Singapore is on track to become a super-aged society by 2030, when one in four residents will be aged 65 or older.
A new study by the Singapore Management University (SMU) Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) has revealed that while older Singaporeans strongly support the national Healthier SG initiative and use its clinical services, many wellness services however are underutilised.
Moreover, many may not understand the importance of relying on one consistent primary care physician.
The findings underscore a growing challenge for policymakers: as Singapore’s population ages rapidly, awareness alone may not be enough to ensure that people stay healthy and independent in their later years.
Underscoring the importance of these findings, Professor Paulin Straughan, Director, ROSA said: “Our research shows that older adults want to take charge of their health, but they need the right systems and surroundings to do so.
Healthy ageing isn’t only about medical care, it’s about building neighbourhoods, communities and routines that make living well part of everyday life.”
The study’s findings underscore that building a healthier ageing population will depend on more than medical access.
It will require sustained engagement across homes, communities and the food environment.
Researchers at ROSA polled 7056 Singaporeans between the ages of 53 to 80 (inclusive) in August 2025.
The study, Living Well: The Built, Lived, and Social Determinants of Well-being, draws on data from the Singapore Life Panel® (SLP), a nationally representative longitudinal survey that has been conducted since 2015.
Key findings and practical implications for society: Support for Healthier SG and utilisation 53.49% of participants have enrolled in Healthier SG, and a further 21.46% intend to do so.
For those who did not sign up, 40.38% indicated that they are satisfied with their existing healthcare arrangements. The survey asked respondents whether they support the Healthier SG initiative, and more than 90% indicated they slightly agree to strongly agree to support the initiative.
Among those who signed up, 70.26% indicated that they used HealthierSG for annual screenings, and 62.21% used health and medication review services at least once since enrolment (note respondents can pick more than response).
Referrals to allied-health professionals, community exercise or wellness classes, and lifestyle or nutrition advice appear underutilised.
Health behaviours Aligning with the promotion of preventive care under Healthier SG, 82% of respondents either agree or strongly agree that regular health screenings are important.
While Healthier SG also encourages continuity of care by allowing individuals to choose a family doctor, more than 80% of respondents agree to strongly agree that they will still seek other doctors even if they enrolled.
For participants who agree that they will see more than one doctor, the top two reasons are to get a second opinion (51.91%), and to get specialised care for various health conditions (35.57%). 50% of study participants indicated they have a regular family doctor that they visit to treat most of their care needs.
Lifestyle and dietary behaviours – On physical activity levels, the survey revealed that 38.83% of respondents do not engage in vigorous physical activity, and 28.73% do not participate in moderate activity over the past week (note those who are unable to walk were excluded).
On average, excluding those who indicate difficulty walking, respondents walk about four days per week.
When respondents were asked about Nutri-grade labels, 82.36% responded that they are aware of these labels. Of those who are aware of the labels, about 80% indicated that the labels had an influence on their choice of beverage. On average, respondents dine at hawker centres
