Over the last 60 years, life expectancy in Singapore has increased by nearly 20 years to reach 85 – one of the highest in the world. That’s an extraordinary achievement that is taken for granted and that too often leads to a conversation about the costs of an ageing society. Those costs and concerns are very real, but a deeper more fundamental set of questions need to be answered.
If we are living this much longer, then how do we – individuals, companies and governments – respond to make the most of this extra time? How do we restructure our lives to make sure that as many people as possible, live as long as possible, in as healthy and fulfilled ways as possible?
This note draws on the findings from a high-level conference, sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation and Prudential Singapore, to map out what a global longevity agenda looks like, and to raise awareness around the world – at a government, corporate and individual level – on how we need to seize the benefits of this wonderful human achievement of longer lives.
It also looks at the measures that Singapore has taken to adjust to longer lives. Reassuringly, Singapore leads the world along many dimensions that have to do with ageing, and also longevity. However, there is much that needs to be done.
Framing policies around longevity and ‘all of life’ and not just ageing and ‘end of life’ is needed if Singapore is to collectively maximise the gains available.
