Active Ageing Centres in Singapore: What They Offer and How to Join

If you have been searching for a senior activity centre for an elderly parent, the places you are looking for are now generally known as Active Ageing Centres, or AACs. This guide explains what AACs offer, who can join, how much they cost, how to find the one nearest your parent’s home, and how a helper can support an older person in getting there and settling in.

Many families still use the older name, and a search for “senior activity centre Singapore” still turns it up everywhere. Back in 2020 the Ministry of Health (MOH) described about 130 centres under that name, providing active ageing, preventive health and social support programmes. Today the official directories run by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) list Active Ageing Centres, and that is the name to search for when you look one up.

For families, the real question is practical. An elderly parent who spends most days at home, especially one who lives alone or whose children are at work, can become isolated quickly. A neighbourhood centre with familiar faces, an exercise class and someone who notices when they have not turned up for a while can make a real difference. For families with a helper at home, a centre can also give the week some shape outside the house.

What an Active Ageing Centre is

AIC describes an Active Ageing Centre as a centre for seniors to stay active with activities and meet other seniors. AIC adds that they help seniors stay physically and mentally active, explore their interests and meet others in their neighbourhood.

AACs are part of Age Well SG, the national programme to help seniors age actively and independently in the community. In an October 2024 update on Age Well SG, MOH reported that the network had grown to 214 AACs and was on track to reach 220 by 2025. MOH also noted that programmes increasingly run beyond the centres themselves, at places such as Residents’ Networks, sports centres and community decks.

AACs and AACs (Care)

AIC lists a second type, the Active Ageing Centre (Care). These offer the same services as an AAC and also provide care services such as day care and community rehabilitation. If your parent needs more support during the day, it is worth asking whether there is an AAC (Care) nearby.

What AACs offer: the modern senior activity centre

According to AIC, services at Active Ageing Centres include:

• Active ageing programmes: activities such as karaoke, arts and crafts, cooking and exercise.
• Befriending and buddying: home visits and phone calls for vulnerable seniors.
• Information and referrals: help understanding and applying for eldercare schemes, grants and support.
• Social connector: staff or volunteers who help seniors follow the recommendations in their health plans.
• Community screenings: a chance for seniors to measure their vital signs.
• Volunteer opportunities: seniors can volunteer at the centre themselves.
• Emergency alert response: at selected centres, staff respond to emergency alerts from seniors in distress.

MOH’s 2024 update gave examples of the variety on offer, from morning exercise and Rummy O to robotics, carpentry and language classes, and reported that over eight in ten AACs offered programmes across at least four of five areas: social, physical, cognitive, learning and volunteering. What a particular centre runs varies, so visit or call to see its timetable.

The information and referral role is easy to overlook and can be very useful for families. Centre staff can point you towards schemes your parent may qualify for. One example is the Home Caregiving Grant, which we explain in our guide to the Home Caregiving Grant.

Who can join and what it costs

AIC states that AACs are for seniors aged 60 and above who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, regardless of housing type or income. There is no requirement to live in a rental flat or to meet a means test.

On cost, AIC says activities at AACs are largely free, though there may be a fee for selected activities or outings. If cost is a concern, ask the centre which activities are free before signing up for anything.

Some individual programmes have their own requirements, for example around mobility, so if your parent uses a walking aid or wheelchair, ask the centre which activities suit them.

How to find and join an Active Ageing Centre

1. Search the AIC directory. AIC’s Active Ageing Centre page has a map you can search by postal code, address or current location. Search using your parent’s home address, since the nearest centre is usually the easiest one to keep attending.
2. Call AIC if you need help. AIC’s hotline is 1800-650-6060, and it can help you find a centre nearby.
3. Drop by. AIC says you can sign up by dropping by an AAC in your neighbourhood. Go along with your parent the first time if you can, look at the timetable together and meet the staff.
4. Start small. One regular activity a week is a good start. A parent who goes every Tuesday for exercise is more likely to keep going than one who signs up for five activities and feels overwhelmed.
5. Let the centre know about health needs. If your parent has a condition that affects what they can do, tell the staff, and check with your parent’s doctor before they start any new exercise programme.

Encouraging a reluctant parent

Not every senior is keen. Some feel they are “not old enough” for a centre, some are shy, and some simply prefer staying home. A few approaches that tend to help:

• Lead with the activity, not the centre. “There is a morning exercise group near the market” can land better than “you should go to an elderly centre”.
• Go together the first time, or ask a friend from the same block who already attends.
• Use their interests and skills. A parent who enjoyed cooking, singing or teaching may respond better to a chance to volunteer or share a skill than to being a participant.
• Be patient. It can take a few visits before a new place feels familiar.

Loneliness in older people often builds quietly. If your parent seems persistently low, withdrawn or confused, raise it with their doctor rather than relying on social activities alone.

How a helper can support your parent at an AAC

For many families, the person who makes regular attendance possible is a live-in helper. She can make sure your parent is ready on time, walk with them or push the wheelchair to the centre, and bring them home again. For a parent who is unsteady on their feet or has early memory problems, that escort can be the difference between going and not going.

A few practical points help this work well:

• Agree the routine with your parent. The centre visits should be your parent’s time. The helper’s role is to support, not to decide what they do.
• Ask the centre how caregivers fit in. Some activities may welcome caregivers staying nearby; for others your helper may wait or return at an agreed time. Centre staff can advise.
• Share key information. Make sure your helper knows the centre’s phone number, your parent’s medication timings and what to do in an emergency, including calling 995.
• Remember her rest day. Your helper is entitled to a weekly rest day and at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away, so plan who will take your parent on those days.
• Use her observations. A helper who sees your parent every day will often notice first if they become withdrawn or stop wanting to go. Ask her to tell you.

If you are considering a helper to support an elderly parent, our page on helpers with elderly caregiving experience explains how we approach these placements, and our article on elderly caregivers versus domestic helpers sets out the differences. If your helper is new to Singapore, the Centre for Domestic Employees is another useful resource for her.

If you employ a helper to look after a parent aged 67 or above who lives with you and meets MOM’s conditions, you may also qualify for the levy concession. Our guide to the maid levy and concessions explains how it works.

Related guides: Home Caregiver Singapore: When an Elderly Parent Needs Help and Maid for Elderly Care Singapore: How Agencies Screen Helpers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a senior activity centre the same as an Active Ageing Centre?

The older term is still widely used, but the neighbourhood centres listed today in AIC’s directory are called Active Ageing Centres, or AACs. They offer activities, befriending, information on eldercare schemes and community health screenings. When you search for one near your parent, use the AIC Active Ageing Centre directory.

Who is eligible to join an Active Ageing Centre?

AIC states that AACs are for seniors aged 60 and above who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, regardless of their housing type or income. To sign up, your parent can simply drop by an AAC in their neighbourhood. Some individual programmes may have extra requirements, such as a level of mobility, so ask the centre.

Do Active Ageing Centres charge fees?

According to AIC, activities at AACs are largely free, though there may be a fee for selected activities or outings. Ask the centre which activities carry a fee before signing up, and check whether outings involve extra costs such as transport or meals.

How do I find the Active Ageing Centre nearest my parent?

Use the map on AIC’s Active Ageing Centre page, which lets you search by postal code, address or current location. You can also call the AIC hotline on 1800-650-6060 for help. Choose the centre closest to your parent’s home, as it is the easiest to keep attending regularly.

Can my helper accompany my parent to the centre?

Yes, many families rely on a helper to escort an elderly parent to and from the centre, especially if the parent has mobility or memory issues. Ask the centre how caregivers can be involved during activities, make sure your helper has the centre’s contact details and knows what to do in an emergency, and plan cover for her rest days.

Conclusion

Whatever you call it, a neighbourhood Active Ageing Centre is one of the most accessible supports available to older Singaporeans. AIC says they are open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 60 and above, regardless of housing or income, activities are largely free, and joining is as simple as dropping by. Beyond activities, they offer befriending, health screenings and help with eldercare schemes.

The hardest part is often the first visit. Go together, start with one activity your parent enjoys, and use the people around them, including your helper, to make attendance a steady habit. If your parent’s health or mood changes, speak to their doctor.

If you need a helper who can support an elderly parent at home and out in the community, we would be glad to help. You can get in touch with the Femme5 team to discuss your family’s needs, read more about how we work with employers, or explore what a good placement looks like.

The Femme5 Team
Maid placement specialists, Femme5 Maid Agency
Our consultants work with Singaporean and expatriate families on helper matching, contracts and MOM compliance, and we verify the regulatory guidance in our articles directly against the Ministry of Manpower’s published requirements.