DOING “OLD”, MAKING GOLD: AN INVESTIGATION OF LATER-LIFE ARRANGEMENTS AMONG OLDER SINGAPOREANS

Abstract

Population ageing is occurring rapidly in Singapore. Among the many issues pertaining to the phenomenon, later-life arrangement is an important aspect as it affects older adults, the family, community, and society. In a modern society like Singapore which possesses a unique historical and cultural context, there are many options available for older Singaporeans to incorporate into their later lives, such as continuation of work, leisure, and grandparenting. However, current literature tends to concentrate on the individual domains of later life and rarely offers a holistic overview of later-life arrangements in Singapore. This study seeks to understand: 1) What are the later-life arrangements which older Singaporeans tend to adopt? and 2) Why do these later-life arrangements exist in their forms and adoption rates? Using a qualitative approach, I embarked on an exploratory study by conducting in-depth interviews with 19 respondents. From the empirical data, I identified a great diversity in later-life arrangements among older Singaporeans, with a typology consisting of three baseline ideal types and four mixed types of later-life arrangements. In addition, I discover that socioeconomic status and gender greatly impact the types of later-life arrangements.