The Client
Centre for Seniors (CFS) is a Social Service Agency with Charities Status. It is committed to helping seniors remain meaningfully engaged in work and in the community. Through fostering an active ageing mindset, supporting seniors in navigating major work-life transitions while supporting employers in building cohesive intergenerational workplaces, CFS helps seniors look forward to enjoying their silver and golden years with confidence, security, and good health.
In 2016, CFS engaged ECI’s Founder to design a programme to help seniors navigate major work-life transitions and create their retirement plan beyond financial planning.
The Solution Designed by ECI
Susan conducted a few focus group discussions with over 100 senior learners (aged 50 -70s) to find out about their learning needs before designing the modular programme. The 3-day modular programme is designed to equip the senior participants with knowledge, skills and practical tools that they can apply to their daily lives. Each module targets a different yet important aspect of active ageing, retirement planning and navigating changes and transitions in this fast-changing workplace.
While designing the programme, Susan conscientiously included evidence-based theories and approaches, popular management tools and stories like Who Moved My Cheese, the Theory of Choice, DISC personality types to help participants understand and change their mindset about change, navigating change and thriving in the new workplace. There are modules addressing the importance of and ways to achieve meaning and purpose in life, good physical and mental health as one ages. Susan piloted this programme for CFS in 2016. A few amendments were made to the programme based on the feedback from the pilot runs. Susan has been working closely with CFS to implement the training and has been conducting this program for CFS to-date, even changing it to a virtual training programme in face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, the Public Service Division saw the importance and benefits of this programme and appointed CFS to provide this programme to the senior employees within the public sector. Miss Low Yen Ling (Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Manpower) talks about career planning course designed by ECI. This is one of the successful projects that ECI has delivered for its client, CFS, to promote happiness, health, well-being & social changes while making REAL impact.
Did They Love It or Not?
Tan, Richard-CH “I am unable to retire soon as I am still servicing my housing loan and take care of expenses for my mum at nursing home.Through this programme, I learnt to identify my strengths and weaknesses and how I can convert my weaknesses to become strengths.
I am also made aware that I should hone my skills and interests. I am good in administrative work, meticulous, hardworking, approachable, helpful and enjoy talking to people. As such, I should develop my strengths in these areas so I have more work options should my organization retires me. The module on retirement transition helped me to understand that I can work as long as I am still relevant and can bring value to employers including part time work. What can I do? Perhaps administrative or customer service jobs in hospitality industry, healthcare sector and Changi Airport since they are opening the 4th and 5th terminals. I would like to take up a foreign language, either Japanese or Korean language, using SkillsFuture credit. This will enhance my strengths to work in the hospitality industry. All of these would help me to better prepare my transition and create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
I have also started to read nutritional labels on the food that I buy in supermarkets also started to exercise regularly to keep fit so as to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. The holistic wellness programme has started me preparing for the next chapter of my life. I am now more confident in navigating my work life transition. The committed and responsible team of staff including one of the trainers (Ms Susan Tan) had inspired me to complete 6 sessions from April to Sep, 2016 despite busy work schedule and family commitments. This programme is practical and beneficial to the workforce.”
