For Tan Tock Seng Hospital senior enrolled nurse Lilian Teng Ngwen Hua, technology has made a clear difference in helping her continue working in healthcare. At 69 years old, Ms. Teng said that new systems at the hospital have reduced the physical strain that once accompanied her daily duties.
Before Tan Tock Seng Hospital introduced its smart predictive patient monitoring system, known as PreSAGE, in 2022, Ms. Teng shared that she often had to strain her back when setting up manual fall alarms for patients at risk of falling. These alarms required repeated physical movement and manual adjustments.
PreSAGE changed that process. The system uses wall-mounted thermal cameras and video analytics to monitor patients, removing the need for manual setup. It also gives nurses an extended response window of up to 15 seconds and reduces false alarms compared to traditional fall sensor mats.
“With technology making work less physically demanding and more predictive, I can continue working effectively as long as I remain physically and mentally healthy,” said Ms Teng, who has been with the hospital for 19 years.
NTUC highlights cooperation to support older workers
During a visit to the hospital on Jan 28, National Trades Union Congress deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan pointed to the expansion of PreSAGE as an example of effective cooperation between employers and unions to support older workers.
By working with the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union and tapping the NTUC Company Training Committee grant, Tan Tock Seng Hospital plans to scale up the system nearly fourfold. Coverage will increase from 311 beds to more than 1,180 beds by the end of 2026.
Ahead of Budget 2026, Mr Tan called on employers and the Government to strengthen efforts to support older workers through job redesign, skills upgrading, and age-inclusive practices. He said that as Singapore’s workforce ages and artificial intelligence reshapes jobs, employers, unions, and the Government must create the right conditions for older workers to remain productive, engaged, and employable.
Survey shows desire to work beyond 70
Mr Tan noted that a recent NTUC survey showed that older workers’ interest in working beyond the age of 70 increases as they get older. This is mainly driven by their wish to stay mentally and physically active.
The 2025 survey, which involved 591 respondents across all age groups, also found that older workers place a high value on choice and flexibility in work arrangements.
Mr Tan, who is also Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, encouraged more employers to partner with NTUC and its unions to set up Company Training Committees to support age-friendly job redesign.
Under the programme, companies form committees with unions to identify skills upgrading needs. These companies can apply for the NTUC CTC Grant, which helps cover costs for redesigning jobs, reworking business processes, and improving productivity.
Government support and age-inclusive practices at TTSH
Mr Tan also called on the Government to continue supporting employers who hire, train, and retain older workers. This includes grants to improve age-friendly workplaces and enhancements to the Senior Employment Credit.
The credit helps offset wage costs for employers hiring Singaporeans aged 60 and above who earn less than $4,000 a month.
According to Ministry of Manpower data released in November 2025, the employment rate for workers aged 65 and above rose from 24.7 per cent in 2015 to 31.5 per cent in 2025.
Beyond expanding PreSAGE, Tan Tock Seng Hospital has used CTC grants for another project involving an AI-powered manpower scheduling system. This system reduced the time needed to prepare nurse duty rosters from 90 minutes to 15 minutes and supports flexible scheduling.
The hospital said about one in 10 of its 10,000 staff members is aged 55 and above. It has raised its retirement age to 64 and re-employment age to 69 by July 2025, with about 98 per cent of eligible senior staff accepting re-employment.
TTSH chief human resources officer Lillian Ho Lay Kuan said older workers bring experience and stability to the hospital.
“By redesigning roles, integrating AI and technology, and creating flexible work options, we continue to empower our workforce to thrive and deliver high-quality care,” she said.
NTUC and HSEU president K. Thanaletchimi added, “We urge more employers across the sector to join HSEU and NTUC in driving meaningful transformation that empowers healthcare workers and strengthens care delivery.”
