Since becoming a senior, I have begun a deeper observation of a malady affecting older folk – loneliness.

Loneliness is not easy to admit to. Often, there is a sense of deep shame attached to being lonely, as nobody wants to be thought of as unpopular, unlikeable or lacking in friends. However, it is an issue of rising concern. In Singapore, we are set to attain super-aged status in 2026, when 21 per cent, or about one in five, of our population will be more than 65 years old. By 2030, one in four will be above this age.