CNA’s best current affairs and documentaries
Many seniors in nursing homes grapple with loneliness, diminished self-esteem, and reduced satisfaction with life. To explore the importance of social connections, we approached St John’s-St Margaret’s Village, Singapore’s first purpose-built complex with both a nursing home and a pre-school.
Our premise was simple: Six seniors + six preschoolers = six pairs of new friends? We followed them on a 10-week intergenerational journey to find out if friendship can be fostered between 6-year-olds and seniors who aren’t biologically connected.
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Could the preschoolers improve the seniors’ quality of life? Does a large age gap matter in friendship? Can intergenerational bonds make us a more inclusive society?
We observed how our six pairs of very unlikely friends navigate the language barrier, physical and cognitive limitations, as they slowly gained trust and empathy.
The children also became aware of the seniors who live with the loss of eyesight, hearing and dexterity, and they naturally stepped in to help them in different ways.
We captured the genuine, endearing human qualities shared by seniors and preschoolers – they are unfiltered, they say things as they are, and like most of us, they are capable of love.
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For us the crew, we learnt to adapt to both groups’ shorter attention spans and create a safe space where they felt free to be themselves, despite being constantly followed by the cameras.
I hope you will see the natural synergy between the old and the young despite their differences, and that relationships with older people matter in young people’s lives. Having friends around is the critical ingredient in happiness and well-being – particularly when we age.
Loh Kok Hong
Executive Producer/Director, It Takes A Village
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Not filial? China tackles an eldercare problem
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The aim is to provide services in every province by 2025. But in a country where filial piety is a core virtue, sending one’s parents to a care facility carries a stigma.
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How Joanna Dong fought cancer to perform at NDP
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Two months before the big show, she got her cancer diagnosis followed by surgery. But she was determined to perform.
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Old languages in Japan, South Korea are dying out. They’re working to stop that
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Why Hong Kong is losing its youths and talents to mainland China [Digital short]
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I’m a diver with just one good arm. My photos help protect marine life
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Key changes are coming to Singapore REITs. Is it time to buy?
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Mediacorp Pte Ltd, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507
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