(by JEREMY LEE/ REUTERS PLUS)

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opened the first ActiveSG gym designed specifically for the elderly and disabled at Ang Mo Kio Community Centre on Saturday.

During his address, Prime Minister Lee said: "In Ang Mo Kio, we have many old people, but in other parts of Singapore as well, people are ageing. More of us are getting on in years, and if we stay active I think we can live healthy productive lives and keep on contributing, looking after the younger ones in our family but also contributing to the broader society and Singapore."

The gym is open to the public and costs just $2.50 to enter. In a bid to attract the elderly to the gym, Singapore residents aged 55 and older will also enjoy free entries on Wednesdays.

“The ActiveSG gym in Ang Mo Kio represents the pilot program that we have working with different agencies with the aim to bring value to residents (of Ang Mo Kio) and not just address the issue of the ageing population,” said Dr Chiang Hock Woon, Deputy CEO of Sport Singapore (SportSG).

“This is a unique collaboration with PA’s (People’s Association) reach to the community, with the research capabilities of SUSS (Singapore University of Social Sciences) and our (ActiveSG) knowledge insofar as exercise and physical activity is concerned,” he added.

Outfitted with state of the art HUR exercise machines, which will allow members to automatically monitor their progress using a computerised system, the gym seeks to address the challenge of active ageing in Singapore.

The new gym is outfitted with state of the art HUR exercise machines, which allows users to automatically monitor their progress using a computerised system. Photo: Sport Singapore

“The gym is designed to be very inclusive, it is age-friendly and caters to various abilities,” continued Dr Chiang. “We also hope to foster a sense of inter-generational bonding by working with SUSS to design and study the impact of SportSG’s efforts and with more evidence, I hope it will guide us in our strategy moving forward.”

Elderly members of the public who were at the launch were effusive with their praise of the initiative.

Jessie Seah, a homemaker and grandmother, took the health assessment at the ActiveSG gym to find out how to improve her strength and overall health.

“it was very easy to do the health assessment and I can find out ways to improve my health,” said Seah.

“I look after my granddaughter. She is in kindergarten 2 and during her free time she will also follow me (to the gym),” continued the doting grandmother.

Raymond Ong, 61, praised the new gym and enjoys using the new HUR exercise machines.

Singapore residents aged 55 and older will enjoy free entries on Wednesdays. Photo: Sport Singapore

“The HUR exercise machines are meant for the elderly and it’s quite easy to operate. My neighbours are elderly like myself, so I talk to them to encourage them to join the gym and the classes here,” he continued

The other four ActiveSG gyms will be located in Fernvale, Senja-Cashew, Pek Kio and Toa Payoh West.