To this end, HAA! - a non-profit organization - will provide a variety of activities and programmes to heighten the importance of a healthy lifestyle among the older population and to encourage those in their mid-life to start planning and taking action for a new chapter in their lives. Activities will focus on research studies and findings; talks and seminars; and advice and access to information.

This is the only association in Singapore which focuses on the golden age group, 50s to late 70's. Health checks will be specially customized for those in this age group, without wasting time and money on unnecessary or irrelevant checks which are more suited for younger people. Health and nutrition talks will also be skewed towards their needs.

Regardless of age, one's mind and body can be as young and 'evergreen' as they wish it to be, provided one prepares for it. Aging brings with it hormonal changes, concurrent diseases, depression and marital friction which accelerate aging and affect one's sense of well-being. In the worst case, it renders one a burden not only to oneself but also to one's family and society. Once fit and active people have been seen to be reduced to a shadow of their former selves, retreating into a shell as they advance in years. HAA! aims to offer these people options to get back into shape, both physically and mentally.

We want to encourage the older population to do more challenging and meaningful things, thereby giving them a new purpose in life and to live healthily and independently, thus reducing their reliance on their children, relatives and the State. It is also about people establishing a social network, having fun, engaging in activities that interest them.

With more than 1.3 million Singaporeans now over the age of forty, and an expanding grey population, it is crucial for the public to be educated about aging, to make immediate and informed choices that will impact their mental and physical health. HAA! will promote the concept of healthy aging through a number of avenues including talks and forums, social activities, and concessions for health related products.

Often, when people retire they find their social life and social network wanting, as their busy careers had previously put this part of their lives 'on hold'. Suddenly, there are few challenges, perhaps too much time on their hands and life begins to become unsatisfying. These can negatively impact on mental and physical health.

The association will offer the latest information on medical research in a variety of aging-related topics, empowering people to start thinking and making informed choices about their well-being.

HAA! will educate people about the importance of the second part of their lives. It will not only be satisfying to themselves, but also positively contributing to society. HAA! also seeks to attract interested and like-minded people to join, either to serve as volunteers or members. As a non-profit organization, HAA! will have to depend on its membership subscriptions and donations from the public. These contributions will also enable the association to conduct relevant research and study in the subject of healthy aging.

Members will enjoy privileges like concessionary rates at talks and seminars, medical consultation, and participating merchants like pharmacies and selected health-related products or services. In the pipeline are talks hosted by doctors, including talks on nutrition and looking good; workshops on proper exercise; health screening; social activities and psychological support.

This group comprises of people between 50s to their late 70s where most people are mentally fit and physically active and are usually at the peak of their respective professions or careers. Because of our social system requiring such people to stop work, or retire, many people in this group find themselves suddenly without a meaningful existence where their achievements, their special skills and networking established over the years, are lost. It is our view that this group of people can be and should be revitalised and even start a second career over the next 20 to 25 years. Here, they can make positive contributions to the family and to the society, not to mention a new sense of purpose and challenge they would enjoy over the remaining years of their lives. To put them away in retirement mode would not only be a waste of their talents in human resource-scarce Singapore, but would inevitably increase the burden to the family and eventually to the society.