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Over the last 60 years, life expectancy in Singapo Over the last 60 years, life expectancy in Singapore has increased by nearly 20 years to reach 85 – one of the highest in the world. That’s an extraordinary achievement that is taken for granted and that too often leads to a conversation about the costs of an ageing society. Those costs and concerns are very real, but a deeper more fundamental set of questions need to be answered.
If we are living this much longer, then how do we – individuals, companies and governments – respond to make the most of this extra time? How do we restructure our lives to make sure that as many people as possible, live as long as possible, in as healthy and fulfilled ways as possible?
This note draws on the findings from a high-level conference, sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation and Prudential Singapore, to map out what a global longevity agenda looks like, and to raise awareness around the world – at a government, corporate and individual level – on how we need to seize the benefits of this wonderful human achievement of longer lives.
It also looks at the measures that Singapore has taken to adjust to longer lives. Reassuringly, Singapore leads the world along many dimensions that have to do with ageing, and also longevity. However, there is much that needs to be done. Framing policies around longevity and ‘all of life’ and not just ageing and ‘end of life’ is needed if Singapore is to collectively maximise the gains available.
A Longevity Agenda For Singapore I 2
Executive Summary
• Singapore is undergoing a rapid demographic transition which will see the average age of its society
increase as the proportion of its older citizens increases.
• An ageing society creates many challenges. However, at the same time, with the number of older
people increasing, Singapore is benefitting from a longevity dividend.
• On average, Singaporeans are living for longer and in better health. In other words, how we are
ageing is changing – it is not just about there being more senior people. Exploiting this opportunity
to seize these positive advantages is the longevity agenda.
• A new-born in Singapore today, faces the prospect of living on average one of the longest lives in
human history, and so needs to prepare for his or her future differently.
• At an individual level, Singaporeans are already behaving differently – in terms of marriage, families,
work and education. Many are acting as social pioneers as they try to create a new map of life.
• To support individuals as they adapt to longer lives, Singapore needs to create a new map of life
that enables as many people as possible to live as long as possible and as healthily and as fulfilled as
possible.
• Achieving this will also ensure that not only the individual, but also the economy will benefit.
• Singapore is at the international frontier of best practice in terms of adjusting to an ageing society. It
also leads the way with many longevity measures.
• Further entrenching social change and experimentation, and creating a positive narrative around
longer, healthier lives; in particular, extending policies away from a sole focus on the old and towards the whole course of life are some key priorities ahead of us. ... |