Deep Dive Best of: More elderly Singaporeans are living alone – should we be concerned?
Dec 10, 2025
Karen Wee, Executive Director of Lions Befrienders, and Dr. Reuben Ng, a social gerontology expert, dive into the alarming rise of elderly Singaporeans living alone, which has doubled in a decade. They discuss the urgent need for community support and the dangers of isolation, linking loneliness to serious health risks. Reuben challenges ageist stereotypes, advocating for assessing capabilities over age. Together, they explore innovative solutions, from tech to tailored engagement programs, to empower seniors and improve their quality of life.
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Singapore Is Becoming Super-Aged
- Singapore is rapidly becoming a super-aged society and the 65+ population has risen sharply in the last decade. Social isolation and disability rates are projected to rise dramatically over the next 40 years.
Service Load At Lions Befrienders
- Karen Wee describes Lions Befrienders supporting 13,000 seniors with only 150 staff and planning for 27,000 by 2030. She uses this to illustrate resource and community gaps for seniors living alone.
Loneliness Harms Health And Costs More
- Social isolation causes both physical harms (like undetected falls) and psychological harms driven by negative age stereotypes. These effects increase healthcare costs and worsen older adults' wellbeing.