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Singapore is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to meet the growing demands of its aging population instead of relying solely on human caregivers.
The country’s healthcare system needs to hire 6,000 nurses annually to help fill this widening care gap.
By 2030, one in four citizens will be over 65, while dementia cases are projected to increase fivefold, facing Singapore with mounting demographic pressures. This impending crisis has prompted healthcare providers to explore innovative AI solutions.
Singapore has already committed S$1 billion ($730 million) to boost AI capabilities. The government has clarified that mental health will be its key priority. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong plans to increase the number of public-sector psychologists and psychiatrists by 30% and 40% by 2030, respectively. Additionally, 28,000 front-line workers and volunteers will be trained for early support.
These efforts are also seen in various technological innovations. At The Salvation Army Peacehaven Jade Circle Arena, a humanoid robot named Dexie helps lead morning exercises and group activities twice weekly. “When there’s Dexie, she sits down,” says Nur Syamimi Binte Akram, referring to an elderly resident with dementia.
The AI-powered companion provides much-needed structure to residents’ daily routines. Studies have shown that AI companions can be as effective as human interaction in reducing feelings of loneliness.
Another promising pilot program, SoundKeepers, aims to detect early signs of depression through voice analysis. The three-year study will collect voice samples from 600 participants to identify subtle changes in speech patterns. These changes indicate subsyndromal depression, a condition affecting 13% of Singapore’s elderly population.
“We’re focusing on detecting nuances specific to our multilingual community,” explains Lee Eng Sing, the project’s co-principal investigator. Lee hopes the project will be successful and the first of its kind worldwide.
Other pilot initiatives include MemoryLane, an AI application being tested at St Luke’s ElderCare centers to help seniors document their life stories. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s “visual pillboxes” also aim to assist with medication management.
However, some experts warn against over-reliance on technology. Parasocial relationships with care robots can worsen loneliness in the long term. “When AI starts replacing real human connection, that should concern us,” cautions Kathryn Muyskens from the NUS Centre for Biomedical Ethics.
Privacy safeguards remain crucial as these programs expand. Voice data collected through SoundKeepers will be anonymized and restricted to healthcare settings. Lee emphasizes that usage will be “limited to licensed professionals with explicit patient consent.”
For the elderly themselves, the benefits often outweigh the concerns. While 86-year-old resident Hill Cyril Rodney claims indifference to the robot’s presence, he admits, “I like it when she plays bingo with us.” This is perhaps the clearest indication that AI companions might help bridge Singapore’s growing eldercare gap.
