Elderly In Singapore
This blog is based upon an article I wrote for the Royal Photographic Society in 2019. It focuses on the disadvantaged elderly in Singapore, an underworld which may not be evident to visitors or, even, some who live here. My aim in this blog is to try and generate some sort of thought and appreciation for this sector of society. The original article has been updated and new images included for the purposes of this blog, but the message is the same.
Be kind.
For those interested in Street Photography in general, I would recommend the following books:
The Street Photographer’s Manual
Vivian Maier: Street Photographer
So, onto my piece, largely written before the world was hit by the horrors of Covid-19.
Singapore has an international reputation as a modern metropolis. It is home to gleaming skyscrapers, iconic hotels, and the world’s first Formula 1 Night Race – an event that brings this City State into the homes of a global audience numbering hundreds of millions. This is the face of the city familiar to most casual visitors and many expatriate inhabitants who rarely venture far from their 5-star condominiums or the Central Business District. At weekends they may visit Michelin-starred restaurants or frequent the designer shops and malls that line Orchard Road.
However, there is a world beyond the glitz and glamour.
Some older people gather in places such as Chinatown, spending their days playing board games or chatting with friends. I visited them a few times and learned that their shared accommodation could be small and cramped, so meeting in communal areas gave them an escape and companionship.
As a nation of around 5.6 million people, Singapore consistently ranks highly in terms of GDP, education, global competitiveness, IP protection, and many other criteria which measure wealth and progress. It is also one of the most expensive cities on the planet and, like elsewhere in the world, has social issues that need addressing.
Singapore’s statistics show an ageing population. In 1970, the median age of a Singaporean was 19.5, in 2017 that had risen to 40.5 (Source: Department of Statistics, Singapore). The government has undoubtedly been proactive in addressing the needs of the elderly, with schemes such as the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP), medical benefits and various concession systems(you can read more on this link). In addition, Singaporeans have a very strong culture, centred on the importance of family and a ‘kampong spirit’, which supports social cohesion and caring for your community. This has manifested itself in countless charities and organisations all focused on helping the older generation.
In addition, the “Maintenance of Parents Act” provides elderly or needy parents, who are unable to maintain themselves adequately, with a legal channel to seek maintenance from their children, who are capable of supporting them, but are not doing so.
However, the lives of the elderly in Singapore are a million miles away from what most tourists or, indeed, expat residents may experience. The speed at which Singapore has become a global player is nothing short of phenomenal. It is easy to understand how the aged may have found coping with this pace of change to be a considerable challenge. Much of the growth in wealth has passed them by.
In hawker centres and food courts, especially away from tourist areas, it is not uncommon to see the older generation passing their time alone,
The lives of the older generation can be lonely with less than ideal living conditions - leading them to while away their days in public areas, often just yards from where wealthy tourists are shopping or exploring the city.
Other elderly people work in ways that seem incompatible with the common perception of modern Singapore. The cardboard collectors, for example, who collect what they can and sell their finds on to recyclers. Still others spend time alone in local parks or coffee shops. Loneliness in such a bustling city may seem a contradiction, but it is an issue in many countries.
“Cardboard Collecting” is hard, backbreaking work with low reward - a few cents per kilo collected. In every society there are those who slip through social safety nets but, thankfully, there are organisations staffed by volunteers whose aim is to help those in less fortunate positions. You can read about one such organisation on this link and an official news story was run by Channel News Asia late last year.
This story is from a couple of years ago, but gives further insight into the issue - The real struggle of Singapore’s old, ailing cardboard collectors
Awareness of the plight of the elderly in Singapore is increasing and more and more official and voluntary efforts are being put into addressing the issue. That gives me hope. Singapore is a nation that protects her citizens and Singaporeans at heart are a caring people. There is most certainly a culture of community over the individual and that has been evident during the current pandemic.
I shall wrap up this blog by saying that this collection of images is aimed at increasing awareness of the lives of the older generation in Singapore and, in many ways, could be used to encourage all readers - regardless of location - to be more conscious of those living through their later years.
As a final sign off, please do check my website for more images from around the world - https://travellingfatman.zenfolio.com
Until the next time
Fatman xxx