Leng Leng THANG, National University of Singapore
lengthang@nus.edu.sg
Linking the generations in Singapore:
Strengthening families, Building communities
1
International Conference on Building an Intergenerational Nation
7-10 March 2022, UK

Singapore
• A small city-state situated at the southern tip
of the Malay peninsular in Southeast Asia
• Total land area of Singapore is 648.1 square
kilometer.
• population – 5.68 mil (resident pop: 4 mil)
• Density- 7810 persons/km2
• multi-cultural society- 74.3% of Chinese,
13.5% Malays, 9% Indians and 3.2% from
other ethnic groups.
• 65 yr and over: 15.2%, TFR: 1.1
• Life expectancy: 83.9 yrs (F:86.1, M=81.5) https://singaporemotherhood.com/a
rticles/2017/07/festivals-multiracial-
singapore/

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Policy approach to aging
• Long term strategic approach: building upon earlier efforts
• Transition to a positive gerontology framework: From aging as
problems to aging as opportunities
• Many Helping Hands approach and Family as the first line of support
• Promoting Aging-in-place
Efforts to promote
intergenerational support
and bonding in the family
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“The starting point, however, must
be individual responsibility to plan
and prepare for old age. The family
is the first line of care. The
community is the second line of
support to enable families in their
care-giving role. The role of the
State is to provide a framework that
enables the individual, the family
and the community to play their
part.” (IMC Report, 1999)
Many Helping Hands approach
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Strengthening family as the first line of help
 We believe that the family is
the primary care-giving unit
and the bedrock of support
for seniors. The family must
be supported and
strengthened in its ability to
care for its older members
to ensure that
institutionalization remains
a measure of last resort.”
(Report on the Ageing
Population, 2006:12).

Housing Policy – Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)
to promote close proximity and co-residence
7

• http://www.hdb.gov.sg/
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• hdb.gov.sg
9

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/larger-3gen-
hdb-flats-for-multi-generation-families-popular-with-8-in-10-
units
115 sq m
4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms (2 attached)
2013- first launch (about 2000 units in 2018)

Housing schemes promoting family ties
• More married children live in close proximity or in a nearby estate near
their parents: increase from 37.8% (2013) to 44.1% (2018)
• Preference for “intimacy at a distance” – increase from 47.9% (2013) to
50.8% (2018)
• Decline in older residents living together with their married children from
17.2% (2013) to 11.4% (2018). Decline in preference to do (17.1% →11.8%)
• --High frequency of visits- 86.9% of visits (married children and parents)
each other at least once a month, fall from 89.2% (2013)
• --Proximity increases frequency of visits, activities: having meals together,
going on outings and exchanging suggestions/advice about personal
problems.
(Ref: HDB Sample Household Survey 2018)
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https://www.familiesforlife.sg/Pages/default.aspx

https://familiesforlife.sg/unite-at-an-event/Pages/Celebrating-
Our-Grands-2021.aspx
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Intergenerational approaches in the community

Budget
S$3 billion over 5 years
ACTION PLAN FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING (2015)
• Public consultation-with over 4,000 participants in
almost 50 focus group discussions
• More than 70 initiatives in 12 areas
health and wellness, learning, volunteerism,
employment, housing, transport, public spaces,
respect and social inclusion, retirement adequacy,
healthcare and aged care, protection for vulnerable
seniors and research.
16

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Promoting
intergenerational
integration in the
community
• Kampong for All Ages – Cohesive Home with Intergenerational
Harmony (community befriending, co-location of aged and
childcare services )

2002-2005: Taskforce on grandparenting and
intergenerational bonding (Ministry of Community,
Youth and Sports)
2006: National Family Week-celebrating three
generations
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Taskforce efforts to promote IG in community
• Funding intergenerational programs
• Best Grandparenting and Intergenerational Bonding Awards
• Grandparent of the Year Award
• Designated 3rd week of November as Grandparents’ Day
• Published guide to start intergenerational programs
• Funding intergenerational workshops: 2003, 2004
• Surveys
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From 2006: As part of active aging
Events organized by Council for Third Age:
Lifelong Learning, Social Activities, Family
bonding activities (eg Grandparent’s Day)
Seniors Cosplay
competition 2011
Top prize – Robert Ong (70 years
old) and his grandson (5 years
old)
“Practising with my grandson for
the competition has allowed me to
spend more time with him and for
us to become closer.” (Mr Wong)
http://beta.c3a.org.sg/news/who-says-
cosplay
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Schools-initiated intergenerational initiatives
• - Value-in-Action (VIA) projects in schools (from 2014)
http://www.acjc.edu.sg/ac-experience/character-
education/values-in-action-via
Project Cheer
A major highlight in our VIA projects is ACJC’s
collaboration with the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation
(TCTF) on their signature Project Cheer initiative.
Students will design and implement community service
activities to bring joy to the beneficiaries in six charities
supported by the foundation – Canossaville Children’s
Home, Fei Yue Community Services, Lakeside Family
Centre, Lions Befrienders Service Association
(Singapore), Singapore Children’s Society and St
Luke’s Eldercare. Through the myriad of engaging
activities conducted for the underprivileged children
and elderly, our students will learn that building a
relationship through conversing with the beneficiaries
carries greater value than just organising a successful
VIA project.

Source: Mentoring Alliance Singapore,
Report of Impact Assessment Study of
Intergenerational Mentoring Programme
By Conjunct Consulting
Tri-generational mentoring
Mentors:
Older adults and college
students
Mentees:
Secondary/elementary
school students

26

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Promoting grandparent-
grandchildren bonding
▪Activities promoting inclusion of
grandparents:
- Grandparent Day (4th Sunday of Nov)
- -family=3G family

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Age-Integrated facilities/share sites/co-locations
https://www.kotoen.or.jp/about/english

Day care center for children
Day care center for elderly
School after-care service
Set up since 1995

St Joseph's Home opens childcare centre,
intergenerational playground in nursing home
(Aug 2017)
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/st-joseph-s-home-
opens-childcare-centre-intergenerational-9163172

SJSM Village: Set up in July 2021
Nursing home (200 ), Senior Care Centre (100)- Winter
Pre-School Centre (200-300 children)- Spring
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(sjsm.org.sg)

'Modern kampung' (village) : the first co-location site
• B1 and B2: carpark
• B1: Supermarket (wheelchair accessible),
Bank
• 1: Community plaza (covered atrium for
exercises and events)
• 1: Pharmacy and Retail (Starbucks, café)
• 2: Hawker Centre (food court with 900
seats)
• 3 and 4: Medical Centre (Alexandra Health
System)
• 6: Child care centre, Active aging hub, Day
care centre, community park, playground
and exercise station, link to apartments
• 7: Senior care centre (including dementia
care)
• 8: Sky terrace (community garden)

Every morning, the young parents drop off their
kids at the childcare centre here, to be picked up
by the grandparents later in the day. The old
folks meet their friends for taiji or gardening at
the community garden, or go for their regular
check-ups at the medical centre. After school,
the grandparents bring the kids to the hawker
centre for some food, or to the playground to
run around. If it is raining, the children can play
in the sheltered community plaza, or take a nap
upstairs in their grandparents' homes. In the
evenings after work, the young parents can pick
up fresh groceries from the FairPrice
supermarket here to prepare dinner for the
whole family.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's 2018 National Day
Message. https://www.pmo.gov.sg/national-day-message-
2018

Intergenerational approach as a new paradigm in
meeting social and community needs
FROM: Design thinking workshop on ‘Innovative
Configurations of Social and Community Facilities’
(Urban Redevelopment Authority, March 2017)

Curriculum (eg
preschool and
senior learning)
Inter-
generational
Programs and
Activities
Space design
(Inter-
generational
contact zone)
POLICY
IG perspectives/policies/approaches/agenda 39

Think ICZ , think out of the box
• Design with the question “Can the space be ICZ?”
-can be purpose built. E.g. dining areas, playground,
toilet (wash basis for wheelchair and children)
- Think what can be shared and co-located – e.g.
toy/children’s library in old folk’s homes, playground
in nursing home, kindergarten in retirement homes
- Bringing a little IG for fun and play – cocktail party in
nursing home (Ref: ICZ, 2021)
- Designing IG play
At the Santa Claus sports Institute in
Lapland, University of Lapland
Photo from BBC story (2/8/06)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-
1/hi/world/europe/4691088.stm

Conclusion
Aging future and Intergenerational nation
• Integration: innovative hubs, co-
locations, co-services and
flexibility
• Family focus: bonding and care
(normalizing caregiving across
generations)
• Technology: how do we harness
it for more (not less)
intergenerational interaction?

Thank you