Central CDC targeting 2,500 more befrienders to engage more elderly

SINGAPORE - Elderly living in central Singapore will this year have 2,500 more volunteers to visit them regularly and organise events for them.

Central Community Development Council launched their Silver Friends recruitment drive on Saturday in hopes of getting more elderly befrienders who can reach out to 5,000 more seniors this year.

Currently, the CDC has about 2,000 Silver Friends who last year befriended 4,200 elderly.

Central CDC Mayor Denise Phua said her district has the highest number of elderly residents in Singapore, at 366,000, and many of whom live alone without family support.

On Saturday, the CDC and Silver Friends volunteers organised a Chinese New Year celebration for 150 elderly at Tanjong Pagar Community Centre.

This article was first published on Jan 30, 2016.
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