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According to a report released by the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the number of elderly residents aged 65 and above living alone reached 78,135 last year, more than doubling from 35,160 in 2013. SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan noted that besides elderly individuals living alone, there has also been a significant increase in the number of elderly residents living with a spouse but without children, highlighting the need to consider whether they have sufficient support networks.