More than 100 caregivers, community partners and sector stakeholders gathered at the Lifelong Learning Institute on 16 May for the caregiving symposium organised by Silver Caregivers Co-operative Limited (SCCL), where discussions centred on how technology can better support caregivers looking after seniors at home.

The symposium, themed “Humanised Technology for Caregivers: Building a Sustainable Society”, explored how digital tools and artificial intelligence could be designed with empathy and accessibility in mind, especially for older caregivers and care recipients.

Opening the event, SCCL chairperson Professor Kalyani Mehta said technology must remain “understandable” and “accessible to all age groups”, noting that many caregivers continue to face difficulties navigating digital systems and helplines. She added that Singapore would increasingly need to rely on technology as the nation grapples with a rapidly ageing population and manpower constraints in healthcare and community care sectors.

“As Singapore will have shortage of manpower in our medical facilities and community resources, technology will need to be fully tapped, so that our services can be sustainable in the long run,” she said.

The event also featured a fireside chat between Professor Mehta and Mr Kiren Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive (Development) of Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).

During the discussion, Mr Kumar outlined Singapore’s Smart Nation and National AI strategies, describing healthcare and caregiving as key areas where technology could improve support systems and reduce strain on caregivers.

“Our ambition is really to see how Singapore becomes a credible technology hub on the economic side, a great digital government that provides services to our citizens, but more importantly, how do we create a society which is empowered by digital, not replaced by it?” he said.

Mr Kumar added that the Government’s approach towards digitalisation is guided by three principles: “high tech, high trust, high touch”.

The symposium also explored the limits of AI in caregiving. Speaking during a sharing session, Julian Koo, founder of Caresense.ai, said AI could play a meaningful role in translating medical diagnoses into actionable information for caregivers, navigating fragmented systems, and lowering the cognitive load associated with caregiving responsibilities.

However, he cautioned that technology alone cannot replace emotional support and human relationships. “AI can scaffold, but it cannot accompany,” he said, adding that many caregivers do not necessarily need “better apps”, but instead need to “feel less alone”.

Mr Koo also noted that AI remains limited in navigating family dynamics and conflict, especially in situations where a senior’s mental or physical capacity is deteriorating. He stressed the importance of maintaining dignity and respecting the boundary between “education” and professional medical advice in caregiving settings.

Associate Professor Dr Kelvin Tan, both a SCCL Committee of Management member and the head of programme (Minor in Applied Ageing Studies) at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, emphasised why it is salient that we humanise technology in caregiving. He also shared case studies involving the adorable social robots LOVOT and how they can evoke a sense of maternal or caring behaviours within the older adults as they care after the robots.

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Meanwhile, Huawei International’s Public Relations Deputy Director Genevieve Lee highlighted core trends across the healthcare landscape, specifically how health awareness has transformed from “passive” to “active”. For example, consumers are willing to pay for better sleep, people placing more focus on mental wellness as well as choosing to consume less sugar.  

A Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between SCCL and the Society for Gerontechnology also took place during the symposium, marking a collaboration to advance conversations and initiatives surrounding ageing, caregiving and technology-enabled support in Singapore.

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion featuring advocate for longevity and wellbeing Ms Louise Phua, Ms Karen Wee (Executive Director of Lions Befrienders), Ms Pratiti Kaji (physiotherapist and Rehabilitation Manager at Lions Home for the Elders) and Ms Monica Cheang (SCCL member and family caregiver).

By Sng Ler Jun

Image Credit: SCCL