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MEDIA RELEASE 
2 DECEMBER 2024

New Active Ageing Centre brings seniors closer to nature and more workforce initiatives to support community care staff​​

Vanguard Healthcare launched the opening of its Active Ageing Centre (AAC) @ 3G Wellness Centre on 2 December 2024, as part of its commitment to empower seniors to foster deeper connections and promote purposeful lives within the community. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, and Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Advisor for the Tripartite Community Care Council (T3C), were Guestsof-Honour at the event. 

Expanding services for seniors through community partnerships

  1. The launch of this new AAC is aligned with the Age Well SG initiative, a national programme to enhance the well-being of seniors through various services and community-based activities. This AAC’s facilities will be managed through a unique partnership between Vanguard Healthcare and Senja-Cashew Community Club.
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  2. Under this partnership, the AAC will have a dedicated space at Senja-Cashew Community Club to organise a wider range of activities on a larger scale to cater to the varied needs of the seniors. The AAC’s strategic location within a neighbourhood park and Pang Sua Pond allows the centre to harness the natural surroundings, enriching both indoor and outdoor programmes while fostering intergenerational activities within a community setting. The centre will also allow seniors to organise events such as Parents’ Day Celebration and Mid-Autumn Festival, and lead groundup initiatives such as weekly brisk-walking. This partnership seeks to benefit the over 1,600 seniors in the Cashew region.

  3. Ms Chan Wei Ling, Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Healthcare, said, “At Vanguard Healthcare, we are committed to active ageing and living well for our seniors, and we are grateful to the Cashew Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) for its partnership with us to support this shared vision. Together, both Vanguard Healthcare and Cashew CCC have brought about stronger community connections and the development of inclusive and impactful programmes for the seniors living in this region. The launch of the new Active Ageing Centre @ 3G Wellness Centre provides us with a dedicated space to introduce a broader range of activities to help seniors age with dignity, as well as stay active and engaged.” ​​​

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    4. Strengthening sector-wide upskilling for the community care workforce​​

  4. Vanguard Healthcare has played an active role in the T3C to support the growth of the Community Care sector. This Council, comprising Ministry of Health (MOH), Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU), the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and industry stakeholders, was formed in June 2023. With the benefit of varied takeholders, T3C provides advisory on sector-wide upskilling and training, as well as on the accreditation of training for the sector. 


  5. With the growing importance of AACs engaging seniors in the community, AIC developed a training roadmap for AACs, under the Community Care Skills Standards Framework, with guidance from T3C. This roadmap aims to support the expansion of AACs by scaling up the capabilities of staff working in AACs. Being a part of T3C, Vanguard Healthcare actively participated in the consultation of the roadmap as a representative of AACs.


  6. Mr Noel Cheah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AIC, and also Chairperson of T3C, said, “The launch of this new Active Ageing Centre is a welcomed addition for seniors in Cashew, offering them more opportunities to stay connected, engaged, and active in their community. To strengthen support for Singapore’s seniors, we are committed to empower our Community Care staff.” On the role of T3C, Mr Cheah added, “T3C’s advisory role is contributing to MOH’s efforts in upskilling the workforce to build a sustainable pipeline of talent within the sector.”

    7. ​Innovating and enhancing operational capabilities to better serve seniors​

  7. Vanguard Healthcare completed an Operation and Technology Roadmap (OTR) earlier this year to incorporate more innovation and technology in their AAC operations to improve the services for seniors. It has since introduced an application for seniors to track their vital signs like blood pressure, and is now exploring the use of other technologies such as face detection via phone or laptop cameras to directly capture key vital signs, to provide more timely care and to enhance staff productivity. ​


  8. Vanguard Healthcare has also leveraged the Community Care Induction Programme (CCIP) to facilitate smooth transitions for mature workers into the Community Care sector. In addition, it has partnered the HSEU to establish a Company Training Committee (CTC) to continue driving workforce development initiatives and supporting staff training goals within the sector. 


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Media contacts

Agency for Integrated Care
Integrated Communications and Marketing Department 
Agency for Integrated Care 
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Healthcare Services Employees’ Union 
Alvin Tan Strategic Communications Department 
Tel: 9767 1391 
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