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.<\/p>\n
But this was not a scene at an arcade, and the crowd was not made up of young students.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Playing the pinball machine is one of several activities residents can do in the arcade space of the new centre.<\/p>\n
On Jan 3, Education Minister Desmond Lee and Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment\u00a0Janil Puthucheary were joined by some 300 residents, volunteers and partners at the official opening of PCF Sparkle Care @ Boon Lay.<\/p>\n
Mr Lee said that as Singapore is going to be a <\/p>\n super-aged society in 2026,<\/p>\n <\/a> more needs to be done for seniors.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 all within the 4,843 sq ft facility.<\/p>\n Mr Lee, who is an MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, said more than 400 residents have signed up as members there.<\/p>\n PCF Sparkle Care\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n A national initiative, <\/p>\n Age Well SG<\/p>\n <\/a>, was launched in 2023 to help support the ageing and elderly by focusing on preventive care and keeping them active and involved in the community.<\/p>\n Mr Lee said Age Well SG is a whole-of-Singapore effort to prepare well so that ageing is a blessing.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe must do that in a very, very systematic way, and we must do that with a strong focus on building relationships and building communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Some $800 million has been earmarked to back efforts to enhance AACs for the financial years from 2024 to 2028.<\/p>\n In his National Day Rally speech in 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced an extension of the Age Well SG\u00a0programme called the <\/p>\n Age Well Neighbourhoods<\/p>\n <\/a> initiative, which aims to provide seniors with convenient access to social activities and healthcare in their neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n This includes more AACs, access to home-based services, and more healthcare facilities. <\/p>\n PCF Sparkle Care launched its newest active ageing centre in Boon Lay on Jan 3.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 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 \u201cdrone soccer\u201d.<\/p>\n He said instructors taught him and others how to fly drones, wrapped within a plastic cage resembling a ball, through hoops.<\/p>\n Another attendee, Madam Teo Phaik Wah, 80, said in Mandarin: \u201cThere are so many things to do here, so many activities and exercise classes. It\u2019s very good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Her neighbour, Madam Soon Guat Kiow, 84, said she attends weekly exercise classes.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cI even tried Zumba. When we have nothing to do, we will come down to meet new people and chit-chat with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>