They're 100 and full of life

At the age of 105, Madam Lee Yim Leng’s daily schedule is more packed than most might expect.

- Chin Soo Fang Senior Correspondent

Accompanied by her helper, she attends wellness talks, plays bingo, paints and practises seated taiji in her wheelchair at the NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre (Care) (Wisma Geylang Serai) in Haig Road, where she has shown up almost every day since August 2025.

“I exercise and learn Mandarin from the others at the centre,” said Madam Lee, who is a little hard of hearing.

She is among a small but growing group of centenarians in Singapore, which in 2026 crossed the super-aged threshold - when 21 per cent or more of the population are aged 65 and older.

There were around 1,500 residents aged 100 and over in Singapore in 2025, up from 1,200 in 2015.

MORE JOINING ACTIVE AGEING CENTRES

Madam Lee also joins an increasing number of “oldest seniors” who are trying to keep active as they age.

Across NTUC Health’s 26 active ageing centres (AACs) islandwide, the number of seniors aged 90 and above more than doubled in just a year, from just over 200 in 2024 to more than 450 in 2025.

Dr Lily Yeo, head of NTUC Health Active Ageing Centres, said this isa clear sign that the oldest seniors are feeling more confident about stepping out of their homes and staying active.

“Beyond the increase in numbers, we are also encouraged to see many of these seniors returning regularly and taking part in multiple programmes by our AACs, reflecting their interest to stay active, socially connected, and engaged in the community,” she said.

Among the 22,000 elders it serves, St Luke’s ElderCare has more than 10,300 active ageing members. More than 300 are aged 90 and above, including 14 centenarians.