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Unlock vitality with GX Fit: HomeTeamNS’ new fitness programme for seniors

Empowering older adults to stay active, healthy, and socially engaged.

As we age, staying active becomes increasingly important to maintain our physical and mental health. Engaging in regular exercise offers numerous benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Exercise also strengthens muscles and bones, improves cognitive function, and boosts mood.

While some might view exercise as a chore, it’s essential to see it as an investment in your long-term health and independence. By staying active, you not only maintain the ability to perform daily tasks and live independently for longer, but you also enhance your overall wellbeing, with studies showing that regular physical activity can reduce anxiety and depression.

INTRODUCING HOMETEAMNS GX FIT

Recognising the importance of active ageing, HomeTeamNS is introducing GX Fit — a curated programme designed to promote an active lifestyle among seniors. These activities also foster social connections, helping older adults engage with like-minded individuals in their community.

An exciting launch event was held on 29 September, during which individuals from all ages and walks of life engaged in an invigorating brisk walk at the scenic Lower Seletar Reservoir, as well as participated in other fitness activities. The fun-filled day was the perfect way to kick off the much-anticipated new fitness programme, designed to keep our seniors active and engaged in fun, dynamic ways.

Here’s a closer look at what GX Fit has to offer:

BOXING FITNESS: A SAFE AND EMPOWERING WAY TO STAY AGILE

Boxing might sound intense, but this class is tailored to suit the physical capabilities of seniors. Instead of focusing on power and speed, the programme emphasises movement, balance, and flexibility. These elements are crucial for preventing falls and keeping seniors agile.

DANCE FITNESS: GROOVE YOUR WAY TO ACTIVE LIVING

Dance fitness is a fun, low-impact exercise that engages both the mind and body. It doesn’t feel like a workout — just groove to the music and enjoy the rhythm. With its varied and less-repetitive movements, dance fitness poses a lower risk of injury, making it perfect for seniors.

STRETCHING & CONDITIONING: FLEXIBILITY AND STRENGTH FOR DAILY LIFE

This class combines stretching and conditioning exercises to help reduce joint stiffness, alleviate aches, and improve flexibility. Conditioning exercises activate major muscle groups, helping seniors maintain mobility, prevent muscle loss, and reduce the risk of falls and fractures.

INTRODUCTION TO ROCK CLIMBING: BUILDING CONFIDENCE, ONE STEP AT A TIME

Although rock climbing can appear intimidating at first, this class allows seniors to start at their own pace within a supportive environment. Climbing helps build confidence and challenges age-related stereotypes, offering a fun and empowering way for seniors to step out of their comfort zones.

AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING: SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS AND DEXTERITY

Target shooting is less physically demanding but offers significant mental benefits. It improves focus, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and overall physical dexterity, all while providing a fun challenge to hit the target accurately.

Starting this month at HomeTeamNS Khatib, all activities in the GX Fit programme will be available free of charge for all HomeTeamNS members. Members can also bring along 2 non-member friends for free.

Members must be aged 44 years old and above to register for the activities. Register here and let’s get moving while discovering the joy of fitness fun together!

The programme schedule for the month of October is out! For more information on HomeTeamNS GX Fit and future months’ schedules, head over to this website.

Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.

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Singapore Buzz

Youth in action: How Singaporean youths are shaping our future

See how Singapore’s Gen Zs are driving positive change through these inspiring and impactful initiatives.

Generation Z in Singapore is proving they’re about more than just TikTok trends, doomscrolling and incomprehensible slang.

According to research by the National Youth Council (NYC), 77% of Singaporean youth support a social or community cause, and 47% want to engage in civic discourse. In response, NYC has launched the Youth Panels, a pioneering initiative to allow young Singaporeans to co-create policies on topics like environmental sustainability, digital well-being, financial security and careers. The Youth Panels’ findings and recommendations were shared with the public at the Youth Policy Forum on Aug 24.

While sign-ups for the Youth Panels have ended, here are some ongoing initiatives led by inspiring young Singaporeans that you can still support.

REPAIRING AND REUSING: REPAIR KOPITIAM

Started by Mr Veerappan Swaminathan and Ms Farah Sanwari in 2014 when they were in their late 20s, Repair Kopitiam is a community initiative that unites volunteers to breathe new life into items such as electronics, furniture and clothing to promote sustainability.

Operating on the last Sunday of every month in various neighbourhoods, it offers activities and courses that equip participants with valuable repair skills. By encouraging people to repair and maintain their belongings, Repair Kopitiam aims to foster a circular economy and reduce waste. In addition to its environmental impact, the initiative strengthens community bonds by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and skills among participants.

PRESERVING CULTURE: MY COMMUNITY

As a teen volunteer befriending elderly people in Queenstown, Mr Kwek Li Yong realised that many of them had stories to share about the neighborhood’s rich past.

After returning from Sydney with a Master’s in Heritage Studies, he founded My Community, a non-profit dedicated to documenting and championing local history through heritage tours and storytelling preservation activities. The non-profit’s guided tours now include neighbourhoods like Holland Village, Alexandra, Mount Faber and Tiong Bahru, as well as industrial spaces like the SingPost Mail Processing Centre and PacificLight Power Station.

PROMOTING DIGITAL WELLNESS: CYBER YOUTH SINGAPORE

Started by Mr Ben Chua during his National Service in 2019, Cyber Youth Singapore empowers youth to explore the digital domain safely and responsibly.

The non-profit’s digital literacy and cyber wellness efforts include workshops, boot camps and campus outreach programmes on data privacy, cyberbullying, internet addiction and combating misinformation.

EMPOWERING FELLOW YOUTH: HATCH

Hatch Academy was founded in 2018 by Mr Victor Zhu, who was a 24-year-old undergraduate at the National University of Singapore at the time. The academy aims to help at-risk youths realise their potential by providing them with the tech skills needed for careers in areas like user interface design and digital marketing.

Working with social workers and counsellors to create a supportive environment, its programmes enable underserved individuals — such as school dropouts and those not currently engaged in education, employment or training — to thrive in their professional journeys.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES: HEY, YOU’VE GOT MAIL!

The COVID-19 pandemic was a lonely time for many, especially for low-income seniors living alone. Enter Hey, You Got Mail! (HYGM), a teen-led movement that mails handmade cards to elderly recipients living in one-room flats to brighten up their days.

Today, the HYGM community writes, designs and decorates cards in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil to be delivered via their monthly distribution drives at places like the Geylang East Home For The Aged and SASCO @ West Coast. They’ve sent a total of 15,000 cards and counting, in addition to distributing drinks, snacks and festive goodies.

PROTECTING MARINE LIFE: SEASTAINABLE

The next time you buy bubble tea, bring a reusable Seastainable straw with you to cut down on your plastic consumption. Founded by Ms Samantha Thian in 2017, the social enterprise began as regular beach clean-ups before developing into an organisation that now directs 50% of its profits to funding marine conservation projects in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

For her efforts, Ms Thian — who was in her early 20s when she founded Seastainable — was named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 in the Social Impact, Asia category last year

CREATING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: ADVISORY SINGAPORE

Founded by Mr Mock Yi Jun, Mr Brendan Loon and Mr Ng Yau Xuan, Advisory Singapore connects young people with resources and mentorship to make informed career decisions.

Advisory Singapore organises career and industry talks and a one-on-one mentorship pairing programme for youth, supported by the National Youth Fund, National Youth Council. Its website also hosts a repository of interviews, articles and narratives that offer career insights from working professionals.

 

Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.

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