Cutting-edge technology and seniors run active ageing centre in Bedok

SINGAPORE – Madam Rosnah Sulaiman breezes into THK Active Ageing Centre (AAC) @ Bedok and heads straight for the activity area without stopping to register manually at the counter as she used to.

Instead, the 76-year-old is identified and authenticated by a facial recognition system, part of the cutting-edge technology adopted by the centre to provide members with an easier, more seamless experience.

This technology measures their gait speed, providing data on mobility and balance without being intrusive. A kiosk allows them to monitor their health and ensure early interventions when necessary.

With funding from Temasek Foundation, these initiatives focus on preventive care, social engagement and comprehensive community support to improve the quality of life for the elderly.

To keep them active, the centre offers employment opportunities through its micro jobs programme. Some seniors man the cafe and others organise meals on wheels for the housebound.

The refreshed THK AAC @ Bedok and Bedok Sanctuary, located at Block 12, Bedok South Avenue 2 was officially launched by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Sept 20.

During a tour of the centre, he visited the cafe for communal dining, the activity hall and gym, and the wellness room where they can relax and recuperate.

He was shown the interactive health kiosks, where seniors can check their own blood pressure, heart rate and body mass index. Such technology simplifies operations and saves time for staff who previously performed these screenings.

Mr Cheong Heng Kee, deputy director of Seniors’ Community Services at Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC), said: “Resource and manpower is and has been a problem, and it will be increasingly so when Singapore’s population age rapidly, with around one in four aged 65 and older by 2030.

“Here is where technology can help out so that staff can focus on important areas such as strategic planning and liaising with partners, and on the seniors themselves.”

He said having seniors serve other seniors can encourage those who are healthy to assist those who are more frail.

THK AAC @ Bedok is run by THKMC in consultation with the Agency for Integrated Care and SingHealth, in line with the national initiative to support seniors in ageing well in their homes and their communities.

Seniors are given an allowance for helping in projects such as delivering meals to those too weak to leave their flats.

The centre has extended its operating hours from 8.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays and from 8:30am to 12:30pm on Saturday to 6am to 10pm, seven days a week, to better meet the needs of the estimated 15,000 seniors in Bedok, particularly those who are socially isolated.

Next to the centre is Bedok Sanctuary, a nature-inspired retreat with indoor plants, providing seniors with a space to recuperate or receive medical care, minimising the need for hospital stays.

Here, THKMC works with healthcare providers such as SingHealth to offer integrated care and support for seniors in Bedok. The healthcare group serves the eastern region of Singapore through its network of hospitals and clinics.

SingHealth’s community care teams comprising community nurses and well-being coordinators are based at the Community Health Post within THK AAC @ Bedok. They support seniors’ health needs and coordinate their care.

Professor Lee Chien Earn, SingHealth’s deputy group chief executive for its regional health system, said: “This collaboration embodies our commitment to place-based person-centred care and elevates the standard for senior care in our region.”

Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that the centre has extended its operating hours from 8.30am to 12.30pm on weekdays to 6am to 10pm, seven days a week. This has been corrected. We are sorry for the error.