Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and active-ageing champion Mr Lim Boon Heng said that in the two-year pilot programmes, community groups will run the six centres.
These six centres, called Seniors Connect Plus, will be located in Kim Seng-Kreta Ayer, Radin Mas, Whampos, Bukit Panjang, ALjunied-Paya Lebar and Bukit Timah. These centres will promote a healthy lifestyle for the elderly.
It is very much like the Wellness programme @ MacPerherson, which is the 3rd of the six one-stop "wellness" centres to be set up in various neighbourhoods. The first two were opened in Jurong Central and Punggol South, and three more will come up in Ulu Pandan, Jalan Besar and Kebun Bahru within the next year. These are more of the "ground up" meaning the facilities are run by elderly volunteers who support and befriend other senior citizens in the constituency. Besides actiivities, they also offer counselling, befriending and medical services.
Each centre is expected to reach out to at least 1,000 senior citizens.
Singapore is greying quickly. In 2005, 291,000 Singaporeans were aged 65 and above; by 2030, the number will triple to nearly a million.
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