This process of consultation has clarified issues and challenges that Singapore will face in relation to an ageing population and thrown up many ideas on how we can prepare to meet them. The IMC will finalise its recommendations soon and present them to Government for consideration. We must ensure that older people are not prevented from doing what they are capable of doing for no other reason than their age. I will highlight these three important aspects, as they are part of our holistic approach to enable successful ageing. First, it is our belief that mindsets of the old and towards the old have to be changed.
Mindsets are the invisible compasses that guide all our daily actions.
If ageist attitudes are not changed alongside the more tangible aspects of our policies, our efforts to maximise the opportunities of an ageing population will be capped by our own lack of imagination. Older people should view themselves as having much to contribute. They should be willing to come forward to take part in mainstream society, be it in employment or volunteer service. We must take responsibility for our own lives and plan ahead, be it in the area of healthy lifestyles, financial planning, employability, or even just hobbies to keep the mind active in the golden years. Other sections of society must also change their attitudes towards senior citizens.