"With activities and visits cut, charities turn to calls and tech to check on vulnerable seniors"

Singapore is one of the most rapidly aging countries in Asia. The proportion of older adults (aged 60 years and over) in the population, currently about 8%, is projected to increase to 19% by 2030.

To determine the extent of social isolation among older adults, and changes with time, within and between income groups; understand the interactions among health status, income, social engagement, housing, network support and loneliness; the constraints on and channels for social participation and the preferences for preventing and responding to isolation.

Singapore, like many developed countries, is facing the challenge of a rapidly aging population and the increasing need to provide long-term care (LTC) services for elderly in the community.

The Singapore government’s philosophy on care for the elderly is that the family should be the first line of support, and also discusses the need to provide more support to informal family caregivers.