Co-operatives are helping to improve the quality of life of senior citizens in Singapore. They provide a range of services, from employment, healthcare and travel services.
“With Singapore’s rising ageing population, there is room for more co-operatives to emerge and meet the rising social needs and to continue being an integral social pillar that touches all Singaporeans’ lives. Groups looking to form a co-operative can approach the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) for support,” said Dolly Goh, chief executive of the SNCF.
In an article for a regional website, she highlights how co-operatives have helped displaced senior professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
One such co-operative is Spec – the Singapore Professionals’ and Executives’ Co-operative. The co-op was set up by the Singapore Human Resources Institute in 2000 to help PMETs who had been left out of work due to the 1998 crisis. SPEC helps by providing job matching services, career counselling and coaching for this group of seniors.
Another example is Silver Horizon Travel Co-operative, which was formed by a group of seniors who share a passion for travelling. The co-op works with travel agencies to customise the itinerary to provide affordable travel packages suited for seniors. Through SNCF’s effort in organising networking sessions for its affiliates, Silver Horizon has also attracted two Institutional members from two other co-ops to join the family.
Photo: Silver Horizon Co-operative members during one of their trips.
