MOH to dedicate S$800m for Active Ageing Centres from 2024 to 2028
The funds will help improve the AACs such as leveraging silver generation ambassadors.
The S$800m fund will be allotted to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to improve active ageing centres (AACs) from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2028.
Improvements include leveraging silver generation ambassadors to strengthen community outreach and get to know seniors in the community, focusing especially on those at risk of social isolation. The AACs will also tap into common spaces, such as pavilions, parks, and coffee shops.
AACs can also tap common community spaces such as those under the People’s Association’s Residents’ Networks to engage and deliver programmes to seniors closer to their homes.
The fund will also be used for improving the quality and range of programmes for seniors including services, group physical activities and other active ageing programmes, and social support for vulnerable seniors.
These evidence-informed programmes cater to all seniors, with different programmes designed for different needs.
The funding will also be used for expanding the AACs network from 154 to 220 island-wide by 2025, to make services accessible. Eight in 10 seniors can access the AAC activities by then.
The Agency for Integrated Care will also benefit from the funding as they provide training to equip seniors with necessary skills before matching senior volunteers to diverse volunteering opportunities at the AAC.s
"We aim to double the number of senior volunteers trained by AIC to around 4,000 senior volunteers by 2025," read the statement.