Speech by 2M Indranee Rajah at the Launch of the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well (ENgAGE) at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS

Aug 27, 2024


Members of the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) Advisory Board and the Department of Architecture Advisory Board

Deputy Dean of the NUS College of Design and Engineering, Professor Heng Chye Kiang

Dean of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Professor Chong Yap Seng

Partners and benefactors of CDE

Colleagues and distinguished guests

It is a great pleasure to join all of you today at the launch of the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well (ENgAGE) at the College of Design and Engineering at National University of Singapore.

Importance of Research on Ageing and Environment

The launch of this centre is timely and pertinent. The global population is ageing rapidly and in Singapore, 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be aged 65 and older by 2030, and that makes us one of the fastest ageing populations in the world. This rapid demographic shift makes research on ageing more critical than ever. Understanding the links between ageing and the built environment is essential to developing strategies to support seniors in leading healthy, independent and fulfilling lives.  

Role of ENgAGE

The establishment of ENgAGE is a testament to NUS's commitment to addressing these challenges. With a research focus on the intersection between ageing and the built environment, the Centre brings together myriad disciplines – from design, architecture, social sciences to public health – that will offer valuable insights into understanding and tackling age-related environmental issues. I am confident that ENgAGE will be a beacon of innovation to spearhead pioneering solutions that will enable a vibrant and inclusive future for seniors not just in Singapore, but across Asia and beyond.

Under MND’s Cities of Tomorrow R&D programme, we are already working with the Centre on two multi-disciplinary research projects.

  • The first is a study to understand and evaluate the influence of different senior housing typologies on the quality of life of seniors, with a view to enhance the planning and design of future senior housing.
  • The second study seeks to quantify how environmental factors and urban features can affect mental well-being.

I look forward to using the research findings from these projects which will help us enhance the design of our urban spaces and provide a better living environment for our seniors.

Initiatives to Improve the Physical Living Environment for Seniors under Age Well SG

The Government is taking active steps to help our ageing population to age in place.  Age Well SG, is a national initiative to support our seniors to age actively, stay socially connected, and be cared for and importantly, to also care for others within their communities.

One key pillar of Age Well SG is to improve the physical living environment for seniors.

  • Within homes, the Enhancement for Active Seniors, or EASE, programme now offers an expanded range of senior-friendly fittings. Seniors can opt for new fittings such as wall-mounted foldable shower seats and lowered toilet entrance kerbs to improve safety in the bathroom. These improvements may seem small but they are significant to seniors and caregivers in giving them a peace of mind at home. 
  • In the neighbourhood, we will be carrying out senior-friendly enhancements through our upgrading programmes, such as the Silver Upgrading Programme for older precincts, to enable seniors to remain physically and socially active in the community. We will introduce more barrier-free ramps, rest points, and dementia-friendly way-finding features to enable seniors to go about their daily routines safely and independently. By improving the walkability and connectivity in the neighbourhood, we can help seniors to build and maintain social networks and get support in the community. 
  • In terms of housing options, we are also ramping up the supply of our Community Care Apartments, or CCAs, in different locations in Singapore. The CCA is a public housing assisted living typology that pairs senior-friendly HDB flats with on-site social activities and care services that can be customised according to individual’s care needs. We encourage our seniors, especially those who prefer to live independently, but want the assurance of having access to basic care and social services, to consider applying for a CCA that will help them to age gracefully in their golden years.

Continued collaboration and research

The challenges of ageing are complex and multifaceted – they cut across physical, social, psychological and even emotional wellbeing with attachments to place – and require a sustained and concerted effort from all sectors of society. I encourage the academic community to continue to work with the public sector, industry partners and social organisations to exchange ideas, pool resources and invest in research that addresses the evolving needs of our ageing population. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we can develop informed policies and practices that will benefit current and future generations.

Closing

So in closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to NUS and the team behind ENgAGE for your visionary leadership and dedication. The work that will be undertaken here is not just important – it is imperative for the future well-being of our society. So, let us all support and contribute to this endeavour, to build a better living environment and quality of life for our seniors.

I wish everyone a fruitful and engaging morning ahead. Thank you very much.