Reimagining Ageing: Turning Asia's Longevity Challenge into Opportunity

Insights from DBS Foundation's Inaugural Impact Beyond Summit

As Asia grapples with the reality of a rapidly ageing population, the longevity revolution is not just about adding years to life, but ensuring these years are healthy, active, and filled with purpose.

This vision was central to our inaugural DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Summit which was held earlier this month at the transformed Pasir Panjang Station—a historic landmark reimagined for the event—the summit embodied the belief that even familiar, established structures can be reenergised with new purpose.

Over 300 business leaders, longevity experts, and social sector representatives joined us and heard from luminaries like President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, DBS CEO @Piyush Gupta, Dan Buettner of Blue Zones fame, Professor John Eu-Li Wong of National University of Singapore & National University Health System, amongst other leading voices.

Recognising the Ageing Population as a Reality

By 2050, countries like China and Singapore will have one senior for every two working-age adults, with Taiwan and Hong Kong facing even more extreme ratios. As these changes take hold, the challenge is clear: how do we move beyond seeing ageing as a problem to unlock its potential as an opportunity for innovation and impact?

Shifting the Paradigm: Embracing Ageing as an Asset

One of the greatest challenges in rethinking ageing is changing perceptions. Too often, ageing is seen as a period of decline and dependency. But what if we saw older generations as invaluable resources—rich in wisdom, skills, and resilience, ready to contribute to society?

Redefining Longevity: Enabling People to Thrive

Longevity should not only be about extending life, but about improving its quality. It's about thriving, not just surviving. A key focus should be bridging the gap between lifespan—the total years of life—and healthspan—the years spent in good health.

The path forward lies in shifting from intervention to prevention, promoting healthier lifestyles, balanced nutrition, and proactive healthcare from an early age. It's not just about physical health—mental, emotional, financial, and social health are equally important. To ensure a sustainable future, we must create environments that support well-being at every stage of life, enabling people to stay engaged and active in society.

Preparing for Ageing: Taking Proactive Action

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam emphasised the importance of early preparation, noting that ageing is a predictable societal shift and should not be addressed at the last minute. He highlighted the need for proactive measures to create systems and mindsets that turn the challenges of ageing into opportunities for intergenerational collaboration and growth.

A proactive mindset, as he noted, lays the foundation for an empowered ageing society. This shift requires collective action from governments, businesses, and individuals to ensure older generations are equipped to play vital roles in our communities. Echoing this perspective, DBS CEO Piyush Gupta underscored the need to focus not only on longevity but on quality of life, calling for systems that help people live well while addressing macroeconomic challenges such as dependency ratios and sustainable pension systems.

Fostering Collective Responsibility: Engaging Businesses, Governments, and Individuals

Longevity is not something that can be tackled by individuals alone—it's a collective responsibility. Governments must anticipate future demands by strengthening healthcare systems, building age-friendly infrastructure, and supporting workforce inclusion for older adults.

Driving Change for Lasting Impact

The time to act is now. Governments must adopt long-term, forward-thinking policies, businesses must weave social responsibility into their core strategies, and individuals must champion greater intergenerational collaboration. By working together—through smart policies, purposeful business models, and engaged communities—we can transform the ageing challenge into an opportunity for profound societal change.

It's critical that we each contribute to shaping a future where all generations are supported, valued, and empowered to live active and purposeful lives. Together, we can build a society where longevity is seen not as a challenge, but as a chance to create lasting, meaningful impact.