across its centres, while allowing seniors to decide what they want to do there.

It was co-developed with seniors and staff and includes three signature programmes: sports adapted for different abilities, monthly social gatherings, and activities aimed at engaging older men who may be more socially isolated.

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ENCOURAGING SENIORS TO STEP OUT OF HOME

At MWS’ Sims Place centre, the Men-Only Happy Hour has been running since 2023.

Held in a void deck setting, the weekly gathering gives male seniors a space to chat over coffee and snacks, play games and exercise.

Among the participants is retiree Thomas Choong, 70, who first joined after coming across a banner advertising the gathering.

“After retirement, we are (in) social isolation at home. Nothing much we do. We don't get to meet friends so often. So I used to come here to gather around, and then there's other men who are here,” he said.

Retiree Thomas Choong speaking to CNA. (Image: CNA)

Mr Choong has since become a volunteer, helping centre staff to introduce short exercise sessions during the weekly gatherings, including simple drum-beating to music to get participants moving.

He also approaches seniors he meets around the neighbourhood, telling them about the centre and encouraging them to join its activities.

Those who tend to stay at home can be harder to reach, he said, adding that more effort was needed to encourage them to step out.

Seniors taking part in a drum-beating exercise during the Men-Only Happy Hour at MWS' Sims Place centre. (Image: CNA)

ACTIVITIES FOR DIFFERENT ABILITIES

Another part of the framework is an adaptive sports programme, which modifies activities so that seniors with different physical abilities can take part.

“(It) really focuses on the physical domain of seniors to have physical enablement, and so that they can actually have that foundational pillar to be able to engage in other activities,” said MWS' Dr Leong.

About 280 participants took part in MWS’ inaugural Senior Olympics Day at Fernvale Community Club on Thursday (Oct 1), where they tried some of these activities.

Seniors trying out drone soccer during MWS' inaugural Senior Olympics Day on Oct 1, 2026. (Image: CNA)

These included bocce bowls, seated volleyball, bean bag toss and drone soccer, while participants also learnt about artificial intelligence.

Other adaptive sports offered by MWS include boccia, badminton and basketball.

The third programme, Ling Ling Time, was rolled out at MWS’ Sims Place and Kebun Baru centres in 2024.

Senior volunteers help plan and run its monthly activities, which include exercise, cognitive games and communal meals.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS A PRIORITY

One in four Singapore citizens is projected to be aged 65 and above by 2030.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Ng Chee Meng said supporting the country’s ageing population went beyond healthcare.

Speaking at the Senior Olympics event, Mr Ng, who is also Adviser to Jalan Kayu Grassroots Organisations, said such activities not only encouraged seniors to stay active but also helped them form friendships with people from different parts of Singapore.

He added that the government would continue efforts to provide more active ageing centres and programmes for seniors.

“As our population gets older, it is not only in healthcare that we take care of you, but also in our social connections and activities. This is a definite priority,” he said.

For Mr Choong, getting seniors involved has also changed how some neighbours relate to one another.

“They start talking instead of (being) strangers walking on the roadside,” he said. “So with this, at least they meet each other.”

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该计划将指导卫理公会福利服务机构旗下七个积极老龄化中心的各项活动，重点是保持老年人的社会联系。

2026年10月1日，在卫理公会福利服务中心举办的首届老年人运动会上，老年人正在参加地掷球比赛。（图片：Facebook/卫理公会福利服务中心）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：卫理公会福利服务机构（MWS）推出一项新的积极老龄化框架，将使超过 16,000 名老年人能够参与从适应性运动到无人机飞行和数字技能等各种活动。

这项名为“和谐”的计划将指导该慈善机构在新加坡的七个活力老龄化中心开展各项活动。它将重点关注社会联系、体育锻炼、认知能力和老年人赋能等领域。

MWS医疗保健服务集团总监梁瑞文医生表示，该框架旨在提供一种可在各个中心推广的一致方法，同时允许老年人决定他们想在那里做什么。

该项目由老年人和工作人员共同开发，包括三个特色项目：适合不同能力水平的运动、每月一次的社交聚会，以及旨在吸引可能较为孤僻的老年男性参与的活动。

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鼓励老年人走出家门

MWS 的 Sims Place 中心自 2023 年以来一直举办男士专属欢乐时光活动。

每周一次的聚会在组屋底层举行，为老年男性提供了一个可以一边喝咖啡吃点心一边聊天、玩游戏和锻炼的空间。

参与者中包括70岁的退休人士Thomas Choong，他是在偶然看到宣传此次聚会的横幅后才决定参加的。

“退休后，我们基本上都待在家里，与世隔绝。我们无所事事，也不常和朋友们见面。所以我以前常来这里和大家聚聚，这里还有其他一些男士，”他说。

退休人士Thomas Choong接受CNA采访。（图片：CNA）

此后，钟先生成为了一名志愿者，帮助中心工作人员在每周的聚会中引入简短的锻炼课程，包括伴着音乐进行简单的击鼓，以带动参与者动起来。

他还主动接近在附近遇到的老年人，向他们介绍中心的情况，并鼓励他们参加中心的活动。

他说，那些倾向于待在家里的人可能更难接触到，并补充说，需要付出更多努力来鼓励他们走出家门。

在MWS的Sims Place中心举办的男士专属欢乐时光活动中，一群长者正在参加击鼓练习。（图片：CNA）

适合不同能力水平的活动

该框架的另一部分是适应性运动计划，该计划对活动进行调整，以便不同身体能力的老年人都能参与其中。

“（它）真正关注老年人的身体领域，使他们具备身体能力，从而能够真正拥有参与其他活动的基础支柱，”MWS的梁医生说。

10 月 1 日星期四，约 280 名参与者在 Fernvale 社区俱乐部参加了 MWS 的首届老年人奥林匹克日活动，并尝试了其中的一些活动。

2026年10月1日，在MWS首届老年人运动会上，老年人体验无人机足球。（图片：CNA）

这些活动包括地掷球、坐式排球、沙包投掷和无人机足球，参与者还学习了人工智能方面的知识。

MWS提供的其他适应性运动包括地掷球、羽毛球和篮球。

第三个项目“玲玲时光”于 2024 年在 MWS 的 Sims Place 和 Kebun Baru 中心推出。

老年志愿者协助策划和开展每月活动，包括锻炼、认知游戏和集体用餐。

社交关系至关重要

预计到 2030 年，新加坡四分之一的公民将年满 65 岁及以上。

总理公署部长黄志明表示，支持国家老龄化人口不仅仅关乎医疗保健。

吴先生在老年人奥运会活动上发表讲话时表示，此类活动不仅鼓励老年人保持活跃，还能帮助他们与来自新加坡不同地区的人建立友谊。吴先生同时也是 Jalan Kayu 草根组织的顾问。

他还补充说，政府将继续努力为老年人提供更多积极老龄化中心和项目。

“随着人口老龄化，我们不仅要在医疗保健方面照顾你们，还要在社交联系和活动方面照顾你们。这绝对是我们的首要任务，”他说。

对于钟先生来说，让老年人参与进来也改变了一些邻居之间的关系。

他说：“他们开始交谈，而不是像陌生人一样在路边行走。这样一来，至少他们可以互相认识了。”

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