Gerontological Society

15/10/2026

Good care connects the person, the family and the services around them.

On 14 October 2026, the Gerontological Society (Singapore) hosted an exchange at NUSX with a delegation from Krakow University of Economics, Poland.

The session brought together four perspectives:

* Dr Tan Jit Seng — new technology in ageing care in Singapore.
* Associate Professor Chia Ngee Choon — the economics of long-term care in Singapore.
* Associate Professor Thang Leng Leng — residents’ lived experiences in assisted living in Singapore.
* Associate Professor Maria Łuszczyńska — long-term care in Poland.

The presentations and discussion explored how technology, financing and care arrangements shape older people’s and families’ everyday experiences.

The Polish presentation highlighted directions for stronger care: community support, better integration, support for family caregivers, person-centred care, and prevention and healthy ageing.

These perspectives prompted reflection on how we account for families’ contributions, evaluate technology’s impact on caregiving, and preserve choice and belonging as care needs increase.

Conversations continued over lunch with members of the delegation and GS Council.

Thank you to all speakers, delegation members and participants, and to Associate Professor Thang Leng Leng and Dr Tan Jit Seng for organising the exchange and arranging the venue.

Such exchanges create opportunities to connect research with practice and learn from different care systems.

What would help older people and families experience more connected care in your community?

03/10/2026

Prof Kua our Hon. Advisor's latest book: The Hospital Porter

Synopsis:

A retired school teacher works as a temporary porter in a psychiatric ward of a general hospital. At the Emergency Room, he helps the doctor with a schoolgirl who attempted su***de.

He initiates a weekly book club to encourage patients to read and discuss books. At a Book Club, a Malay student, who grieves the loss of his girlfriend killed at Gaza, read a book on ‘Bukit Chandu or O***m Hill’ about the massacre of Malay soldiers during the Second World War. In the evening, he secretly leaves the ward and the hospital staff is alarmed. The porter intuitively feels he has gone up Kent Ridge Park, the new name of Bukit Chandu. In an emotional scene, the porter comforts the student and cajoles him to return to the ward.

This novel is based the true stories of people with mental illness and a fictional hospital porter who empathizes with their struggle. The pervasive theme is the stigma of mental illness which also tarnishes mental healthcare workers, including the hospital porter. The humanity that permeates through the novel is trust, empathy and gratitude, which are values central in healthcare.

https://amzn.eu/d/02GTwjUd

16/09/2026

The session chaired by A/Prof Tim Xu from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) provided a comprehensive understanding of frailty, from conceptualisation and assessment to prevention and community-based management.

A/Prof Wee Shiou Liang from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) highlighted the limitations of relying solely on physical screening and emphasised a multidimensional, biopsychosocial understanding of frailty.

A/Prof Lee Kheng Hock from SingHealth demonstrated how social prescribing can address the social determinants of health by connecting older adults with meaningful activities, supportive relationships and community resources.

In the same session, A/Prof Tim Xu also shared how research evidence can be translated into scalable community interventions through the implementation of the Say No To Frailty programme.

Collectively, the presentations reinforced that effective frailty prevention and management require coordinated partnerships across healthcare, social services and community organisations to strengthen older adults’ physical capacity, social participation, sense of purpose and ability to age well in place.

04/09/2026

Ageing well is not just about living longer. It is about having places where older adults are seen, invited, trusted, AND given room to contribute.

At the Annual Scientific Conference on Ageing (ASCA 2026), Session 3 asked a question that matters deeply for Singapore’s super-aged future:

What helps older adults come forward, stay connected, contribute, and belong?

Chaired and facilitated by Dr Wayne Freeman Chong, the session, “Building Everyday Communities for Ageing Well: Third Spaces, Participation and Social Innovation” — explored ageing well beyond healthcare, technology, and formal care.

Dr Catherine Koh from the National University Health System shared how health touchpoints can become bridges into community participation.

Mr Ricky FM Law, Founder of Sunshine Seniors, showed how seniors can contribute their Knowledge, Experience, Networks, and Time: moving from attendance to ownership.

Ms Susana Harding from Tsao Foundation grounded the discussion through ComSA’s experience of building trust and sustaining community participation over time.

One key reflection:

Attendance is not the same as belonging.

Programmes matter. But the deeper goal is participation, contribution, trust, repeated connection, and spaces where older adults feel that they matter.

Belonging is not attendance. Belonging is ownership.

The Gerontological Society thanks our speakers, chairperson, participants, and partners for contributing to this important conversation.

28/08/2026

ONE day to go!
Here's what to expect tomorrow (Saturday 29 August 2026):

📍 Convenient venue beside Paya Lebar MRT (Lifelong Learning Institute, Level 1 Hall 1-2, 11 Eunos Road 8, Singapore 408601)

☕ Morning refreshments at 8.30am

🤝 Meet professionals from healthcare, academia and community care

🎤 Inspiring speakers

💡 Practical ideas you can apply immediately

We're looking forward to welcoming you to ASCA 2026! See you!

23/08/2026

Meet the expert here at Annual Scientific Conference on Ageing (ASCA 2026) on Saturday, 29 August 2026 from 8.30am – 3.30pm. See you there!

21/08/2026

19/08/2026

- Annual Scientific Conference on Ageing (ASCA) 2026 -
Meet the expert here at ASCA 2026 on Saturday, 29 August 2026 from 8.30am – 3.30pm. Programme details in the registration form here: https://forms.gle/CjCkjRk6gGx4r64C7

Registration closing tomorrow (Thursday, 20 August 2026)!
Sign up now!

18/08/2026

Meet the expert here at Annual Scientific Conference on Ageing (ASCA 2026) on Saturday, 29 August 2026 from 8.30am – 3.30pm.

Check out the programme details in the registration form here: https://forms.gle/CjCkjRk6gGx4r64C7

Registration closing this Thursday, 20 August 2026. Hurry up! Sign up Now!

18/08/2026

🎬 A Singapore Dementia Story | Special Screening

Join SIFAS Productions and Unsaid Stories for a special screening of A Singapore Dementia Story — an anthology of five short films exploring love, caregiving, hope and life with dementia in Singapore, spanning romance, comedy, drama and thriller.

📅 19 September 2026, Saturday
🕕 6.00pm onwards | Approx. 2.5 hours
📍 SIFAS Annexe, 3 Race Course Lane, Singapore 218731
🎟️ Free admission | Registration required, link in bio

Presented by Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore, in partnership with SIFAS Productions and Unsaid Stories.

Registration link in bio