Forum: When help is just around the corner for lost seniors – at a minimart
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As Singapore ages, discussions on senior care understandably focus on institutional capacity and formal services.
It may also be timely to consider how everyday environments can support safety and reassurance for seniors who may become disoriented or distressed in public spaces.
In Japan, convenience stores are widely recognised as informal “safety stations”. Major chains work with local authorities so that lost children, seniors with dementia and individuals in distress can walk into a store and receive help.
Staff are trained to offer reassurance, contact caregivers or the police and provide a safe place to wait. These stores function as trusted, accessible touchpoints embedded in daily life.
Singapore already has many elements of this approach across different places, such as police neighbourhood centres, transport hubs and community clubs.
However, these touchpoints may not always be immediately accessible, especially after hours, and they may not always be instinctive places for vulnerable individuals to seek help.
The value of nearby, familiar touchpoints is evident at the community level.
The strength of the Japanese model lies in its simplicity. Convenience stores are ubiquitous, operate long hours, and are staffed by people who often recognise regular customers. For a senior who is confused or overwhelmed, such familiarity can significantly lower the barrier to seeking help.
In one incident, a disoriented senior with dementia was located, and coordinated communication among residents enabled his family to be identified and the senior was reunited safely with his family within the same day.
Singapore could pilot a “Community Safe Hub” model by formally designating selected everyday spaces such as convenience stores, hawker centres or coffee shops.
With basic training, and simple escalation protocols, staff would provide reassurance and alert the relevant authorities or community partners.
Such an approach would complement existing systems. It would also align with total defence, particularly social and psychological defence, by reinforcing the idea that safety and resilience are shared responsibilities.
Emily Yap Yong An
