Boredom and a loss of purpose among older adults in Singapore pose significant challenges that extend beyond physical health, experts say. As the nation’s population ages rapidly, addressing the spiritual and existential needs of seniors is emerging as a crucial dimension of eldercare.
The phenomenon of prolonged boredom has been linked to cognitive decline and social isolation, conditions that can severely affect quality of life in old age. Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s concept of the “will to meaning” emphasizes the human drive to find purpose, even amid physical frailty. This sense of purpose is often tied to spirituality, understood broadly as a connection to values that transcend material existence.
In Singapore, approximately 75 percent of residents identify with a religious affiliation, according to recent data. This high prevalence of varied belief systems suggests that many seniors derive a significant part of their identity and hope from spiritual frameworks that go beyond physical wellbeing.
Despite this, existing care models in Singapore tend to prioritize clinical and physical maintenance, with limited formal provisions for existential or spiritual care. While national programmes such as Age Well SG have expanded physical and social engagement opportunities through over 220 active ageing centres, comprehensive support addressing psychological and spiritual needs remains scarce.
Currently, pastoral care services are mainly available in a limited number of faith-based nursing homes and are generally introduced only at the terminal stages of hospice care. Advocates argue for integrating holistic existential support earlier in the continuum of care. This approach would involve collaboration between active ageing hubs, nursing homes, community care providers, counsellors, secular life-review practitioners and religious organisations.
Such partnerships aim to help seniors navigate the complexities of ageing with dignity and purpose, ensuring their later years are not spent merely in passive activities like screen time but are enriched through meaningful engagement. Expanding eldercare to include spiritual and psycho-social dimensions could address a critical gap in the support system for Singapore’s growing elderly population.