Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests.
In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience at The Foundry (the former Elections Department building) - a social service entrepreneur and social worker share how music can transform the eldercare space.
Be it for their loved ones or as part of their advocacy, youths now have more chances to find out about avenues to reach out to seniors, using the powerful tool of music.
When it comes to engaging the elderly, music can reinvigorate and empower them - all while closing the gap between different generations.
Our guest speakers and In Your Opinion podcast hosts interact with the Crdl device and the audience at The Foundry after the event on Feb 12.ST PHOTO: ERNEST LUIS
Studies have shown that music can amplify connections between the brain’s auditory and emotional regions, encouraging memory encoding and recall.
In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - speak with two guests who are harnessing the power of music to transform eldercare in Singapore.
The two guests are: SanCare Asia founder Johnson Soh, who uses music-based technologies and services to help dementia patients; and Fei Yue Community Services programme executive Amanda Soon, who taps on music to get seniors more involved in their communities.
Having studied in the UK and worked in the film industry there before returning to Singapore, Amanda now uses her creative skills to empower seniors and youths. At Fei Yue, she uses music to pilot various programmes and workshops with youth volunteers, youths and seniors.
After working in the music industry for almost 30 years, Johnson founded SanCare Asia in 2016. The idea for the first eldercare service in Asia to offer person-centred reminiscence music programmes came about when Johnson’s father developed dementia.
(From right) In Your Opinion podcast co-host Christie Chiu and Ms Amanda Soon, programme executive from Fei Yue Community Services, trying out the therapeutic CRDL device with explanation from Mr Johnson Soh, founder of SanCare Asia, during the ST Podcasts Live! event held in partnership with Singapore Land Authority at The Foundry on Feb 12, 2025. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM stpodlive12
In Your Opinion podcast co-host Christie Chiu and Ms Amanda Soon, trying out the CRDL device during the first ST Podcasts Live! event held in partnership with Singapore Land Authority at The Foundry on Feb 12, 2025. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
“I actually used my dad as a guinea pig,” he said, adding that he put together a playlist of songs which would resonate with him, songs which he grew up with during his formative years.
“And yeah, it worked wonders, you know, to see him light up, to see him in a different mood just gave me the impetus to start the company.”
Over the years, Johnson has used reminiscence music to develop various programmes as well. With his extensive research and deep music expertise, Johnson has developed many programmes including Strike A Note, a proprietary personalised music playlist programme for seniors.
He also launched Return To The Tea Dance, a silent disco-inspired music and movement programme, which became a finalist at the 2020 Asia-Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards.
Highlights (click/tap above):
6:41 How Fei Yue creates community for seniors by reviving lost dreams
7:20 How Fei Yue youth volunteers bring energy and ideas to do community work with seniors
9:03 Bridging inter-generational gaps through SanCare Asia’s person-centred care, creating a personalised music playlist for each senior
12:06 When music can also elicit adverse reactions; a delicate task for youth volunteers with seniors
15:50 Return to the Tea Dance, a silent disco programme for dementia seniors
22:41 Youth volunteers, social services and social enterprises empowering each other
25:20 How the Crdl can help the less-functioning dementia seniors
Find out more about:
SanCare Asia: https://str.sg/kEvE
Fei Yue Community Services: https://str.sg/sAxH
Listen to the other filmed live podcast at The Foundry:
Saving our old buildings from obscurity: What can young people do? - https://str.sg/FKRb
Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH
Read Christie Chiu’s articles: https://str.sg/3ESxU
Hosts: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) and Christie Chiu (christiec@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb
Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX
---
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Thanks for sharing!