From prayer to care: Pilot scheme turns places of worship into ‘third spaces’ for seniors
As Singapore ages, social care may have to move beyond formal services into places of worship.
A pilot scheme in Singapore aims to transform places of worship into 'third spaces' for senior citizens, providing spiritual care and a gateway to the wider community care network. The initiative, a collaboration between Allkin Singapore, Masjid Al-Muttaqin, and MUIS, seeks to bridge Muslim seniors and the broader care system. Ramlah Rasul, a 71-year-old retired administrative executive, experienced the benefits firsthand after seeking help for her own health issues and caregiving challenges.
She now receives counselling at Club Heal and financial assistance from the mosque. The 12-month pilot, running from February 2026 to January 2027, will be expanded to Masjid Al-Islah in Punggol in September. Allkin plans to develop a faith-sensitive guide for practitioners and community partners delivering support within faith-based settings.
Senior care expert Paulin Straughan emphasizes the importance of places of worship as trusted sources of support for Malay/Muslim seniors, who may not initially approach formal services. Associate Professor Kelvin Tan suggests the model could be extended to other places of worship, which are already running non-religious activities, to make better use of their premises and create 'third spaces' for social interaction and mutual support.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
