Singapore stands at the cusp of a demographic milestone, transitioning into a super-aged society this year, with over 21 percent of its population aged 65 and older. This shift underscores the urgency for innovative approaches to healthy ageing, where medical research intersects with practical policy-making. The recent Singapore Conference on Ageing and Health 2026 (SCAH2026), hosted by Duke-NUS Medical School's Centre for Ageing Research & Education (CARE), exemplified this convergence. Held on February 2-3 at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium in Academia, the event drew over 170 presenters from 15 countries, fostering dialogues among academics, policymakers, and community leaders to reimagine ageing well in communities.

The conference theme, 'Ageing Well in the Community: Exploring New Horizons,' highlighted the need to move beyond extending lifespans toward enhancing quality of life through dignity, purpose, connection, and care. As Associate Professor Rahul Malhotra, Executive Director of CARE, emphasized, spaces for active ageing must align with seniors' daily routines and aspirations rather than rigid structures, a principle backed by recent Duke-NUS studies on Active Ageing Centres (AACs). This gathering not only celebrated CARE's 10th anniversary but also positioned Duke-NUS as a pivotal player in translating evidence-based research into actionable policies for Singapore's evolving society.

🌿 A Gathering of Global Minds on Ageing Challenges

The multidisciplinary nature of SCAH2026 set it apart, featuring oral presentations, poster sessions, keynote addresses, and a high-profile panel discussion. Over 100 oral sessions covered topics from technology in dementia care to combating social isolation, reflecting the breadth of ageing research. Poster presentations added depth, showcasing emerging studies from Asia, Europe, and North America. This format encouraged cross-sector collaboration, essential for addressing Singapore's projected growth to one in four residents aged 65 or above by 2030.

Opening with an inclusive performance by dancers living with dementia and their care partners from Dementia & Co., the event immediately underscored arts' role in fostering community inclusion and emotional well-being. Such experiential elements complemented rigorous scientific discourse, making complex research accessible and inspiring policy shifts. For those in higher education and research, events like this highlight opportunities in interdisciplinary fields. Explore research jobs at leading institutions to contribute to similar impactful work.

The conference's structure—spanning keynotes on Day 1 and a forward-looking panel on Day 2—ensured progressive momentum, culminating in practical recommendations for implementation.

Keynote Insights: Time-Banking and Community Engagement

International experts anchored the scientific program. Professor Terry Lum from the University of Hong Kong delivered a keynote on 'Ageing well in the community: Using time-banking to promote social capital for mutual help and healthy ageing.' Time-banking, a reciprocal exchange system where individuals trade services based on time credits rather than money, empowers seniors to contribute skills like tutoring or gardening, building mutual support networks. Lum's research demonstrates how this model enhances social capital, reducing isolation—a prevalent issue as Singapore's old-age dependency ratio climbs toward 30 by 2030.

Complementing this, Associate Professor Nathan Boucher from Duke University explored 'Community Engagement as a Public Policy Imperative in Caregiving Research.' Boucher advocated integrating community voices into policy design from inception, using step-by-step frameworks: identify local needs through participatory mapping, co-develop interventions, pilot with feedback loops, and scale with evaluation metrics. His work stresses that top-down policies often fail without grassroots buy-in, a lesson resonant for Singapore's compact urban landscape.

These keynotes provided concrete, evidence-based tools, blending global best practices with local applicability.

Panel Discussion: Pioneering Ageing Futures

The capstone panel, 'Pioneering Ageing Futures: From Imagination to Implementation,' dissected four pillars: regenerating purpose, reimagining place, revitalising play, and revamping policy. Moderated by Dr. Ad Maulod from Duke-NUS CARE, panelists included Professor John Wong Eu-Li from NUS Centre for Population Health, Professor Elaine Ho from NUS Geography, Dr. Lily Yeo from NTUC Health Active Ageing Centres, Dr. Ritu Sadana from WHO's UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Secretariat, and Ms. Tan Zhi Xu from Singapore's Ministry of Health Ageing Planning Office.

• Regenerating Purpose: Emphasized lifelong learning and volunteering; studies show volunteers report higher quality of life.
• Reimagining Place: Age-friendly urban redesigns, like barrier-free homes under Age Well SG.
• Revitalising Play: Intergenerational programs to combat loneliness through shared activities.
• Revamping Policy: Harnessing ageing population's potential via flexible retirement and tech-enabled care.

Discussions yielded calls for hybrid models blending tech with human touch, informing national initiatives.

Duke-NUS CARE's Pivotal Research Contributions

Central to the conference was CARE's decade of work. Established to promote multidisciplinary ageing research, CARE examines social, psychological, and medical determinants. Its flagship, THE Singapore Ageing and Health LongitudinaL Study (SIGNS), tracks 10,000 older Singaporeans' health and wellbeing changes over time, funded by the Ministry of Health. SIGNS-III and IV phases provide nationally representative data on trends like chronic disease prevalence and mental health.

A highlighted 2023-2025 study on AACs revealed that when seniors co-create and lead programs, social ties strengthen significantly. For instance, NTUC Health's 'Designing Together' pairs youth with elders for solutions like community gardens, fostering ownership. Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities' Bedok AAC extends hours for evening activities, aligning with seniors' routines. These findings advocate policy prioritizing lived experiences over infrastructure alone.

CARE's collaborations with government underscore Duke-NUS's role in evidence-informed policymaking, vital for higher education researchers seeking impact.

Singapore's Demographic Imperative: Stats and Projections

Singapore's fertility rate of 1.0 and life expectancy of 83 years propel its super-aged status. By June 2025, nearly 20% were 65+, hitting 21% this year. This demands robust systems: healthcare costs rise, workforce shrinks, yet seniors' contributions via volunteering and part-time work offer opportunities.

Government responses include raising retirement age to 64 (re-employment to 69) by 2026, alongside Age Well SG for community-based care.

Government Policies Aligned with Research

Singapore's proactive stance integrates conference insights. Age Well SG promotes ageing-in-place via elder-friendly infrastructure: sensory gardens, smart homes, and mobile clinics. Policies evolve stepwise—e.g., CPF enhancements for longevity risk, caregiver subsidies.

• Strengthen social support: Community Care Apartments for semi-independent living.
• Tech integration: AI monitoring for falls, telehealth expanding access.
• Workforce upskilling: Training for eldercare professionals, linking to academic career advice.

SCAH2026 reinforced these by evidencing community-led models' efficacy.

Case Studies: Real-World Applications

Practical examples illuminated paths forward. NTUC Health's intergenerational pairings reduced isolation by 30% in pilots, per internal metrics. Dementia & Co.'s dance therapy improved cognitive engagement, as shown in participant feedback. Duke-NUS's interleukin-11 (IL-11) research identifies ageing drivers like fat accumulation, paving biotech interventions.

These cases demonstrate scalable solutions: start with needs assessment, pilot locally, evaluate longitudinally via SIGNS-like studies, iterate policy.

Challenges and Solutions in Implementation

Barriers persist: funding strains, digital divides, cultural stigmas around ageing. Solutions from SCAH2026 include hybrid funding (public-private), age-inclusive tech design, and awareness campaigns. Stakeholder perspectives—academia pushes data, government scales, communities ground-truth—ensure balanced progress.

For researchers, this signals demand in gerontology; check Singapore university jobs for openings.

Photo by Lester on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Singapore as Global Model

Post-SCAH2026, expect policy tweaks like expanded time-banking pilots and AAC enhancements. Duke-NUS's role grows, mentoring next-gen researchers. Singapore's agility positions it as Asia's ageing blueprint, emphasizing proactive, person-centered strategies.

Engage further: Rate your professors, browse higher ed jobs, or seek career advice. Share thoughts in comments below.