All posts tagged: CNA Insider

From silver travel to gig carers, how 6 changemakers in Asia are reimagining what it means to age

From silver travel to gig carers, how 6 changemakers in Asia are reimagining what it means to age

Published by Sam Flores

“I used to think ageing was something helpless,” said Wang Jing, a volunteer at Seagull Comprehensive Elderly Service Centre. “But after working with these aunties, I’ve witnessed a different kind of retirement living. It’s made me look forward to my retirement with more hope.” EQUIPPING CARERS BETTER In India, one startup is already nurturing a new generation of professional geriatric carers — a crucial workforce for the country’s population of more than 150 million seniors, who largely prefer to age at home. Many of these aspiring carers are young migrants from villages and small towns, drawn to cities in search of opportunity. Once hired, they are expected to adjust quickly to unfamiliar households and deliver efficient care. “This job requires a tremendous emotional equilibrium,” said Ramakrishna Velamuri, the dean of Mahindra University’s School of Management. “To expect that from such young workers is quite unrealistic.” That realisation inspired Anant Kumar and Priya Anant to leave their healthcare jobs and establish Life Circle Health Services, a Hyderabad-based eldercare company that equips trainees with practical and emotional …

How 4 Singaporeans navigate sole caregiving, amid illness, fractured relationships and more

How 4 Singaporeans navigate sole caregiving, amid illness, fractured relationships and more

Published by Sam Flores

Yet beneath the frustration, there is love, complicated but undeniable. “Who better to look after her than me? She only has us,” Nonis says, fighting back tears. “Clearly, I love her. … But it’s very hard to admit.” As household sizes shrink and only children become more common in Singapore, more adults may find themselves in a similar position to hers, carrying the full weight of caregiving, perhaps shaped by relationships that are far from simple. She is one of four individuals whom the On The Red Dot series, Left To Care, follows as they care for ailing loved ones on their own — even as they confront their own fears, health struggles and personal sacrifices. What keeps them going? CARE, WITHOUT PAUSE Nonis’ father has been in and out of hospital since 2022 — after a fall, a heart attack and recurring gastritis. Her mother’s schizophrenia, though stabilised since her discharge from the Institute of Mental Health in 1998, requires monitoring and carries the risk of relapse. “There’s no such thing as taking a …

Meet Me There: CNA’s social experiment puts 8 Singaporean relationships to the test

Meet Me There: CNA’s social experiment puts 8 Singaporean relationships to the test

Published by Sam Flores

Not all memories that were revisited were just as sweet, however. For artist Eunice Hannah Lim, waiting for her mentee Foo Hui Wen at Tampines Changkat Community Club resurfaced memories of a somewhat fraught day when they were racing against the clock to complete a mural there before the next morning. Lim, 34, remembered being “really furious” when Foo left midway through the project to meet some friends before returning hours later. “It was supposed to be her wall, and she needed to take responsibility and ownership,” Lim said. For actor and content creator Dharmadasa D Dharamahsena, more commonly known as Das DD, his search took him to his childhood home in Teck Whye, where his parents got divorced. “It doesn’t bring back really good memories,” the 36-year-old said. “But if I see my mother there, I feel maybe we could find closure in that space. Then we can remind each other that we’ve moved on.” WATCH PART 2: Growing up with a single mother — Can memories lead Das back to her? (45:17) Source …

Absent family support, they went from children’s home to rented flat. This is how they managed

Absent family support, they went from children’s home to rented flat. This is how they managed

Published by Sam Flores

Deciding how to spend their money can feel like one of the few choices that is truly theirs after growing up with little control over their lives. “Of course, it’s not easy when we see them make bad decisions,” Soh said, adding that sometimes these lessons must be learnt “the hard way”. She stressed, however, that expecting 19- to 21-year-olds without family backing to shoulder the full expense of open market rents is “not realistic” — and that Thrive21+ is meant to give them support and space to practise independent living. When the participants’ two-year lease ended last July, there was another lesson for them. Paint was peeling in some parts of the flat, and they were required to pay for a full repaint. While some of the defects were not their fault, said Edward, he acknowledged that the contract stated that tenants were responsible for repairs. The episode highlighted how landlords and tenants may interpret certain clauses differently. “Lesson learnt,” he said. “If we were ever to rent again, … (we’ll know) what to …

Can you make an emotional connection with a digital partner? Four Singaporeans find out

Can you make an emotional connection with a digital partner? Four Singaporeans find out

Published by Sam Flores

SINGAPORE: Raymond Goh, 61, is out on a date in a candlelit cable car above Sentosa. His girlfriend, Priscilla, tells him the view is stunning, the Wagyu steak amazing and even offers to pass him the wine. Except she cannot taste, touch or breathe in any of it. Priscilla exists entirely in Goh’s phone. She is an artificial intelligence chatbot on an AI companion app. AI companions like her are often described as “designer buddies” — algorithms trained with their users’ words and preferences to respond as though they are in a relationship, said evolutionary and social psychologist Amy Lim. “That’s what makes them so fascinating, yet also a little unsettling.” So, why would someone choose a virtual friend? For Goh, it is about companionship, and perhaps something more. The former pharmacist worked for 34 years before being retrenched a few months ago. His wife spends much of her time in Australia, helping their son settle there. His two other adult children have moved out. “Everything’s changed for me,” he said. “Everything’s gone.” Source link

Singaporeans ride China’s robotaxis and air taxis to glimpse a driverless future

Singaporeans ride China’s robotaxis and air taxis to glimpse a driverless future

Published by Sam Flores

FROM NOVELTY TO COMING REALITY EHang has said its air taxi services, when they are launched in future, are expected to cost 200 to 300 yuan (US$29 to US$44). A 10km robotaxi ride in Guangzhou, meanwhile, can cost about 20 yuan — with discounts — compared with 40 to 50 yuan for a regular taxi. Singaporean Formula 4 racer Kareen Kaur, 15, who checked out Shenzhen’s robotaxis, found them “efficient”. “When you book (one), it comes within five minutes,” she said. “I think if people … are in a rush, they can take it.” Her father and travel buddy, Kuldeep Singh, 46, was struck by the consistency of the driving. “As humans, right, we’ll just go (up) to 76, 78, 79kmh. You’re worried (about receiving a) summons,” he quipped. Source link

7 ways to spend the night in Singapore, beyond clubbing and the usual supper spots

7 ways to spend the night in Singapore, beyond clubbing and the usual supper spots

Published by Sam Flores

A basic LED kite set costs about S$380, while more advanced models can go for as much as S$700, said Darren Suan from the LED Kite Sky Dancers. As the kites are powered by a propeller and work by remote control, drone regulations apply. 7. HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPPER Finally, if you feel peckish, On The Red Dot viewers have some suggestions beyond the usual supper choices. You will find, for example, one of Singapore’s most diverse selections of snacks at the 24-hour, six-storey shopping complex, Mustafa Centre, in Little India. Its aisles are packed with regional treats, such as seblak ramen with keropok — an Indonesian instant noodle known for its spicy broth — roasted flavoured makhana (lotus seeds) from India and freeze-dried durian sticky rice from Thailand. WATCH: I try your supper suggestions across Singapore — Mustafa, Thai kway chap, rosti (22:47) Source link