RESEARCH PILLAR
Community Well-being & Social Prescribing
Preventing mental health decline before it begins
— not in clinics, but in the spaces where people live and age.
WHAT WE STUDY
Prevention in the Community
How do we prevent dementia, depression and social isolation before clinical intervention is needed — and deliver that support where people actually live?
Our research investigates the biological, psychological and social determinants of resilience in ageing populations.
The Research and Science Behind The Programme
From research to real life, we turn scientific insights into meaningful action—helping communities stay connected, engaged, and mentally resilient as they age.
Where it Began
Professors from the National University of Singapore, including Professor Kua Ee Heok, Professor Goh Lee Gan, and Associate Professor Rathi Mahendran, realised that it would be a waste in years or research on ageing and mental health remained confined to academic journals — without helping the very people that it was meant for.
With this belief and and support of like-minded philanthropists, they set out to translate scientific insights into community programmes where seniors could experience the benefits firsthand.
Drawing from the Jurong Ageing Study (JAS) – which explored how social connection, mental engagement and physical activity protect brain health — the team developed the Dementia Prevention Programme (DPP) to test these concepts in real-life settings.
The success of that pilot evolved into the Age Well Everyday (AWE) Programme — a sustainable, volunteer-led movement that brings research to life in communities across Singapore, empowering people to age well, every day.
WHY THIS RESEARCH MATTERS
By studying how people age in their own communities
we address a critical question:
Can early, accessible, non-drug interventions delay dementia and sustain resilience at population scale?
FEATURED PUBLICATION & STUDIES
Explore Our Research
Volunteer-Led,
Community-Driven
AWE’s Strength Lies
on Its People
The programme is community-driven and volunteer-led, designed to grow organically within local networks.
Community partners — such as senior activity centres, community clubs and voluntary welfare organisations across Singapore - first adopt the AWE Programme as part of their active ageing initiatives.
From there, participants who show interest and passion are encouraged and trained to become volunteer facilitators,. helping to lead future sessions. This creates a sustainable cycle where each generation or participants can inspire and empower the next — keeping the programme community-owned, self-sustaining, and grounded in science.
Our Collaborators
| Name & Board Role | Title |
|---|---|
|
Professor Chng Wee Joo
Member
|
|
|
Emeritus Professor Kua Ee Heok
Member & Community Advocacy & Fundraising Committee
|
|
|
Professor Heng Chye Kiang
Member
|
|
|
Ms Chan Chia Lin
Member
|
|
|
Emeritus Professor Leo Tan
Member
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are AWE sessions held?
- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
- consectetur adipiscing elit
- Ut elit tellus
- luctus nec ullamcorper mattis
- pulvinar dapibus leo
Note:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi ante urna, convallis commodo elementum sit amet, pulvinar eu nulla.
Where are AWE sessions held?
Note:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi ante urna, convallis commodo elementum sit amet, pulvinar eu nulla.
Is there a fee to join AWE?
Note:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi ante urna, convallis commodo elementum sit amet, pulvinar eu nulla.