•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

Some 3,000 silver-haired residents turned up in Ang Mo Kio yesterday to try their hands - and feet - at activities ranging from navigating the iPad to waltzing.

Singapore's biggest active-aging carnival ever was put together by the People's Association (PA) to showcase activities that the elderly can participate in to enrich their retirement lives.

These include sports such as lawn bowling, cycling and mini-golf; games like chess and mahjong; and other social activities, from line dancing to photography and bird singing.

Residents were also introduced to courses they can take at their local community centers to stay in touch with the latest technology, such as the iPad.

Together with them, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, spent the morning touring the carnival, sampling the buffet of activities available.

"You're a natural," exclaimed the line dancing coach, as Lee's feet kept pace with a waltz.

With one in five Singaporeans expected to be 65 or older by 2030 - up from one in 11 currently, PA officials said they hope more of such carnivals would encourage elderly Singaporeans to come out of their homes and get involved in the community.

Ng Teow Chit, 68, is one elderly resident who heeded the call. The former hawker took to breeding birds after he retired 13 years ago. He now has more than 10 birds.

"I like to take my birds out... in the morning to this bird-appreciation point near my home, where I interact with other bird lovers. It's good to have made so many friends this way," he said.

But active aging is also about helping those who want to work find work.

The carnival organizers invited the National Trades Union Congress to set up a booth about job seeking and re-employment opportunities for older workers.

PM Lee rounded off his tour with a stop at a nearby McDonald's outlet, which employs a number of older workers.

A spokesman for the fast-food chain told reporters that it offers flexible arrangements to older workers who want to work only part-time, on certain days or certain hours of the day.

One of their workers is Madam Lim Kim Buay, 71, who told PM Lee that she was happy to stay productive.

Said the grandmother of eight: "It's a way of passing time. Much better than just staying at home."

Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 021 2553 5055.