Aside from taking a career break, I don’t fully buy into the concept of retirement. My own mother still works at 75 years old; she is still sprightly and young at heart.
But having a long-term financial plan is important for everyone, regardless of age and marital status, and mine includes investing in equities. As a single woman, I find this skill set to be critical and I wish more women took the time and interest to learn about such investments.
Besides taking care of my finances, I’m quite assured that if I need help in my twilight years, there are many healthcare support systems in place in Singapore and with the right insurance, I will have access to a paid caregiver or be placed in a care facility.
Right now, preventative measures are important – eating nutrient-dense meals, doing strength training, and getting cardiovascular exercise, all these will help me age well.
To age well is also to live well and that to me means being socially engaged and having meaningful relationships that are life-giving. By this, I keep in close contact with my large family, which includes siblings, my many cousins and their children, as well as friends whom I meet regularly, no matter how busy or how far away they live.
I am very blessed to have close friends in their 30s, 40s, 50s whom I can count on and who form my social network. I make it a point to follow up with them often, whether in person or over the phone.
Another area that I feel is equally important is staying connected to my faith and community, as I embark on this new chapter of my life.
“I’VE CONSIDERED BOOKING MYSELF INTO A PRIVATE NURSING HOME”
NELLIE TAN, 59, PRIVATE GUARDIAN
I’ve been single for more than 12 years. So far, I’m very comfortable being on my own, enjoying my own company and freedom.
Besides having a very close-knit family that includes my sisters, nieces and nephew, I have an active social circle where I meet various groups of friends regularly for a meal.
What’s important for singles is to have a group of very good friends you can count on. They are probably a big part of why I’m not anxious enough to go searching for a partner.
