Singapore kicks off annual active ageing carnival

SINGAPORE, June 20 -- The annual carnival aiming to encourage

senior Singaporeans to age actively kicked off on Saturday.

Now in its third year, the Active Ageing Carnival 2009 features a variety

of fun activities ranging from those that stimulate the mind to those that build

the body, and from those that calm the spirit to those that seniors can enjoy

together with family and friends.

A recent survey conducted by the Singapore government showed that among

seniors who expressed satisfaction with their life, some 72 percent said they

had friends whom they could count on for support, and 79 percent said they could

rely on family to take care of them in times of illness.

"It is never too late for our seniors to start making friends, to join

interest groups and to form social networks outside of the family and

workplace," said Lim Boon Heng, Singapore's Minister for Prime Minister's

Office, adding that this is where an event like Active Ageing Carnival plays an

important role.

In 2008, Singapore's total population reached 4.84 million, and the

proportion of residents aged 65 years and above increased to 8.7 percent.