SINGAPORE - Whether Singapore is overwhelmed by a "silver tsunami" or adapts gracefully to an older population in the next 50 years will depend on how its people view ageing.

For example, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Thursday, both individuals and employers must rethink attitudes towards working.

"Some seniors we spoke to told us that they would like to take on a mentoring or coaching role in their current companies," said Mr Gan, who is also Minister-in-charge of Ageing Issues.

For employers, the challenge is to "re-design the workplace into one that is suitable for all ages", including the areas of job roles and work culture, he added.

He was speaking at the Gerontological Society of Singapore's annual conference on ageing, held at the Marina Mandarin hotel.

In keeping with this year's theme of celebrating the nation's 50th birthday, speakers addressed the issues surrounding the next 50 years of ageing in Singapore.

Topics covered included active ageing, chronic disease management, financial independence, and ageing in place.

During the conference, the society also launched a new book, titled "Ageing in Singapore: the next 50 years".