Seniors Helping Seniors: Singapore’s Age Well Kakis Turns Retirement Into a Neighbourhood Job

Singapore has a new idea for its super-aged society: let older people look after each other, and pay them a little for it.

Under the Age Well Kakis programme, announced on October 30, volunteers aged 50 and above will be matched with community care tasks that fit their interests, abilities and schedules. The government says up to 700,000 volunteering opportunities will be offered over two years, and the Ministry of Health expects around 16,500 seniors to take part. “Kaki” is local slang for a buddy, which neatly sums up the spirit.

The jobs are deliberately gentle: accompanying a peer to a medical appointment, delivering meals, or helping to organise activities at active ageing centres, nursing homes and community mental health providers. Tasks should ideally take about an hour, avoid heavy lifting and be possible while seated, with clear instructions and supervision when needed. Volunteers receive a basic stipend in cash or vouchers, funded until July 31, 2028.

The aim is to tackle social isolation and to narrow the gap between how long Singaporeans live and how long they stay healthy. Alongside the scheme, more than 150 fully subsidised courses on topics such as nutrition, fall prevention and caregiving are being offered at active ageing centres, and the national library has launched a reading journal for seniors.

The real test will be whether a small stipend can turn occasional helpers into steady friends. If it does, the scheme could become a model for other fast-ageing Asian societies.