Inaugural ROSA Annual Symposium on Successful Ageing

The Inaugural ROSA Annual Symposium on Successful Ageing was held on the 30th of November 2021 and was a hybrid event, taking place both virtually over Zoom and with a physical audience as well. The theme of the symposium was “New beginnings – enabling older adults to flourish in phase endemic.” The event was a large success, being one of the first in-person events held by SMU since the pandemic began and it illustrated the University’s concerted effort to transition to living with an endemic COVID-19. The symposium was also graced by many distinguished guests, most notably Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng who was the guest of honor for the event, senior representatives from The Ngee Ann Kongsi, Professor Ursula Staudinger, Rector of the Technische Universität Dresden who was the keynote speaker for the symposium, and Professor Lily Kong, president of the Singapore Management University. In total, ­­over 160 participants from over 32 organizations attended the symposium both physically and virtually.

Opening Segment

1. Opening speech

The symposium kicked off with an opening message by Professor Lily Kong who brought attention to the gravity of the need to support older adults both during the pandemic and as the country moved into the endemic phase of COVID-19. She highlighted a finding from the Singapore Life Panel® (SLP) that showed that over 80% of older adults surveyed in October 2021 either slightly agreed, agreed, or strongly agreed that they are worried about what living with endemic COVID-19 would mean, indicating that there are possible challenges for this demographic. According to Professor Kong, this need to support older adults during this trying period accentuates the importance of centres like ROSA that are able to provide timely advice to ministries on the policies most needed to support older adults.

2. Guest of Honour’s address

Following the opening message by Professor Kong, Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, provided his guest of honour’s address. You may view Dr Tan’s full speech here.

Presentations and Panels

3. Segway to presentations and panels

After the opening segment began a series of presentations and panel discussions addressing different aspects of the issue of supporting older adult well-being as we move forward into the endemic phase of COVID-19. The presentations and panel discussions were split into 4 different sessions that took place over the day; the keynote presentation and panel, the economic well-being presentation and panel, the psychological well-being presentation and panel, and finally the social integration panel. Below are the summaries of the key points that were raised during each session.    

4. Keynote presentation by Professor Ursula Staudinger, Rector, Technische Universität Dresden

Professor Staudinger’s presentation focused on the point that human development and aging are not determined by biology and genetics alone but are rather dynamic, multilevel processes. A three-tier model explains the basis of plasticity, the modifiability of human development and ageing (within biological limits). The three tiers include organism, context, and person. While traditional models focus on the interaction between one’s biology and environment, this model explicitly adds the person as an agent in their own development (Staudinger 2020)[1]. Where individuals land in the spectrum of plasticity, ranging from positive to negative, is largely mediated by their resources, namely biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and environmental.  It is possible to increase positive plasticity and slow cognitive decline through regular exposure to novelty and challenge, at work and at leisure, throughout the life course.  

Below is a summary of Professor Staudinger’s key recommendations to promote the positive plasticity of human aging:

• Development of more systematic (bio-psycho-social), longitudinal, and comparative studies to better understand the barriers and facilitators to the positive plasticity of human aging
• Health promotion and sickness prevention across the lifespan to increase health span, or functional health, for all
• Education across the lifespan to ensure continuous learning and upskilling for all
• More versatile work biographies for all to experience different job roles and sectors
• Volunteering, family work, and neighborhood work as a means for older adults to remain socially integrated and sustain higher levels of well-being
• Development of intergenerational settings that allow younger and older members of societies to interact and impart knowledge and experience, not merely technological competence

5. Keynote panel discussion

Panelists:

• Moderator: Professor Paulin Straughan, Director, ROSA
• Professor Ursula Staudinger, Rector, Technische Universität Dresden
• Mr James Teo, President, The Ngee Ann Kongsi
• Assistant Professor Kim Seonghoon, Deputy Director, ROSA
• Associate Professor William Tov, Deputy Director, ROSA

During the keynote panel, Professor Paulin Straughan presented the panelists with various findings drawn from the Singapore Life Panel on the topic of older adult well-being during the pandemic, and invited the panelists to comment on these findings.

One trend that ROSA observed over the course of the pandemic is that SLP respondents who report higher levels of neighborhood cohesion have generally had higher levels of well-being. ROSA also observed that the built environment has an impact on the perceived level of neighborhood cohesion for its respondents. Respondents with a greater number of neighborhood amenities within a 10-minute walking distance from their home were more likely to perceive that their neighborhood is more cohesive. In response to these findings, Professor Straughan invited the panelists to comment on how to best leverage on neighborhood and community resources, as well as on the built environment to improve and support older adult well-being in phase endemic:

• Dr Tov commented that ROSA’s findings underscore the importance of the social environment for older adults. In neighborhoods where there is a strong sense of cohesion, there might be more opportunities for social interaction, which benefits older adults in many ways.  
• Mr Teo expressed deep concern about when and to what extent seniors can resume their daily lives, and in particular the community activities that have sustained their holistic well-being.
• Dr Kim shared that it is cost-effective for the Singapore government to invest in more neighborhood amenities because they create more opportunities for shared experiences between and within income groups, contributing to social cohesion.
• Professor Straughan, in reference to Professor Staudinger’s keynote presentation, shared that our efforts to protect and isolate seniors who are vulnerable to COVID-19 has contributed to their “negative plasticity” by way of depriving them of social activities that keep them cognitively and physically agile.

In August 2021, ROSA also found that close to 60% of employed older adults expressed concern over their job security. Further, in ROSA’s focus group discussions, various respondents reported experiencing discrimination while applying for a job due to their age. With the recent increase in retirement age, Professor Straughan asked the panelists to comment on how we can best leverage on the skillsets of older adults and explore new ways for older adults to participate meaningfully and productively in society:

Key discussion points

• Professor Staudinger, Professor Straughan, and Dr Tov all fundamentally agreed on the adoption of a new model, mindset, and set of work norms that center on the principles of lifelong learning and development. 
• Mr Teo, speaking from a business owner’s perspective, shared that it is vital to employ older workers because of the expansion of life expectancy and the shortage of younger workers.
• Dr Kim asserted that top-down retraining programs targeted at older workers are fundamentally flawed because they are not designed from the perspectives of older workers.

Key recommendations

• Job-rotation for employees within a company to ensure a continuous upgrading of skillsets and experiences
• Incentivizing employers to design and implement their own programs to employ and retain older workers
• Incentivizing employees to commit to upskilling

6. Economic presentation by Assistant Professor Kim Seonghoon, Deputy Director, ROSA, and panel discussion

In Dr Kim’s presentation, titled “Tracking Economic Well-being of Older Singaporeans using the Singapore Life Panel data,” it was found that employment and household spending have not recovered to the pre-COVID-19 level (2019) as of October 2021. The household spending level remains 15% lower than that of the 2019 level. The employment level has recovered after the lifting of the circuit breaker but still remains lower than that of the pre-COVID-19 level. Moreover, the economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to fall disproportionately on older Singaporeans who have lower socio-economic and health statuses.   Dr Kim offered three main economic prescriptions:

• Continued operation of unemployment benefits
• Means-tested cash transfers to supplement income for the most vulnerable workers
• Stronger, temporary support for more vulnerable workers through the (1) expansion of the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme (WIS) and the (2) subsidization of employer-born CPF contributions

After the economic presentation, the panelists Ms Thanaletchimi and Mr Lye joined Dr Kim and moderator Dr Tov on stage for a discussion on some of the major challenges older workers have been facing in finding employment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ways in which Singapore can build and sustain a more inclusive workforce. Below is summary of the key discussion points and recommendations.

Panelists:

• Moderator: Associate Professor William Tov, Deputy Director, ROSA
• Ms K Thanaletchimi, Vice-President, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Central Committee, and President, Healthcare Services Employees’ Union
• Mr Edwin Lye, Assistant Executive Director (Industrial Relations and Membership), Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF)
• Assistant Professor Kim Seonghoon, Deputy Director, ROSA

Key discussion points

• Dr Kim opened the discussion citing that, due to negative labor demand shocks caused by the COVID-19 restrictive measures, it will take time for Singapore’s employment rate to recover to the pre-pandemic level. He also highlighted the technological challenges older workers face, particularly in searching for jobs online.
• Dr Lye shared that the road to a more inclusive workforce in Singapore depends on employers and managers committing to tripartite standards on age-friendly workplace practices and providing career counseling and mentoring for older workers. The SNEF, for example, has launched structured career planning sessions (SCPS) with older workers on career development and re-employment.
• Ms Thanaletchimi advocated for lifelong training and employability. She described two NTUC initiatives, the Job Security Council (JSC) and Company Training Committee (CTC), which aim to support workers in upskilling and job-matching, and help companies develop new business strategies and training programs.

Key recommendations

• Individually tailored employment support for older workers
• Structured career planning, continuous education and training tailored for older workers
• Willingness on the part of older workers to take on new roles in new sectors

7. Mental Resilience presentation by Associate Professor William Tov, Deputy Director, ROSA, and panel discussion

In Dr Tov’s presentation, titled “Older Adult Mental Resilience and Well-being in COVID Endemic,” it was found that having satisfying social relationships in the year before the pandemic can trump the negative effects of the circuit breaker on older adults' sense of resilience. Although emotional support and 'tangible support' both contribute to resilience, emotional support (having someone to talk to and confide in) is the stronger predictor of both social satisfaction and resilience. Tangible support (having someone to help with daily tasks) only contributes to resilience if it enhances the person's satisfaction with family and friends. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining high levels of health and social satisfaction over the long run. Sustainable support structures and interventions are critical for achieving this.

After the psychology presentation, the panelists Dr Thang and Dr Lee joined Dr Tov and moderator Dr Yang on stage to begin the panel discussion on the impacts of COVID-19 on older adult mental resilience and well-being.

Panelists:

• Moderator: Associate Professor Hwajin Yang, Singapore Management University
• Associate Professor William Tov, Deputy Director, ROSA
• Dr Thang Leng Leng, Board Member, Fei Yue Community Services, and Co-director, Next Age Institute, NUS
• Dr Lee Cheng, Vice President, Singapore Association for Mental Health

Key discussion points:

• Dr Tov shared that intergenerational support either from adult children or younger colleagues is key to promoting mental health and resilience.
• Dr Thang highlighted the importance of government and non-profit organizations, such as Fei Yue Community Services, in strengthening community networks and reducing social isolation.
• Dr Lee described some of the possible symptoms of “pandemic fatigue” and stressed the importance of self-care, social support, and a positive mindset.

Key recommendations:

• More Proximity Housing Grants and additional measures are needed to increase and sustain social support for older adults
• More studies are needed to better understand both individual resilience and family resilience
• Increasing access to technology and providing training to older adults can help to decrease social isolation

8. Social integration presentation and panel discussion

Panelists:

• Moderator: Professor Paulin Straughan, Director, ROSA
• Mr James Tan, CEO, TOUCH Community Services
• Ms Melissa Kwee, CEO, National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre
• Mr Tan Kwang Cheak, CEO, Agency for Integrated Care

The final session of the day consisted of a panel discussion led by Professor Paulin Straughan, Director of ROSA, surrounding the theme of the social integration of older adults during the pandemic. Similar to the keynote panel, Professor Straughan presented the panelists with various findings from the SLP in order to stimulate discussion on various aspects of this topic.

ROSA has found that feeling socially integrated is important in shaping older adult well-being. In addition, ROSA has further found that participating in social activities is one contributing factor that leads to older adults feeling more socially integrated in their communities. In light of this, Professor Straughan opened a robust and aspirational discussion on the importance of social activities and social integration for the well-being of older adults:

• Mr James Tan, in describing the work and vision of TOUCH Community Services, emphasized the importance of building a “local care-ecosystem" and mobilizing community residents to drive social integration initiatives. One such example is the appointing of “digital peer coaches” to help seniors struggling with digital access and engagement.
• Mr Tan Kwang Cheak and Mr James Tan discussed the development of Active Aging Centres (through a joint partnership between TOUCH and Fei Yue), which are open to all seniors, regardless of socioeconomic status. This new model not only re-purposes physical spaces for seniors but also expands its reach to entire communities.
• Professor Straughan shared that one way of empowering older adults is the creation of new social roles to adopt in post-retirement that will, on the one hand, provide older adults with a continued sense of social relevance, and on the other hand, also enable us to engage older adults meaningfully in community settings.

Zooming in on one particular social activity, volunteering, ROSA has observed that there is a wide disparity in the well-being of older adults who volunteer and those who do not, with those having volunteered reporting consistently higher levels of well-being. ROSA also learned from its focus groups that for some older adults, volunteering is a social activity that they prefer to do with others that they know. In light of these findings, the panelists shared their perspectives on the importance of normalizing volunteering as part of the entire life course:

• Ms Kwee described volunteering as an important source of new identity, purpose, and meaning for younger and older generations.
• Professor Straughan envisioned a future in which older adults have the freedom to step down from paid work and step into volunteer work.

The panelists offered several recommendations aimed at lowering barriers to volunteering:

• Digitizing and hybridizing volunteer opportunities
• Incentivizing and structuring volunteering in workplaces
• Pairing new volunteers with seasoned staff to provide guidance  and build relationships and trust  
• Transplanting the SMU Resilience Framework  to workplaces

Another interesting finding in ROSA’s research is that many older adults decided or wanted to get vaccinated for ‘social reasons’. In August 2021, more than half of the SLP respondents cited not wanting to risk getting others infected with COVID and wanting to be able to spend more time with their friends and family (face to face) as reasons for getting vaccinated. This finding was further confirmed in ROSA’s focus groups, where participants said that it was out of concern for the health of their friends and family that they decided to get vaccinated. In light of these findings, the panelists discussed community efforts to vaccinate older adults and to support those who are living alone during the pandemic: 

• Mr Tan Kwang Cheak outlined some of the main reasons why seniors resist or delay vaccination. While some seniors are concerned about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations, others are willing and yet delayed due to pending medical consultations regarding their pre-existing conditions, as well as physical mobility issues that make it challenging to visit vaccination centres.

In addition, Mr Tan Kwang Cheak stressed the importance of collecting detailed data to support older adult well-being. For example, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) team captures data on living arrangements as well as the frequency and quality of social interactions in and out of home settings, among other things.

9. Conclusion

And with that, the Inaugural ROSA Annual Symposium on Successful Ageing came to an end. The team at ROSA would like to once again thank our honored guests for attending the symposium either in person or virtually, with special mention to Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng for gracing our event, President of SMU Professor Lily Kong for her support of ROSA’s work and for delivering the opening address, distinguished speakers Professor Ursula Staudinger, Assistant Professor Seonghoon Kim,  Associate Professor William Tov, panel members Mr James Teo, Ms K Thanaletchmi, Mr Edwin Lye, Dr Thang Leng Leng, Dr Lee Cheng, Mr James Tan , Ms Melissa Kwee, and Mr Tan Kwang Cheak  for being an essential part of the conversations that took place and for their insightful comments. ROSA would also like to thank The Ngee Ann Kongsi for their tremendous support, without which the symposium would not have been able to happen.

The team looks forward to organizing future iterations of the symposium in the coming years, and we hope you will once again join us then!

You may view the highlights of the event at the link here. 

[1] Staudinger, U. M. (2020). The Positive Plasticity of Human Development: Potential for the 21st Century. American Psychologist, 75(4), 540-553.