As I sat drinking my teh tarik this morning, I recognized the young lady whom I had met with her grandmother several months back.
Back then, when I spoke to her grandmother, her grandmother had been in a wheelchair, and she told me she has outlived her value in life and “wished she was dead.” The grandmother shared that her children are now grown up and have their own families, and she feels that she is a burden to her children who have to support and care for her. More importantly, she feels she has nothing left to live for. The grandmother’s words reminded me of the crucial role purpose plays in the lives of seniors.
When I asked about her grandmother, the granddaughter told me her grandmother had passed on.
Hearing this made me sad. I hope that the final days of her grandmother’s life were filled with joy and not a sense of dread and despair.
As a Grassroots Leader, I want to urge all of us to take action and create an environment that values and uplifts our seniors. As Singapore’s population ages (21% of our population will be aged 65 and above in 2026), we must start to support our seniors by creating an environment that values and uplifts them. We need to encourage our seniors to explore activities aligned with their interests, values, and abilities, allowing them to experience fulfillment and a renewed sense of purpose in their old age.
Together, as a community, we must build a community where our seniors feel valued, connected, and purposeful.
