Government to develop City for All Ages for ageing Singaporeans

The City for All Ages project aims to enhance the liveablitiy of the built environment, develop age-friendly solutions and services, as well as enhance the integration of services with the built environment.

According to Singapore MCYS, a City for All Ages Project Office will be created to spearhead and integrate inter-agency efforts. The Project Office will report to the Minister-in-Charge-of-Ageing Issues. A whole-of-Government effort, agencies involved in the project are the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Ministry of National Development, Housing & Development Board, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Centre for Liveable Cities, Economic Development Board and SPRING Singapore.

Opportunities and Challenges

The World Health Organisation has identified urbanisation and ageing as the two key trends that will shape the world. Many of the world’s major cities are also faced with an ageing population. In the developed countries, over 75% of older people are urban dwellers, matching that of younger age groups. This is forecast to increase to 80% in 2015. In developing countries, the total number of older people in cities will increase from 56 million in 2000 to over 908 million in 2050.

The confluence of ageing and rapid urbanisation presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for the development of urban solutions for ageing in Singapore. The Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment (2007) and Lift Upgrading Programme are already in place. MCYS has also worked with HDB to introduce Senior Activity Centres and Seniors Services Centre at Studio Apartments. The Building and Construction Authority and HDB have adopted Universal Design guidelines. Ministry of Health and EDB have set up the Health and Wellness Programme Office to catalyse the development of health-related components of the silver industry. These efforts will be consolidated into a central thrust to build Singapore as a City for All Ages.

Areas of Focus

The City for All Ages Project Office will conceptualise and implement projects to encourage the development of urban solutions for ageing. It will adopt solutions from leading first tier cities and promote innovation and development of solutions for our unique needs. The Project Office will embark on four key areas of work: First, it will promote public-practitioner-academia research and collaboration at tertiary universities. Second, it will develop social spaces in our housing estates to promote friendship and neighbourliness. It will also enhance the planning and design of community-based care services to better integrate with the built environment. Third, it will encourage commercialisation and adoption of products and services will be advocated. Fourth, it will strive towards building Singapore as the centre of excellence on ageing.

Putting in place solutions for ageing will empower older Singaporeans and their families to live independently, stay socially engaged and enjoy a high quality of life. In a City for All Ages, our communities will be more cohesive, vibrant and productive with our seniors as active participants.