SINGAPORE: More subsidies, more programmes, more care options. As Singapore steps up support for an ageing population, much of the conversation has largely been focused on doing more. But after years of working closely with seniors, I have come to believe that the real question is not how much more we do, but how much better we do it.

For many seniors, especially those with complex life histories, ageing well is not just about access to care. It is about dignity and choice. And it is about being trusted to live one’s own life, even with support close at hand. 

As we approach another Budget season, it is timely to reflect on how our national policies can be better to support these aspirations.

WHAT MAKES COMMUNITY LIVING WORK

Recent Budgets have signalled strong commitment to help seniors age well in the community. Various measures such as enhanced subsidies for long-term care and increased caregiver grants have helped ease financial pressures while widening access to care. On the ground, these measures do make a difference.

We have also seen encouraging outcomes in community living. For example, a 62-year-old senior from our Bukit Batok Home for the Aged was able to transition into supported accommodation in the community. Today, he manages parts of his daily routine, attends activities nearby and speaks with pride about “living like everyone else again”.

The transition was supported through structured social work case management and follow-up. He also had family members who could provide practical and emotional support. 

But his experience highlights what’s necessary to make community living work.

Not all residents in welfare homes have ready access to sustained informal support in the community, such as family, friends or social networks, that can reinforce daily routines and emotional stability over time. These needs are not unseen, but they are easy to underestimate. While community support is available, seniors who have spent years in welfare homes without informal support need more time and sustained careful guidance to adapt to new routines, spaces and relationships.