Singapore's Rapidly Ageing Population and the Imperative for Elderly Empowerment

Singapore is on the cusp of becoming a super-aged society, with projections indicating that by 2026, more than one in five residents will be aged 65 and older. As of 2025, the proportion of Singaporeans aged 65 and above has already reached 20.7 percent, up from 13.1 percent a decade earlier. This demographic shift places immense pressure on community care systems, healthcare infrastructure, and social support networks. The Ministry of Health's refreshed Action Plan for Successful Ageing, launched in 2023, underscores the national priority of enabling seniors to age confidently in place through preventive health, active lifestyles, and meaningful community engagement.

Traditional approaches to elderly care in Singapore have often focused on top-down service delivery, such as recreational activities and medical support. However, recent research highlights a critical gap: the lack of platforms for older adults to actively participate in decision-making and co-create solutions for their neighborhoods. This is where initiatives like the Enriching and Mobilizing Participation of Whampoa's Elder Residents (EMPOWER) program come into play, offering a model for genuine empowerment.

Whampoa Neighborhood: A Case Study in Urban Elderly Concentration

Whampoa, a densely populated residential area in central Singapore, exemplifies the challenges of urban ageing. Home to a higher-than-average concentration of seniors—around 23.5 percent aged 65 and above compared to the national average at the time of early pilots—the neighborhood features public housing estates where multi-generational families and independent elders coexist. Factors like shrinking social networks, mobility limitations, and structural barriers, such as inaccessible public spaces, often isolate older residents.

Ethnographic studies in Whampoa have mapped a continuum of social participation among elders, from 'closed doors' isolation to active community involvement. Cultural diversity, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian seniors, adds layers of nuance, as participation patterns are influenced by family obligations, health status, and neighborhood cohesion. Addressing these requires tailored, bottom-up interventions that respect local contexts.

The Evolution of ComSA: Building a Foundation for Successful Ageing

The Tsao Foundation's Community for Successful Ageing (ComSA) at Whampoa, launched around 2014 as a pilot, marked a paradigm shift. ComSA adopts a whole-of-community approach, integrating biopsychosocial health promotion through education, peer support, and civic action. Key programs include Project SCOPE for self-care training, SWING for intergenerational participation, Guided Autobiography Groups (GAB), and Curating Whampoa for heritage preservation.

By fostering an ecosystem where elders aged 45 and above receive wellness training, form support clubs, and lead volunteer efforts, ComSA has sustained engagement across generations. Success stories abound, such as seniors transitioning from dependency to advocacy, managing chronic conditions through peer-led exercise groups, and organizing community events that celebrate Whampoa's history.

EMPOWER Program: Empowering Elders Through Participatory Action

Building on ComSA, the EMPOWER program (2019-2022) specifically targeted enriching and mobilizing elder participation. Grounded in the culture-centered approach (CCA)—a framework emphasizing marginalized voices in health communication—and community-based participatory research (CBPR), EMPOWER began with needs assessments conducted by residents themselves.

The process unfolded in phases:

• Community-based participatory research to identify ageing-in-place challenges like accessibility and social isolation.
• Community Design Thinking Workshops (CDTW) for brainstorming solutions with stakeholders, including government officials.
• Peer leader training to implement civic initiatives, such as advocacy for better neighborhood infrastructure.
• Ongoing support for sustained action post-pandemic.

This structure empowered residents to drive change, shifting from passive recipients to active co-creators.

University-Led Research: NUS and NTU's Rigorous Evaluation

The landmark evaluation, published recently in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and collaborators, provides robust evidence. Lead authors Jocelin Y. Lam and Su Aw from NUS, alongside Raksha Mahtani from NTU, employed a mixed-methods quasi-experimental design.

This academic rigor ties directly to Singapore's higher education strengths in public health and social sciences. For aspiring researchers, such projects highlight opportunities in gerontology. Explore research jobs or research assistant positions to contribute to similar impactful studies.

Read the full study here.

Detailed Methodology: Measuring Empowerment Quantitatively and Qualitatively

The evaluation compared EMPOWER participants with a matched comparison group using inverse probability weighting and difference-in-differences analysis. Surveys measured confidence in addressing community issues, collective efficacy (shared belief in neighborhood problem-solving), and self-efficacy (personal capability).

Qualitative data from CDTW sessions captured narratives on policy processes and advocacy. Ethics were prioritized, with consent obtained from August 2019. The study navigated pandemic disruptions, offering insights into resilience-building.

Key Findings: Tangible Gains in Confidence and Efficacy

Quantitative results revealed significant impacts: EMPOWER participants saw a 0.32 increase (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.62) in confidence addressing community issues, unlike the comparison group. While collective efficacy (-0.49, 95% CI: -0.84 to -0.16) and self-efficacy (-0.28, 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.01) dipped slightly, declines were buffered compared to controls, crediting the program's pandemic-era support.

Qualitatively, elders reported enhanced peer learning, policy savvy, and optimism about official receptivity. One participant noted newfound willingness from authorities to engage, fostering 'realistic optimism' for bottom-up change.

Challenges, Limitations, and Stakeholder Perspectives

Despite successes, structural hurdles like environmental barriers persisted. Pandemic isolation exacerbated declines in efficacy for non-participants. Stakeholders, from elders to policymakers, valued the peer-led model but called for scalability.

Benefits include:

• Stronger social ties and mental health.
• Increased advocacy skills.
• Alignment with national goals like Age Well SG.

Visit the Tsao Foundation ComSA page for more.

Implications for Policy, Research, and Higher Education

EMPOWER validates empowerment models for ageing-in-place, informing the 2023 Action Plan's focus on peer support and community managers. For higher education, it opens avenues in interdisciplinary research—public health, sociology, urban planning.

Institutions like Duke-NUS complement this with volunteering studies showing quality-of-life gains. Aspiring academics can leverage tips for academic CVs and pursue lecturer jobs in Singapore.

Future Outlook: Scaling Success and Research Frontiers

Looking to 2026 and beyond, expanding EMPOWER-like programs aligns with plans for 200 community care apartments and digital transformations. Research at NUS and NTU will likely explore AI-assisted participation and cross-ethnic adaptations.

Opportunities abound for postdoc positions in ageing studies. Singapore's ecosystem positions it as a global leader in gerontology research.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Conclusion: Paving the Way for Empowered Ageing

The EMPOWER study exemplifies how university-community partnerships can transform elderly lives. By boosting participation, it not only enhances well-being but fortifies resilient neighborhoods. For career seekers, platforms like higher ed jobs, university jobs, and higher ed career advice offer entry points. Share your thoughts in the comments and explore Rate My Professor for insights into Singapore's academic landscape.

Learn more via the Action Plan for Successful Ageing.