Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Travel guide - Look at the life of the elderly in Singapore

Look at the life of the elderly in Singapore

I came to live in Singapore in 2004 and met many "old people" here. Their attitude towards life is as energetic as the perennial green plants in Singapore! Their good mood also infects me from time to time!

Singapore is one of the countries with the fastest aging population. According to statistics, at present, one in every 14 people in Singapore is an old man over 60 years old; By 2030, one out of every four citizens in Singapore will be over 60.

Children grow up and get married, leaving their nests one after another to fight for their own lives, leaving only empty nesters. You may think that loneliness and helplessness are the portrayal of most elderly people's lives. In fact, the elderly in Singapore are generally active and happy in their later years.

The happy life of the "elderly"

Mr. Huang, 75, was engaged in the watch business in his early years and often traveled to Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and other places. At that time, the soldiers were in a panic, and he almost escaped death several times. In his own words, he is blessed and can live to this day with the help of noble people. Because he has experienced ups and downs and the test of life and death, he cherishes his present family life more.

After marriage, my wife resigned to stay at home with her husband and children. The couple scrimped and saved, but they gave their children an education at all costs. They have two sons and a daughter. Both sons are doctors studying abroad. After the eldest son returned from studying in the United States, he worked in the computer industry; After returning from Australia, the youngest son worked in the financial industry; My daughter is a stewardess of Singapore Airlines. What makes Mr. and Mrs. Huang very gratified is not the success of their children's career, but that their children know how to be grateful and very filial.

On sundays, both sons and daughters will go home to have a look. However, unlike our children in China, we take our children home to eat a good meal cooked by their parents with the company of their relatives. Instead, three children take their parents out to eat in turn and go to any famous hotel. Over the years, the children and the old couple have eaten almost all the famous shops in Singapore. The two brothers also bought a sports car for their father, so that his father can take his mother for a ride everywhere when he is free. So where there are performances and the most fashionable things, the old couple will definitely know for the first time.

At ordinary times, Mr. Huang's hobby is to raise tropical fish, and fish is his good friend. Mr. Huang said that he likes these fish swimming around all day, getting along with these fresh little creatures and watching them move forward calmly and turn around gracefully. I will be happy to see the fish carefree. Mr. Huang's wife likes sports and traveling when she was young, and has maintained this habit for many years. When children grow up, they will play outside for at least six months. Over the years, the two have traveled almost all over the world.

Now, the livelihood of the Huang couple mainly depends on their early savings. The money given by children every year is used as a travel fund. Because Singapore is too small to be a frog in the well. Mr. Huang said: "If you can go out, go out more!" Even if you really can't walk out one day, you can still' collect a little laughter along the way for later, sit in a rocking chair and talk slowly' as a song goes. "So, with more tourism funds, their tourist destinations will be farther away; When you are young, be closer. Most importantly, the old couple both like the feeling of being "on the road".

Mr. Huang, the champion of bodybuilding in Singapore in the 1960s, is still dashing and can still see the elegance of that year. Now, a fitness center has hired him as a consultant. Talking about his love affair with his wife, Mr. Huang looked intoxicated. It turns out that when Mr. and Mrs. Huang were young, they were both amateur actors of Singapore Cathay Pacific Performing Arts Troupe, and they were the first-class heroes and number one in the troupe. Men love "beauty" and women love "chic", because they have the same hobbies, they have come together and become a family. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Huang are members of the Singapore Old Spirit Art Troupe. Mr. Huang's wife won the grand prize in the singing contest with a euphemistic song "Can't Love". On the day of the award, Mr. Huang bought a basket of flowers for his wife and gave her a kiss in public, just like when she was young.

During the interview, I blurted out, "I really envy your happy old age!" " "Mr. Huang was a little unhappy." Why did you say I was old? What is old age? I'm only over 70 years old. Am I old? I am an old man! Is the one who should enjoy happiness! Seeing me looking through their photo albums, Mr. Huang said with infinite emotion: "This is life, from beginning to end, it is a lifetime." ..."

A "happy person" who lives actively.

I met Teacher Luo and his wife when I was doing morning exercises on the hillside of a park in Hongmaoqiao Community. According to them, over the years, I have come here for morning exercises every day except for the wind and rain. The old couple are both over eighty years old, but they look particularly energetic. Every morning, they come to the park hand in hand, or dance or do exercises, then go to Bazaar (food market) to buy food together, and then go to the food stall to have breakfast together after buying food. They were inseparable for 365 days. Every day, they even went downstairs to buy things and take out the garbage.

Mr. Luo used to work in a factory to support his family. Now I rely on my own savings and some social insurance money to support the elderly. His two sons also work in the factory, each with three children, and the family burden is heavy. Sometimes, the son also gives money to his parents, but insists on not giving it. Although life is not very rich, the couple are very loving and satisfied.

Mr. Luo and his wife also have the same hobby, that is, they are willing to be volunteers. They are active "happy people". Like many elderly Singaporeans, Mr. Luo is willing to go out and do something for the society and some lonely elderly people who need help.

Usually, volunteering in church and community is one of the important contents in their lives. First, help others; Secondly, there is a spiritual sustenance; Third, you can prove that you are still useful. Teacher Luo said: "As long as our brains, hands and feet are still flexible, we should help people in need more. If one day we are too sick to move, someone will come to help us. Because the value of life lies in sharing and caring. "

The end of morning exercise is also the end of my interview. Waving goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Luo and watching them walk hand in hand, I can't help but feel that there is really a kind of love in this world called "Forever".