Drone-flying lessons, Nintendo games at new active ageing centre for Boon Lay residents
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Education Minister Desmond Lee playing a game with Madam Lim Chui Hua, 72, in the recreation room at the new active ageing centre in Boon Lay on Jan 3.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Follow topic:
- New active ageing centre in Boon Lay provides seniors with free breakfast, coffee, and recreational activities like pinball and video games to foster social connections.
- Singapore aims to prepare for a "super-aged society" by 2026 through the Age Well SG initiative, supported by $800 million to enhance active ageing centres.
- Seniors appreciate the centre's diverse activities, like drone flying and Zumba, which promote social interaction and physical activity.
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SINGAPORE - A group of people huddled around a pinball machine, cheering as one man furiously jabbed the buttons on the machine to keep the ball in play.
But this was not a scene at an arcade, and the crowd was not made up of young students.
Instead, it took place at a new active ageing centre (AAC) at Block 631 Jurong West Street 65 in Boon Lay on Jan 3, and most of the onlookers and players were aged around 60 and older.
Playing the pinball machine is one of several activities residents can do in the arcade space of the new centre.
On Jan 3, Education Minister Desmond Lee and Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary were joined by some 300 residents, volunteers and partners at the official opening of PCF Sparkle Care @ Boon Lay.
Mr Lee said that as Singapore is going to be a super-aged society in 2026,
A country becomes a super-aged society when 21 per cent of its population exceeds the age of 65, as defined by the United Nations. Come 2030, a quarter of Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above, up from one in around six currently.
At the Boon Lay facility, seniors can look forward to free eggs for breakfast, a cafe with free coffee and tea, and a comfortable space to play darts, or even video games on Nintendo Switch – all within the 4,843 sq ft facility.
Mr Lee, who is an MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, said more than 400 residents have signed up as members there.
PCF Sparkle Care’s chief operating officer Andy Seet said senior citizens in Boon Lay had said they wanted a space that resembles a clubhouse to connect with others.
He said: “This centre is a place to spark new interests, forge friendships, and live with vibrant purpose. As we grow our network, our commitment is clear: to transform the experience of ageing from growing old to growing with Sparkle.”
A national initiative, Age Well SG
Mr Lee said Age Well SG is a whole-of-Singapore effort to prepare well so that ageing is a blessing.
He added: “We must do that in a very, very systematic way, and we must do that with a strong focus on building relationships and building communities.”
Some $800 million has been earmarked to back efforts to enhance AACs for the financial years from 2024 to 2028.
In his National Day Rally speech in 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced an extension of the Age Well SG programme called the Age Well Neighbourhoods
This includes more AACs, access to home-based services, and more healthcare facilities.
PCF Sparkle Care launched its newest active ageing centre in Boon Lay on Jan 3.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Mr Peter Ang Chye Heng, 70, who attended the opening of the Boon Lay centre on Jan 3, said he was attracted by a novel new game called “drone soccer”.
He said instructors taught him and others how to fly drones, wrapped within a plastic cage resembling a ball, through hoops.
Another attendee, Madam Teo Phaik Wah, 80, said in Mandarin: “There are so many things to do here, so many activities and exercise classes. It’s very good for us.”
Her neighbour, Madam Soon Guat Kiow, 84, said she attends weekly exercise classes.
She added: “I even tried Zumba. When we have nothing to do, we will come down to meet new people and chit-chat with them.”
