Dimensions of aging in Singapore

This paper reviews research on aging in Singapore. There are three objectives to the paper: first, to describe some of the major findings on research on the elderly population in Singapore; secondly, to discuss the role of political authorities in defining and shaping the problems of aging in the country; and finally, to identify the implications that the Singapore case may hold for furthering cross-cultural research on aging. The role of the family in supporting the elderly is observed to be fundamental, and children represent the basic source of old age security. This contrasts with the low level of community and public participation in the support network of elderly Singaporeans. The government's influence in defining the dimensions of the aging problem as primarily a problem of ensuring family responsibilities across generations is also discussed. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research on aging in Singapore.