Nearly 15 per cent of Singaporeans in their 60s, and one in five Singaporeans in their 50s, do not have children, according to research on ageing in recent years. For these adults, a recent local study has highlighted the importance of strong social networks in supporting their happiness and life satisfaction as they grow older without children to depend on. SMU Professor of Sociology (Practice) and Director of Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) Paulin Straughan said that with an increasing number of seniors with no siblings, focus should turn to support between neighbours. She said assisted-living flats being built will make it easier for neighbours to interact, much like old HDB flats with common corridors. Rather than just attending programmes, seniors should be given a platform to start their own initiatives, she added, citing a badminton interest group started by a retiree in her ROSA focus group.