Movements for Health began as a vision to look at how collective human actions, when harnessed positively, can generate momentum and effect sustainable behaviour change towards health. By empowering individuals and communities to take ownership of their health, we create a healthier and more resilient society.
Community champions such as VintageRadio.SG and Hatch are making a difference in their local communities through programmes, supported by Tote Board, that encourage Singaporeans to adopt healthy habits and lifestyles.
Vintage Notes
Since young, Alice Rappa, loved music. Some of her fondest memories involve attending live bands, immersing in the atmosphere, and letting the lively music wash over her. Although those concert-going days are behind her, the spirited 69-year-old retiree is able to relive those cherished memories thanks to VintageRadio.SG.
“I listen to the uninterrupted streaming of music on VintageRadio.SG while I tend to my garden or travel. It makes me feel young again,” said Alice. In addition to the entertainment, she tunes in to the podcasts that share tips to help seniors stay healthy and active. “The ‘Stronger For Longer’ podcasts on sarcopenia — a condition of gradual loss of muscle mass — was a reminder to keep myself physically active. That’s why I enjoy gardening in my free time.”
VintageRadio.SG is a live streaming digital service designed for seniors like Alice to connect with their memories and reminisce through music from the 1950s to 1970s. It also helps to bridge the digital divide so seniors can stay entertained and well-informed on health information and other senior-related content.
Alice Rappa uses gardening time to tune in to VintageRadioSG’s health podcast and stay up-to-date on healthy living tips.
The Hood Connection
Meet Jennifer Chen, a 78-year-old volunteer at the Loving Hearts Active Ageing Centre in Yuhua. Jennifer knows firsthand the challenges of aging, both physically and mentally. For the past 40 years, she has been advocating the benefits of Qigong to improve fitness and overall well-being. As a certified Qigong instructor, Jennifer volunteers her time to run Qigong activities for seniors, encouraging them to lead a healthy life through exercise.
In the past, Jennifer had to rely on posters and word-of-mouth to share about her Qigong activities. Now, with Hood, the social media page highlights, community-driven efforts like Jennifer’s can spread rapidly in the Yuhua neighbourhood. Through its digital community, Hatch connects seniors to health promotion activities to drive active community participation in healthy living. After Hatch featured her in a video, Jennifer’s Qigong group grew from 70 to more than 100 participants as more seniors came to know about it.
“Hood helped me reach out to Yuhua residents. More seniors have come to know about Qigong and are inspired to join in to stay active and keep healthy,” said Jennifer.
Jennifer staying active and healthy in her weekly Qigong sessions with other seniors.
