PM Lee joins Ang Mo Kio residents to promote active ageing

Carnival has a message for seniors
By Carolyn Quek, TODAY, 8 Nov 2011

You can grow old gracefully and actively - this was the message to seniors at an Active Agers Carnival held yesterday morning at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West.

The first-such event to be jointly organised by the citizens' consultative committees of Ang Mo Kio and Sengkang West, the carnival was graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other MPs from Ang Mo Kio and Seng Kang West.

The carnival saw a turnout of more than 2,000 residents, many of whom were seniors. Activities such as line dancing to keeping birds for bird-singing competitions were showcased at the event, to show seniors how they can keep active physically, mentally and socially.

Seniors were also taught how to use the Apple iPad at one exhibition booth set up by RSVP Singapore, a non-profit group which also conducts basic computer courses for the elderly.

Mr Lee also planted a young small-leaved nutmeg tree at the park, as part of the annual Ang Mo Kio-Sengkang West Tree Planting Day.

Rounding up his visit to the carnival, he also visited a McDonald's outlet to speak to the elderly staff working there.

According to Mr Tan Kwang Cheak, who is the senior director of operations, business development, business planning and human resources at McDonald's Singapore, about 30 to 40 per cent of its over 8,000 staff are aged 40 and above.

Said one such employee, 71-year-old Madam Lim Kim Buey, in Mandarin: "I've been working here for three months. Since I have nothing to do at home, I'd rather work to occupy my time."