This move will better scale up seniors learning and volunteerism activities across Singapore.

 

With effect from April 1, 2025, the Council for Third Age (C3A) will be merged into the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) as a single lead organisation for ageing-related services. The merger will combine C3A’s expertise in senior learning and volunteerism with AIC’s reach and scale in active ageing initiatives and will benefit more seniors.

Established in 2007, C3A champions active ageing by encouraging senior learning, intergenerational learning and volunteerism through partnerships, public education and outreach. C3A works with a network of partners, both in the community and with the education institutions, to offer a comprehensive suite of learning and volunteer programmes for seniors.

AIC is the designated agency to coordinate the delivery of aged care services, and to enhance service development across both the health and social domains. The agency also provides services and grants that enable seniors to age well in the community. As part of the national Age Well SG initiative, AIC had been ramping up the number of Active Ageing Centres (AACs) across Singapore, and bringing active ageing programmes, including senior learning and volunteer programmes, closer to seniors to keep them physically, socially and mentally active. Most recently, AIC’s outreach arm, the Silver Generation Office, launched the Silver Guardian programme to allow more to volunteer at the AACs.

Through the merger, AIC will be able to tap on C3A’s expertise to drive and achieve greater reach for the active ageing programmes. It would also be able to seamlessly refer clients to senior learning and volunteerism programmes, and enhance the diversity of programmes at the AACs. Partners could also achieve economies of scale to develop, implement and proliferate programmes more systematically. Seniors can thus enjoy greater access and variety of programmes across Singapore.

Dr Gerard Ee, AIC’s chairman, said, “Senior learning and volunteerism are important active ageing activities which can help Singaporeans to continue leading a meaningful life as we age. C3A’s strong capabilities in these areas will bolster AIC’s ability to offer our clients more options to stay socially and mentally engaged, including at Active Ageing Centres across Singapore.”

“The inclusion of C3A would synergise our efforts in offering a greater variety of active ageing programmes to our seniors in the community. Further, it would be more convenient for our partners and service providers to work with a single lead agency to expand their outreach to benefit more seniors in Singapore. This would be a significant step in our Age Well SG initiative,” said Dinesh Vasu Dash, CEO of AIC.

Kwok Wui San, C3A’s chairman, further added, “Besides C3A’s strong expertise in senior learning and volunteerism, the merger will also expand learning options for seniors, such as learning on the digital platform. The Geragogy Guidelines, which embrace teaching methods for seniors, will significantly improve the learning experience of seniors.”

Members of the public can continue to access resources, courses and services via C3A’s website.

 

(**PHOTO CREDIT: Wiryan Tirtarahardja/Unsplash)