Kick-Off Event

Demographic changes and urbanization are global developments that pose challenges to ageing well. Both Germany and Singapore are facing similar macro-level trends albeit in different socio-cultural contexts. The German and the Singapore populations are ageing rapidly, which is challenging traditional family structures and models of caregiving, stressing health systems in which primary care is less strongly developed, and highlighting the importance of financial security among older persons. Left unaddressed, this situation will result in fewer years of healthy life expectancy and a decline in the quality of life of older adults. The aim of this project is to investigate to what extent four key dimensions of wellbeing at older ages – health, mobility, loneliness, and financial security – are related to potentially modifiable aspects of older adults’ living environment, specifically health service availability and accessibility, built environment characteristics, and its age-friendliness.