First dedicated centre for persons living with dementia, caregivers opens in Toa Payoh
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National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat greeting an alumnus of Voices for Hope during a tour of Dementia Singapore’s first Voices for Hope Centre at Toa Payoh Central Community Club on Oct 3.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
- The Voices for Hope Centre in Toa Payoh is Singapore's first community facility supporting persons living with dementia and their caregivers through shared experiences and active engagement.
- Singapore, now a super-aged society, integrates dementia-friendly features in public spaces and neighbourhoods to create a safe and supportive environment for seniors and dementia patients.
- The centre builds on Dementia Singapore’s empowerment programme, offering a welcoming space for peer support, and reducing stigma, with plans to enhance community inclusion and active ageing.
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SINGAPORE - The first community-based facility designed to support people living with dementia and their caregivers has opened in Toa Payoh.
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, who represents the Toa Payoh West-Thomson division in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, officially opened the first Voices for Hope Centre, located at Toa Payoh Central Community Club, on Oct 3.
Chee said it was particularly meaningful for the space to be in his constituency as it is Singapore’s first Age Well Neighbourhood.
As part of this initiative, there are dementia-friendly features to create a senior-friendly environment, some of which were introduced in consultation with Dementia Singapore.
Chee cited the examples of larger block numbers accompanied by distinctive and colourful motifs in parts of Toa Payoh to help people living with dementia recognise their blocks.
There are also colour-coded illustrations of familiar childhood games at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange to help seniors and people living with dementia navigate the interchange.
As Singapore is now a super-aged society, with more than 21 per cent of citizens aged 65 and above, Chee said it is important to build a dementia-friendly country.
He said: “We need physical facilities such as Dementia Singapore’s centres, where we can have quality programmes and create a safe space to support people living with dementia, as well as their caregivers and family members.
“We also need to thoughtfully design public spaces and neighbourhoods that include dementia-friendly elements such as wayfinding features.”
However, Chee said Singapore also needs to build an inclusive, understanding and respectful society that supports people living with dementia and their families.
He added: “This will help to reduce the stigma associated with dementia.”
Voices for Hope alumni taking part in activities at Dementia Singapore’s first Voices for Hope Centre on Oct 3.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
In 2023, there were about 74,000 people in Singapore who were living with dementia.
This figure is projected to more than double to an estimated 152,000 by 2030.
Also attending the opening of the centre were other MPs from Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Cai Yinzhou and Elysa Chen.
The new centre also supports Dementia Singapore’s VFH programme, its growing alumni and their advocacy efforts.
The chief executive officer of Dementia Singapore, Bryan Tan, said they hope the centre will encourage the community to see the person behind the dementia diagnosis, and to appreciate the abilities, aspirations and contributions of anyone living with dementia.
Tan added: “It provides opportunities for us to continue building friendships, staying engaged in meaningful activities, sharing our voices and contributing to the community around us.”