$100m in govt funding for over 200 active ageing centres in coming year

Some $100 million will be pumped into more than 200 active ageing centres from April 2024 to March 2025, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

- Shermaine Ang

This is up from the $60 million provided from April 2023 to March 2024, Mr Ong said on April 27.

The $100 million set aside for active ageing centres in the coming year forms part of the $800 million being funnelled over five years into active ageing centres to expand their outreach and increase the range and quality of programmes.

There are now 208 such centres in Singapore, up from 157 in the last financial year, and 60 in 2021 when such drop-in centres were first rolled out to engage seniors with social and recreational activities, as well as to provide them with befriending and referrals for care services.

Mr Ong had said earlier that the goal is to have 220 such centres by 2025, serving around 80 per cent of the senior population here.

The minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community mass brisk walk event in Sembawang Central, where he joined 800 residents on the 4.4km route.

Mr Ong said the annual programme budget given to active ageing centres will increase from an average of around $400,000 between April 2023 and March 2024 to $600,000 between April 2024 and March 2025.