Project Active Ageing Advocates: Sowing the seeds of sustainable lifestyles for healthy and active ageing
Published: 26 Oct 2023
Organising committee of Project Active Ageing Advocates with Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence and Adviser to Bishan-Toa Payoh Grassroots Organisation (first row, sixth from left).
As Singapore transitions into a super-aged society, one in four Singaporeans will be 65 years or older by 2030. At the forefront of Singapore’s healthcare landscape lies preventive healthcare—a strategy that enables Singaporeans to grow and age actively and healthily.
The importance of cultivating sustainable living habits–the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle–involves the concerted effort of the community. Project Active Ageing Advocates, an initiative of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), which homes in on preventive medicine and behavourial change, aims to guide all older adults, aged 50 and above, to form healthy lifestyle habits through its multi-pronged approach.
Comprising 30 medical and nursing students in their first and second years from NUS Medicine, NUS Nursing, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University (NTU Medicine), as well as Duke-NUS Medical School, Project Active Ageing Advocates screened over 800 residents during the free health screening event held on 21 and 22 October 2023, at Toa Payoh Central Community Club. Education efforts were integrated into the screening process, which was tailored to the seniors’ health circumstances.
The event was graced by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence and Adviser to Bishan-Toa Payoh Grassroots Organisation.
Since 2021, Project Active Ageing Advocates has been advocating holistic wellness among seniors, through its three main activities—a free screening process, the three-month H.E.A.L (Healthy Eating, Exercise and Lifestyle) guidance programme which consists of workshops that cover the physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive aspects of wellness, and a six-month follow-up to monitor the elderly’s progress with their living habits.
Targeting the physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive aspects of health, the screening stations included limbic and musculoskeletal capability, cognitive and socio-emotional wellness assessment, blood testing for diabetes and cholesterol, colorectal cancer screening, and more.
“To help the residents means to actively engage in a cause larger than myself and my community, and we are one step closer to helping them lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. I am thankful to have this opportunity to share the notion of Active Ageing to our wider community in Singapore,” said Zera Te, Co-Director of Project AAA, a second year student at NUS Medicine.
“Interacting with residents and seeing our efforts translate into better health awareness amongst older adults has been the most fulfilling aspect of our project,” added Bharat Sivashanmugam, Co-Director of Project AAA, and Year 2 student at NTU Medicine.
