The Unseen Struggle of Senior Men in Singapore
At 77 years old, Foo Hwee Wan is just one of many elderly men in Singapore who spend their days frequenting coffee shops near their homes. Living with 16 pet birds in a rental flat at Block 53 Marine Terrace, Mr. Foo enjoys chatting with friends at the local coffee shops, but he was not connected to an active ageing center (AAC) that could offer him more structured activities and support.
A New Approach to Engaging Senior Men
In May, Mr. Foo was approached by a group of students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts who were part of a social care advocacy project called Hack Kopitiam. This project, initiated by the philanthropic house Lien Foundation and executed by Forest & Whale, aims to reach out to seniors, particularly senior men, who are not actively participating in AACs.
- The students started by drawing a caricature of Mr. Foo as an ice-breaker to build rapport with him.
- They then mapped out his daily routine in the neighborhood to introduce him to other seniors with overlapping activities.
Challenges Faced by Senior Men in Social Care
According to Lien Foundation’s CEO Lee Poh Wah, senior men make up only 10 to 20 percent of AAC participants, with women outnumbering men in most cases. This gender disparity can be attributed to the activities offered at AACs, which may be more appealing to women than men.
Mr. Lee emphasized the need for more inclusive and appealing approaches to engage senior men in preventative healthcare and social activities. By meeting them where they are, such as at coffee shops, social service agencies can bridge the gap and reduce social isolation among this demographic.
Creating a Playbook for Community Engagement
Wendy Chua, a designer and co-founder of Forest & Whale, is developing a Hack Kopitiam Playbook to guide AACs and social service agencies in reaching out to seniors through creative interventions in coffee shops. This playbook, expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025, will serve as a valuable resource for community-led activities to connect with elderly residents.
By encouraging more agencies to bring care directly to seniors in their familiar environments, projects like Hack Kopitiam hope to build stronger support networks and combat social isolation among elderly men in Singapore.
Conclusion
The initiative to engage senior men in social care through creative interventions like Hack Kopitiam is a step in the right direction towards addressing the unique challenges faced by this demographic. By meeting them in familiar spaces like coffee shops, social service agencies can provide much-needed support and companionship to reduce social isolation among elderly men.
FAQs
What is the Hack Kopitiam project?
The Hack Kopitiam project is a social care advocacy initiative aimed at reaching out to seniors, particularly senior men, who are not actively participating in active ageing centers (AACs). It uses creative interventions to engage with seniors in familiar environments like coffee shops.
How can AACs benefit from the Hack Kopitiam Playbook?
The Hack Kopitiam Playbook, currently in development, will provide AACs and social service agencies with a manual for community-led activities to reach out to seniors in their neighborhoods. It aims to bridge the gap between seniors and social care services by offering creative and inclusive approaches to engagement.