First dedicated centre for persons living with dementia, caregivers opens in Toa Payoh

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat shakes hands with a Voices for Hope alumnus taking part in activities during a tour of Dementia Singapore’s first Voices for Hope Centre at Toa Payoh Central Community Club on Oct 3, 2026.

Published Oct 03, 2026, 02:00 PM

Updated Oct 03, 2026, 05:42 PM

The Voices for Hope Centre in Toa Payoh is Singapore's first community facility supporting persons living with dementia and their caregivers through shared experiences and active engagement.

Singapore, now a super-aged society, integrates dementia-friendly features in public spaces and neighbourhoods to create a safe and supportive environment for seniors and dementia patients.

The centre builds on Dementia Singapore’s empowerment programme, offering a welcoming space for peer support, and reducing stigma, with plans to enhance community inclusion and active ageing.

SINGAPORE - The first community-based facility designed to support persons living with dementia and their caregivers opened in Toa Payoh.

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, who represents the Toa Payoh West–Thomson division in the Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC, officially opened the first Voices for Hope Centre, located at Toa Payoh Central Community Club on Oct 3.

Chee said it was particularly meaningful for the space to be in his constituency as it is Singapore’s first Age Well Neighbourhood .

As part of this initiative , there are dementia-friendly features to create a senior-friendly environment, some of which were introduced in consultation with Dementia Singapore.

Chee cited the examples of larger block numbers accompanied by distinctive and colourful motifs in parts of Toa Payoh to help persons living with dementia recognise their blocks.

There are also colour-coded illustrations of familiar childhood games at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange to help seniors and persons living with dementia navigate the interchange.

With Singapore now a super-aged society , with more than 21 per cent of citizens aged 65 and above, Chee said it is important to build a dementia-friendly country.

He said: “We need physical facilities such as Dementia Singapore’s centres, where we can have quality programmes and create a safe space to support people living with dementia, as well as their caregivers and family members.

“We also need to thoughtfully design public spaces and neighbourhoods, that include dementia-friendly elements such as wayfinding features.”

However, Chee said Singapore also needed to build an inclusive, understanding, respectful society that supported people living with dementia, and their families .

He added: “This will help to reduce the stigma associated with dementia.”

Voices for Hope alumni took part in activities at Dementia Singapore’s first Voices for Hope Centre, located in Toa Payoh Central Community Club. The Straits Times

Voices for Hope alumni took part in activities at Dementia Singapore’s first Voices for Hope Centre, located in Toa Payoh Central Community Club.

In 2023, about 74,000 people in Singapore were living with dementia. This figure is projected to more than double to an estimated 152,000 by 2030.

Also attending the opening of the centre were other MPs from the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Cai Yinzhou and Elysa Chen.

Chief Executive Officer of Dementia Singapore, Bryan Tan, said they hope the centre will encourage the community to see the person behind the dementia diagnosis, and to appreciate the abilities, aspirations, and contributions of anyone living with dementia.

Tan added: “It provides opportunities for us to continue building friendships, staying engaged in meaningful activities, sharing our voices and contributing to the community around us.”

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Ministry of National Development

2026年10月3日，国家发展部长徐芳达在参观新加坡痴呆症协会首个“希望之声”中心（位于大巴窑中心民众俱乐部）时，与一位正在参加活动的“希望之声”校友握手。

发布于2026年10月3日下午2:00

更新于2026年10月3日下午5:42

位于大巴窑的希望之声中心是新加坡首个社区设施，通过分享经验和积极参与，为患有痴呆症的人及其照顾者提供支持。

新加坡如今已步入超老龄化社会，在公共空间和社区中融入了对失智症患者友好的设施，为老年人和失智症患者创造了一个安全且充满支持的环境。

该中心以新加坡痴呆症协会的赋能计划为基础，为同伴互助提供温馨的空间，减少歧视，并计划加强社区融合和积极老龄化。

新加坡——首个旨在为患有痴呆症的人及其照护者提供支持的社区设施在大巴窑开业。

代表碧山-大巴窑集选区大巴窑西-汤申选区的国建部长徐芳达于10月3日正式为位于大巴窑中心民众俱乐部的首个“希望之声”中心揭幕。

Chee表示，这个空间位于他的选区内意义尤为重大，因为这是新加坡第一个乐龄社区。

作为这项举措的一部分，我们推出了一些对老年痴呆症患者友好的设施，以营造一个对老年人友好的环境，其中一些设施是在与新加坡老年痴呆症协会协商后推出的。

Chee 举例说，大巴窑部分地区的楼栋编号较大，并配有独特而色彩鲜艳的图案，以帮助患有痴呆症的人识别自己的楼栋。

大巴窑巴士转换站还设有颜色编码的熟悉童年游戏插图，以帮助老年人和患有痴呆症的人士在转换站内出行。

新加坡现在是一个超老龄化社会，65 岁及以上的公民占比超过 21%，Chee 表示，建设一个对老年痴呆症患者友好的国家非常重要。

他说：“我们需要像新加坡痴呆症中心这样的实体设施，在那里我们可以开展高质量的项目，并创造一个安全的空间来支持患有痴呆症的人，以及他们的照顾者和家人。

“我们还需要精心设计公共空间和社区，加入对痴呆症患者友好的元素，例如寻路功能。”

然而，谢志强表示，新加坡还需要建立一个包容、理解、尊重的社会，以支持患有痴呆症的人及其家人。

他补充说：“这将有助于减少与痴呆症相关的耻辱感。”

“希望之声”往届学员参加了新加坡痴呆症协会首个“希望之声”中心（位于大巴窑中心民众俱乐部）的各项活动。《海峡时报》

“希望之声”的往届学员参加了新加坡痴呆症协会首个“希望之声”中心（位于大巴窑中心民众俱乐部）的活动。

2023年，新加坡约有7.4万人患有痴呆症。预计到2030年，这一数字将翻一番以上，达到约15.2万人。

出席中心开幕式的还有碧山-大巴窑集选区的其他国会议员蔡银洲和陈伊丽莎。

新加坡痴呆症协会首席执行官陈文龙表示，他们希望该中心能够鼓励社区看到痴呆症诊断背后的人，并欣赏任何患有痴呆症的人的能力、愿望和贡献。

谭补充道：“这为我们提供了继续建立友谊、参与有意义的活动、表达我们的想法并为我们周围的社区做出贡献的机会。”

碧山-大巴窑集选区

国家发展部