SINGAPORE – Seven constituencies have received the City For All Ages Grant this month.

The support is aimed at promoting successful ageing in the community through health and wellness programmes.

Chua Chu Kang GRC is one of them and it hopes to reach out to 30 per cent of all residents aged 50 and above.

The other constituencies are Bukit Panjang, Hong Kah North, Queenstown, Siglap, Tampines Central and Tanglin-Cairnhill.

The project, which began two years ago, had four pilot sites in Marine Parade, Bedok, Whampoa and Taman Jurong to create senior-friendly neighbourhood for the elderly.

Each constituency can receive a grant of up to S$80,000 to support it in aged-friendly programmes.

Under the City For All Ages programme, residents aged 50 and above in Chua Chu Kang will only need to pay S$2 to have their blood pressure, height, weight, glucose and cholesterol measured.

From September onwards, health screenings will be held twice a month, together with health talks and physical activities.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is also MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, said: “After screening, residents with chronic conditions will receive health counselling and advice on how to manage their conditions, including invitations to follow-up health talks and workshops. Community nurses will contact them via phone calls to give health advice based on their screening results. They will also link up with their neighbourhood doctor to help them manage their conditions.”

Under this new plan, residents in Chua Chu Kang can look forward to a health promoting environment in their neighbourhood. For example, more walking trails are in the pipeline, and the first one measuring some 1.8 kilometres has just been completed. It also has special markers to help residents measure their progress.

The programme is also aimed at building a more inclusive environment that promotes inter-generational bonding.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, said: “It is also about changing mindsets, not just of the elderly that they would take responsibility for their health and help them live active healthy lifestyle to prevent the progression of chronic disease, but also the attitude and mindsets of the community - the family, friends and neighbours, to engage and work with the elderly.”

The younger generation will also be included. The Health Promotion Board will reach out to pre-schools, primary and secondary schools in the neighbourhood to deliver health promotion programmes.

For example, they will learn about healthy eating, exercising, social and mental health, and the harmful effects of tobacco. Another plan is to convert all the schools in Chua Chu Kang to Health Promoting Schools, and have some 200 Youth Ambassadors to spread healthy-living messages. CHANNEL NEWSASIA